Paratrooper Has Special Guest at Re-enlistment

2 Jul 07
4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division
Public Affairs.

KALSU, Iraq - Re-enlistment in the United States Army often times brings many perks. Extra money or choice of duty station, along with free hats, shirts and coffee mugs are just a few of them.

Recently, one paratrooper’s re-enlistment came with an added bonus.

Pfc. Jason Steffen, a mechanic with the 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, stationed at Forward Operating Base Kalsu had a special guest at his re-enlistment ceremony June 27 – his father.

Mr. Robert Steffen, Jason’s father, is a mechanic working in the International Zone in Baghdad and was able to get a few days off work to attend his son’s ceremony.

“In all my years doing this job I have never seen, heard or had the pleasure of being part of anything like this,” said Master Sgt. Douglas Goodwin, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the brigade retention office. “For this young paratrooper to be able to re-enlist for one more tour while in a combat zone and have his family there to take part in the ceremony is really something special.”

The younger Steffen has followed in his father’s footsteps, himself a career military man who recently retired after 21 years of service, and joined the Army out of high school.

“I was actually really surprised when he told me he had joined as a mechanic,” Robert said. “Until then, he had never even shown the slightest interest in working on cars.” According to Jason, his father had always told him, “as long as there are cars, there will be a need for mechanics,” so it seemed to be a logical choice of jobs going into the military.

Both father and son agree that it is nice having family so close while being so far from home, but both agree that they worry for one another constantly. “I worry all the time about him,” said Jason. “I know exactly what he means,” his father continued. “I’m a dad, I can’t help but worry.”

While the reunion was short lived this time because of Jason’s mission requirements, both hope they will see each other again in the near future. “I am trying to go up there and see him at least one more time before we leave,” said Jason. “I just hope everything works out.”

So far for the younger Steffen, with his re-enlistment bonus and visits with his family, everything has worked out just fine thus far.

Photo - Capt. Scott Key, commander of Company B, 725th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division presents Mr. Robert Steffen with a token of appreciation following his son’s re-enlistment ceremony. Photo courtesy of 4th Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division Public Affairs.

Afghan police chief earns Soldier’s respect

2 Jul 07
By Sgt. Jim Wilt
CJTF-82 PAO.

QARABAGH, Afghanistan - It is often said respect is earned not given. In the Army, it is one of the seven Army Values. Respect between fellow Soldiers is a critical part of military operations.

For one Soldier in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, Kentucky National Guard, the respect he has for his Afghan National Police counterpart has blossomed into near brotherhood.

"We’re just like brothers," said Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Bty. A, 2nd Bn., 138th FAB. "The only difference between us is the language."

Linneman, who arrived in Afghanistan in March, quickly became friends with the Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor. The friendship is built on mutual respect. Respect between the two and respect between the men who follow them. Both Linneman, a Florence, Ky. native, and Shokor, a resident of Kabul, have more than their respect in common.

"They’re like two peas in a pod," said Army Sgt. Paul Wilkerson, a forward observer in Bat. A. Both men are leaders, both are 51 years old and both fight against the Taliban. "Taliban sabat," is a common phrase heard between the two. The phrase means "Taliban tomorrow."

["The ANP] get disappointed if we don’t find them," Linneman said. The troopers of Bat. A work hand in hand with the ANP, Linneman said. "I love taking them out on patrol with us," he said. Linneman said he believes in working beside them, not in front of or behind them.

"[Shokor] is pretty gutsy," Wilkerson said. "He gets out with us and dismounts with us." Who is in charge of the men is a non-issue between them, Linneman said. They both are. "What ever chief says goes. What ever I say goes," he said.

Linneman has good reason to share the decision making process. He understands there are aspects of Afghanistan that he can never grasp as well as Shokor. "This is [Shokor’s] backyard," Linneman said.

Linneman’s respect for Shokor is partially based on Shokor’s war fighting experience which is reflected in the five scars on his body from bullets and shrapnel. Shokor said when he was younger he woke up one day to tanks in his town. Shortly after, he started fighting the Soviet Union in Khandahar province as a mujahedeen in a war that would leave the Russians defeated and the country of Afghanistan fractured.

Shokor said he began to fight because he didn’t believe in the ideas the Russians had for the country. After the defeat of the Russians, Shokor soon found himself fighting the Taliban. Today, he is still fighting the Taliban but now at the side of U.S.-led coalition forces.

"It is our country, we should work for the country," the police chief said. "As a police chief, it is my job to provide security for civilians." Shokor’s need to help the people of his district and his men is evident to the Soldiers who work under him. "He seems like a pretty respectable guy. He takes care of his men," Wilkerson said. "He does what he can to help the people in his district," he added.

Shokor spends most of his time at the district center. He said he sees his wife and eight children for only two days every two to three weeks, the rest of the time he is here.

The respect Linneman and his men show Shokor is mirrored in the respect the squad leader receives from the "chief" and his men. When the Afghan policemen are looking for Linneman, they want to know where the "commandant" or "grandfather" is. "Grandfather" isn’t a shot at the skinny, grey-haired staff sergeant’s age. It is a term of respect. It means Linneman is a good man.

The Soldiers and policemen the two lead have also formed their own bonds between themselves. Despite a language barrier, jokes and friendship pass between the men. In the evenings, food is exchanged between the two groups and a friendly game of volleyball is played.

While the two leaders may consider themselves brothers, the two groups of men, one from Kentucky, the other from various parts of Afghanistan, form one big family.

Photo - Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Linneman, a squad leader in Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment, Kentucky National Guard, talks with Qarabagh District Police Chief, Col. Abdul Shokor during a joint U.S. and Afghan formation at the Qarabagh District Center in Ghazni province, Afghanistan. Photo by Sgt. Jim Wilt.