Soldiers from 11th and 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigades board an airplane Saturday. Approximately 1,100 soldiers from Fort Bliss deployed in the past week.

Off to war?
Families bid farewell as soldiers deploy

Sgt. Mark Porter
Editor

While many Fort Bliss families spent Saturday morning together at home, more than 300 air defenders and their families used the time to say their goodbyes.

The soldiers, from 108th and 11th Air Defense Artillery brigades, departed Fort Bliss for Southwest Asia. More soldiers from 11th and 108th, as well as Reserve troops, followed each of the next three days until a total of 1,100 had departed by Tuesday morning.

These most recent troops to leave will join the nearly-800 Fort Bliss personnel already deployed to the region in anticipation of possible military action.

For many of the spouses and children, this was not their first experience with a deployment. However, with tensions between the United States and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein at a peak, many worried this mission could land their loved ones in a potential war.

"This time it's hard because they are going to war," said Aurora Marcos, whose son, Sgt. Dennis Marcos, departed with the group. "It's different from a regular deployment. We don't know when they are coming back."

Col. John Seward, commander of 108th Brigade, addressed the group on Saturday and tried to comfort the families and encourage the soldiers.

"I don't want you to worry about your husbands or wives, your parents or your children. I have been in this business for quite a while, and I have never seen a better-trained, better-prepared group than the soldiers you see here today," Seward said.

Though the soldiers appreciated the comments and all understood the importance of their task, it was their families, not their missions, which were on their minds.

"The only thing on my mind right now is leaving my (nine-month-old) son, Nathan," said Pfc. Samuel Carns, D Btry., 2nd Bn., 43rd ADA. "I know what we're doing is important and I know I'll do my job, but right now all I can think about is missing his first step, his first birthday."

For many, the separation from family was made harder by the fact they did not know how long they would be gone or what exactly lay ahead.

"It's hard because you don't know what we're going to see or how long we'll have to be there," said Pfc. Michael Hulsey, D Btry., 2nd Bn., 43rd ADA. "But everybody understood when they joined what it meant to be a soldier. Leaving home is part of the job."

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Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley presents coins Friday to five cadre members from the NCO Academy.

SMA visits Bliss students

Sgt. Nikki Agee
5035th GSU

Sgt. Maj. of the Army Jack L. Tilley spoke to NCO Academy and Officers Basic course students Friday about the importance of having a good attitude, caring for and communicating with soldiers and leading by example.

"Life is about having attitude - having a good attitude," Tilley told OBC students at Sage Hall. "There's nothing I can't do. There's nothing you can't do. I've got a positive attitude. I love the Army and I'm not going to lose, and that's the attitude you've got to have.

"There's no second best in our profession. In war, there is no second best. If you lose, somebody dies. You've got to believe. You've got to think you'll make a difference. It's protect and defend the United States. I love my flag and I understand what it stands for - not only as a soldier, but as an American."

Tilley congratulated the young officers on all they had accomplished, but warned them the real challenges lay ahead.

"You are going to help lead soldiers into the field, and the only thing I ask you to do is to have a good attitude. Be proud of who you are. This is a proud profession and we're a proud people. Be positive about what you are and remember to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. That's what you're supposed to do," Tilley said.

Tilley also highlighted the importance of taking care of soldiers and listening to them.

"A really important part of a leader's responsibility is to take care of soldiers," Tilley said. "If you care about them, they'll follow you anywhere. One thing that you can do is be a good listener. Communicate. You have to deal with your soldiers, with your platoon sergeant," he told officers. "What you have to do is very quickly move in and be part of the team. Listen to your commander, listen to your first sergeant and listen to your platoon sergeant, and figure out very quickly how to be part of the team. A lot of officers fail because they think they have all the right answers. The average platoon sergeant that you're probably going to get has eight, nine, or ten years experience. So be smart and use his expertise or her expertise. The key to success is to listen. Be part of the solution, not a part of the problem."

A final point Tilley made was to lead by example and to adhere to the Army standards.

"The Army is about standards," Tilley said. "It's about PT. It's about physical training, about being physically fit. It's about weight standards. It's about weapons qualification. It's about all the things we have to do to make sure we make that standard," Tilley said.

"When soldiers do CTT, go about and do it with them. Go out and do things with soldiers. You need to learn what's going on and soldiers need to learn about you."

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Star Spangled Holiday raises record amount

Cathy Goetzke
Fort Bliss OCSA

You know that it is fun, with square dancing, cookies and cider or hot cocoa, demonstrations and games for the kids.

You know that it is entertaining, with a bell choir, the Army band and train and buggy rides along Sheridan Road.

You know that it is colorful, with the commanding general's mounted arrival, soldiers and civilians in period dress and cowboys from Bowen Ranch. But did you know that it all has a very important purpose?

