The latest issue of Sound Of Liberty has been released. This month focuses on physical fitness. It features Bravo Company and the out-sites in Afghanistan and Qatar.
A PDF of Sound of Liberty Issue #3 can be found here: Sound Of Liberty Issue 3
News
SOUND OF LIBERTY Issue #2
We’ve landed! The latest issue of Sound Of Liberty has been released. This month features Alpha Company and the out-sites of Iraq and Bahrain.
A PDF of Sound of Liberty Issue #2 can be found here: Sound Of Liberty Issue 2
The 115th/101st Conducts Relief in Place, Transfer of Authority (RIP/TOA) Ceremony
On Saturday, May 19, the Alabama Army National Guard’s 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion successfully completed a nine-month deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and was replaced by the New York Army National Guard’s 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion out of Yonkers, NY.
The ceremony, called “Relief In Place, Transfer Of Authority” or RIP/TOA, featured guest speaker COL Kevin Griggs, the Commander of the 160th Signal Brigade, the 101’s immediate higher authority for the deployment. With both Battalions side by side, each commander addressed the mass formation from a stage flanked by the flags of every US state and territory. The feature of the ceremony is the casing of the 115th’s colors for the journey home, and the uncasing of the colors of the 101st as they assume the roles and responsibilities of their predecessors for the next nine months in support of Operation Spartan Shield.
From the Command Sergeant Major – #1
We have just crossed the two month mark since starting title 10 and our Soldiers have accomplished so much. At Fort Hood, all Soldiers made it through the medical readiness process with no issues. Soldiers had the opportunity to take SEC+, NET+, and CISSP courses to advance their skillsets. Many were given real-world experience by supporting the Network Enterprise Center performing customer service functions to include re-imaging computers f0r the Fort Hood hospital and rewiring III Corps server room.
In addition to all the training conducted, we validated our equipment in preparation for deployment, then moved all the equipment to theater. A lot of work has been put in to get us here. You should all be proud of what your Soldiers have accomplished so far. I look forward to sharing their future accomplishments.
Sound of Liberty!
David Santiago
CSM, NYARNG
Command Sergeant Major, 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion
From The Battalion Commander – #1
This is the first of our deployed Battalion newsletters. We have been mobilized for two months now and have spent much of that time completing our in-processing and medical readiness, drawing equipment required for mobilization, training in numerous individual and crew-level signal skills, and preparing ourselves for the upcoming deployment. As I write this letter, our movement to 17 different sites in 7 countries is complete and we are ready to assume the mission from the 115th ESB of the Alabama Army National Guard. I cannot express how proud I am to lead this group of Soldiers; they have accomplished so much over this last year and I expect they will continue to do amazing things while deployed.
If you have any questions or concerns, the rear detachment is available and working out of the Yonkers Armory. Please contact CPT Victor Kipp (victor.j.kipp.mil@mail.mil) to see if we can assist.
Respectfully,
Ian Seagriff,
LTC, SC, NYARNG
Commander, 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion
Unit Ministry Team – #1
Hello from the Unit Ministry Team! CPL Delaney and myself are honored and blessed to be part of this team and this family. As for the UMT, we are a part of the Special Staff and we work directly for the Battalion Commander and we are here to serve all Soldiers of the 101st ESB. As we travel away from our homes, our family and our friends, please know that our hearts remain. I leave my wonderful wife and blessed children at home, along with my congregation in upstate NY named Delphi Falls United Church.
In our travels, the Lord promises a blessing over His people, and I reiterate His Words over all of us from the Book of Deuteronomy.
Deuteronomy 28:1-8 (NKJV) Blessings on Obedience
“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.
4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.
6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.
7 “The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.
8 “The Lord will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God is giving you.
May this deployment be a blessing to all of us from the time we go out, until the time we return! If there is ever a question or a prayer request, please contact us at brian.j.pidkaminy.mil@mail.mil. I will be praying for us and for you all at home too.
Chaplain (MAJ) Brian J. Pidkaminy
SOUND OF LIBERTY Issue #1
At long last, we’ve released our first newsletter for the 2018 deployment. With everyone getting prepared to get boots on the ground in the Middle East, getting the pieces together and establishing the format of a product we were proud of took a some extra time, but hopefully it was worth it.
A PDF of Sound of Liberty Issue #1 can be found here: Sound Of Liberty Issue 1