Face of Defense: Friends Become Army Brothers in Arms

By Susanne Kappler
Fort Jackson

FORT JACKSON, S.C., Oct. 24, 2011 – When Army Pvt. Jereld Vanhook arrived to go through basic combat training here nine weeks ago, his good friend Pfc. Omari Paul was by his side.

Vanhook and Paul, who are assigned to Company A, 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, are not related, but the two friends from Brooklyn, N.Y., have lived together since 2007, and consider each other as brothers.

Vanhook lived with Paul and his family throughout high school, and they later studied at the same college. Motivated by Paul's sister, who had served in the military, the two decided to enlist in the Army Reserve.

Paul and Vanhook were chosen as platoon leaders at the same time early in basic training.

"For me to get picked, I felt honored. I never expected to come into the military and be in any leadership position at all," Vanhook said.

Paul “is a natural-born leader. He stood out from Day One," said Army Staff Sgt. Marquita Daniels, one of Paul’s drill sergeants.

"I wasn't aware that he had a brother [here], until one day I actually heard him say they were brothers,” Daniels said. “I thought it was a joke. Both of them are very high-speed soldiers."

Army Capt. Sherric Nelson, the company commander, said the synergy between the two soldiers is apparent.

"They motivate the company together. … They push each other on the physical fitness test. They're just a positive [duo]," Nelson said.

Vanhook said serving with Paul during basic training is an advantage.

"It feels great knowing that I have someone that I already had a connection with before the Army," he said.

The two soldiers are scheduled to graduate Oct. 27. Their families are planning to attend Family Day and graduation events together.

After graduation, Vanhook and Paul will move on to Fort Sam Houston, Texas, where they will attend training to become military health care specialists. They plan to finish their college educations, Paul in electrical engineering and Vanhook in accounting and business financing.

Chaplains, Religious Program Specialists Hold First Joint Graduation

By Cmdr. Yolanda Gillen, Naval Chaplaincy School and Center

FORT JACKSON, S.C. (NNS) -- The inaugural group of chaplains and religious program specialists (RPs) to be trained together graduated during a ceremony held at the Naval Chaplaincy School and Center (NCSC), on board Fort Jackson, S.C., Mar 30.

Guest speaker, Capt. Michael White, chief operating officer, Naval Education Training and Education Command, encouraged the students to realize the impact of their position as chaplains and RPs.

"As you arrive at your first command, you will be introduced to the routine - meetings, office hours, services," said White. "My advice is to make sure you break free and walk the deck, the flight line, the post, a few minutes with 'Chaps' or 'RP' will make their day."

The 20 chaplains who graduated from the basic leadership course (BLC) and the 17 RP's who graduated from RP 'A' school are the first group of students to be introduced to NCSC's concept of religious ministry team (RMT) training.

While at NCSC the chaplains and RPs experienced more than 100 hours of learning together, including working as a team during field expeditionary training.

"I thought the training was helpful because it put us in the real world of learning how to work with chaplains before we get to the fleet," said Seaman Recruit Donald Bishop."

Prior to arriving at NCSC, the RPs spent eight weeks in Great Lakes, Ill. for basic training, while the chaplains completed five weeks of basic military instruction at the Officer Development School (ODS) in Newport, R.I.

The joint training at NCSC is designed to have chaplains and RPs acquire basic knowledge of military chaplaincy, fundamental RP skills, and formalize the importance of the religious ministry team concept before going to the fleet.

The RP's were also the first to qualify on the weapons range before going to their first command. Three of them earned their expert medal and six shot sharpshooter.

In October 2009 the Naval Chaplains School located onboard Naval Station, Newport, R.I. and the RP School located at Naval Technical and Training Center Meridian, Miss. moved to Fort Jackson.

The school was renamed Naval Chaplaincy School and Center to reflect chaplains and RPs training in the same location. Having the chaplains and RPs train together at the same location is a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC).

Rear Adm. Margaret Kibben, chaplain of the Marine Corps, concluded the ceremony by leading the chaplains in the re-affirmation of the officer's commissioning oath.

Capt. Michael Langston, NCSC's commanding officer gave his closing remarks saying, "Wherever the Navy sends you, be strong and courageous for the Lord will be with you wherever you go."

"It was inspiring to look around the auditorium and see graduating chaplains and RPs, who came to NCSC as a bunch of individuals, but were now graduating to the fleet with a new identity of what it means to be a religious ministry team," said NCSC graduate Lt. j.g. Travis Coffey.

First Lady Michelle Obama Visits Fort Jackson

By Susanne Kappler

Fort Jackson Public Affairs Office

FORT JACKSON, S.C., Jan. 27, 2011 – First Lady Michelle Obama paid a visit here today to learn from Army leaders about how childhood obesity and physical inactivity affects military readiness and what the Army does to combat these effects.

The first lady's first stop was the Drill Sergeant School, where she was briefed by Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, the deputy commanding general for U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command’s initial military training, and the command’s health and fitness programs. Obama founded the Let's Move campaign, which focuses on overcoming the challenge of childhood obesity.

Before the briefing, Obama said she was excited to learn how the military deals with those challenges.

"The military can model so many wonderful solutions," Obama said. "And I am excited about making the rest of the country aware of not just the challenges we face, but the work you do to get these young recruits and trainees back on track, because a lot of people around the country could use the same kind of support."

Hertling said that 75 percent of America's youth are ineligible to join the military for a variety of reasons. Out of those ineligible, 17 percent are disqualified because of obesity.

He outlined the problems obesity creates in recruiting new soldiers and the challenges physically unfit recruits face during basic training.

"Our challenge is to fix it quickly," Hertling emphasized.

Last August, the Army introduced new physical training guidance, which aims to improve physical conditioning while reducing the risk of injury. In addition, the Army has started the soldier fueling initiative, which emphasizes healthful nutrition habits for soldiers.

Hertling told Obama the new program has been effective.

"What we're seeing is, the choices of the soldiers are changing in basic training and they're feeling better, and we get a lower attrition rate," Hertling said.

Obama observed the results of the nutrition initiative first hand, when she visited the 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment's dining facility. As part of the program, dining facilities changed their menus with a focus on performance-focused menu items and healthful beverage options. In addition, a new labeling system at the dining facilities helps soldiers identify optimal food choices.

Obama also met with drill sergeants and soldiers before speaking at the graduation of 1st Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment, on Hilton Field.

"I'm especially thrilled [to be] with the extraordinary men and women who are graduating today," Obama told the audience. "On behalf of myself and my husband and a grateful nation, I want to start off today by saying congratulations on all that you've achieved, and, of course, 'Hooah!'"

Obama also praised Army initiatives that ensure new soldiers are physically fit to serve.

"You've learned something that is also near and dear to my heart -- and I know that some of the moms here would probably agree with me on this one -- through the new Fueling the Soldier initiative here at Fort Jackson, you learned how to make better choices about what you eat," she said.

The first lady also praised the families of friends of the graduating soldiers for encouraging their loved ones to serve.

"Thank you for holding these men and women tight for all those years, but most of all, thank you for letting them go, so that they can serve this country and protect and defend this great nation that we all love," Obama told the families. "In these soldiers -- your sons and daughters, your spouses, siblings and parents -- we see the very best America has to offer.”