For six years, the Star-Spangled Holiday at Old Fort Bliss has been sponsored by the Fort Bliss Officers', Civilians', and Spouses' Association and the NCO Wives Club. Every year, volunteers contribute more than 1,500 hours in a variety of activities including planning, decorating, publicizing, baking, and working at the actual event in order to raise funds to help support the Children's Bi-Cultural Living History Program at the ADA Museum at Fort Bliss. The program brings fourth graders from El Paso through the Replica Fort each year to give the children a hands-on experience with life on the frontier in the 1850s.

This year, the Star-Spangled Holiday at Old Fort Bliss raised $2,145, the highest amount ever. Lisa Seward, chairwoman for the event, presented a check for the proceeds at the OCSA luncheon Jan. 23. Sally Wolfe, director of the program and Peter Poessiger, director of the ADA Museum accepted the check on behalf of the museum. Poessiger thanked the members of the organization, and especially the volunteers, for their support of the program. He pointed out that the program enriched the education of children from the entire El Paso community and could not be carried out without volunteers working in the program and helping to support it financially.

Tax center up
and running

Sgt. Mark Porter
Editor

Tax season is very much a "good news, bad news" situation for soldiers and military families. The bad news is obvious - it's tax season. The good news is that help is available in the form of the Fort Bliss Tax Center.

For the thirteenth year the post Office of the Staff Judge Advocate is offering state and federal tax filing assistance through the tax center. Staffed by 26 military and civilian volunteers, the center opened Jan. 24 serving active duty service members, their family members, Activated National Guard and Reserve personnel, and retirees.

"The idea behind the Tax Center is a simple one: to provide a much-needed service to our community and to do so at no cost to the taxpayer," said Col. Karl Goetzke, Fort Bliss Staff Judge Advocate. He added that the help a person receives at the center is not only free but also thorough, thanks to the training volunteers.

"The volunteers take part in extensive training prior to working in the tax center and must pass a certification test before they begin assisting taxpayers with their returns. This ensures quality help and cuts down on the chances for mistakes."

In the first two weeks of operation the center has already assisted nearly 2,000 customers with federal tax returns. Capt. Margaret Tomaro, officer in charge of the center, said the center's popularity is easy to understand.

"First of all, we're right here on Fort Bliss," she said. "Soldiers are typically very busy and finding time to get their taxes done can be difficult. We provide help right here near their work and homes, so the convenience is a big factor.

"People also like that we can file their taxes electronically," Tomaro said. This option finishes the filing processes immediately and, for those people expecting money back, allows taxpayers to receive their refund in as little as two weeks.

"This is great because the volunteers know what they're doing and it doesn't take long at all," said Pvt. Christopher Weber, Battery A, 1-7 Battalion, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. "We don't know when we might get deployed so it's nice to have my taxes done and have one less thing to worry about."

Not only does the tax center provide quick refunds, by providing all services at no charge, it also saves taxpayers money. Commercial tax preparers charge from $35 to $250 per return, for the same services offered free of charge at the center. Last year the center assisted over 5,500 taxpayers and saved the Fort Bliss community over $400,000 in preparation fees.

"We are saving this money for soldier sand their families," said Goetzke. "More than that, we try to take the burden out of tax filings. With the possibility of deployment looming military families don't need anything else to worry about. Through the tax center, we can at least help with this one thing and let them concentrate on other concerns."

The Fort Bliss Tax Center is located in Bldg. 50, near the corner of Chaffee and Slater. Hours of operation are Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and; Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The center will also be open Feb. 8, March 8, and April 5 and 12 (all Saturdays) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The tax center will be closed Feb. 15-17, in observance of President's Day. Soldiers preparing to deploy have priority.

For information, call Capt. Tomaro at 568-7141.

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Master Sgt. Steve Miller Public Affairs Chief

Fort Bliss' deputy commander is set to be promoted to brigadier general during a ceremony scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday at Memorial Circle.

Col. Robert P. Lennox, deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Center and the assistant commandant of the U.S. Army ADA School, will have his stars pinned on by his brother, Lt. Gen. William J. Lennox Jr., superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. Lennox has served as deputy commander, a one-star billet, since July 2001.

Lennox is a native of Houston and a 1977 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, where he earned a bachelor's degree in engineering. He also holds a master's degree in business administration from Stanford University. He earned another master's degree in national security strategy while studying at the National War College.

On July 25, 2001, Lennox assumed his current position. He has served in a variety of command and staff assignments in Hawaii; Fort Lewis, Wash.; Germany; Fort Stewart, Ga.; Fort Polk, La.; Washington, D.C.; and Fort Bliss. He also deployed to Saudi Arabia from Giessen, Germany, in support of Operation Determined Resolve.

Lennox's awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit with two oak leaf clusters, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with one silver and one bronze oak leaf cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Southwest Asia Service Medal and the Army Parachutist Badge.

Lennox is married to the former Jenny Jones of Houston. Their children are Amanda, 20; Dan, 16, and Mark, 13.