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Staff Sgt. Elvis N. Umanzor
4th IBCT, 3rd Inf. Div. Public Affairs 
Five hundred fifty Family Members from 3rd Infantry Division attended a Strong Bonds family retreat held, Oct. 19-21, in Hilton Head, S.C.
The marriage retreat was led by Maj. David K. Trogdon, the chaplain for the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd ID, and Staff Sgt. Andre L. Gambrell, the chaplain assistant non-commissioned officer in charge for 4th IBCT.
The retreat included a marriage seminar video and sessions held by other contributing chaplains from Fort Stewart and Hunter Army Air Field. The sessions discussed communication, deployments, and Army programs that help Families.
Roxanne R. Walker, the 3rd ID chaplain’s wife, shared her experiences as a military wife and mother.
Walker, the president of the Fort Stewart Protestant Women of the Chapel, touched on how to talk with deployed spouses. She said, “Don’t lay everything on them, they worry too.” She understands the struggles families go through during deployments, and she encouraged the ladies to be strong during those moments, both in their faith and mentally.
For some couples, this was their first retreat. Private 1st Class Julian R. Espejo, a mortar man from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 4th IBCT, and his wife Michelle found out about the retreat through their battalion chaplain’s assistant.
They said, “We have pages of notes and definitely enjoyed it.” Mrs. Espejo said she really enjoyed the five love language quiz. “I found out he likes quality time more than affection.” This is the first marriage retreat for the couple, who have been married for eight months.
For other couples, this was not their first retreat, but look forward to these types of experiences offered by the chaplain’s office.
2nd Lt. Christopher L. Ortiz, a support platoon leader with HHC, 4-3 Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th IBCT, said, “My chaplain called me and asked if I wanted to come; it’s nice to have a chaplain that thinks of you.”
Lymarie Valle, Ortiz’s wife, said, “This is going to be our first deployment and I felt the seminar answered many questions.” They both agreed that talking about deployment and finding out about many family resources was what they really enjoyed from the seminar. Ortiz said at the last marriage seminar, they were just shown a video.
Before the marriage seminar was over, Capt. Michael W. Bradford, the chaplain for 1st Battalion, 76th Field Artillery Regiment, 4th IBCT, surprised his wife, Panoh Bradford, by renewing their vows in front of the 200 Families at the seminar.
The Bradfords have been married for 29 years, but Capt. Bradford is slated to deploy during their 30th wedding anniversary, said Chaplain Trogdon.
Chaplain Bradford, of Huntsville, Ala., said, “I kept it a secret from her; she asked why she needed a new dress.”
Mrs. Bradford, a native of Thailand, has been to many family retreats as a chaplain’s wife, but didn’t expect this. With a smile on her face, she said, “He surprised me with what he did.”
After the seminar and vow renewal, Families were released to enjoy the rest of their two night stay at the beach-front resort. All meals were included for the length of the stay, and free child care was provided for children of all ages.
Gambrell, a Philadelphia, Pa., native , said, “In the past we’ve had limited funds, but the Army and the Chief of Chaplains Office realized that Strong Bonds retreats reduce stress and are a factor in helping Families and in reducing suicides…we have unlimited funds now.” “It was phenomenal”, he added.
The next Strong Bonds retreat is slated for December; see your local chaplain’s office for more details.
Ensign Lauren Karlewicz
6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th IBCT, 3rd Inf. Div.
FORT STEWART, Ga. – Soldiers from Troop D, 6th Squadron, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, sling loaded gear onto a UH-60 helicopter, Aug. 28, on Fort Stewart, Ga.
The week prior to the sling load exercise, “Mustang” Soldiers went through hands on training instructed by Sgt. Jason Adams, a supply section sergeant with Troop D, 6th Sqdrn., 8th Cav. Regt.
“The classes taught us how to prepare vehicles, equipment, and supplies for transportation by helicopter,” said Pvt. Erica Jackson, Troop D, 6th Sqdrn., 8th Cav. Regt. “The process itself is not difficult; the main focus is on making sure the load is properly secured.”
Instructors were able to teach young Soldiers how to sling load on a real helicopter.
Adams said having a helicopter to practice sling loading was an extremely rare event, “This extraordinary training experience will be very beneficial if our squadron faces challenging terrain in the future.”
Spc. Sarah Bailey, 703rd BSB, 4 IBCT, 3rd Ind. Div.
4th IBCT, 3rd Inv. Div. Public Affairs
“Check, re-check, and check again” is one of the four main principles of the Command Guidance from the 703rd Brigade Support Battalion Commander Lieutenant Colonel Nathan Swartz and this concept played a major role in Alpha Company’s sling load operations. On September 19, 2012, Alpha Company 703rd conducted their first sling load mission during the 4IBCT field exercise, Vanguard Focus at Camp Oliver. Sling load missions involve moving large items by air and to do so a number of safety measures need to be made in a timely and efficient manner. Specialist Jonathan Helton of Kenosha, Wisconsin understands this importance, “The best way [to check], is to touch everything.” By doing so, they are able to ensure every strap is secured prior to lifting and moving the cargo by air support.
During the mission, a group of 12 Soldiers successfully transported a 2,000 gallon water HIPPO, two 500 gallon water blivets, and a 8x5 ft. QUADCON by sling loading the equipment to a CH-47 Chinook courtesy of the Georgia National Guard. Of the twelve Soldiers, 3 are air assault certified and 4 have completed the 5-day Sling Load Inspection Certification Course (SLICC). This combined knowledge is a crucial aspect needed to conduct sling load operations.
First Lieutenant Ryan Murphy of Fairhaven, New Jersey, was the OIC of this mission and was satisfied with the outcome, “The main goal was to get the Soldiers confident with sling loading.” Murphy understands that sling load transportation will be the primary means of moving supplies over mountainous terrain similar to that of Afghanistan. This training provided familiarization and will help the company to prepare for higher intensity exercises during the brigade’s upcoming JRTC training at Fort Polk, LA. The 703rd BSB will also conduct another SLICC training block during the month of December where they plan to certify more Soldiers on sling load operations.
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