a letter from brad's lieutenant colonel

Dear Friends and Family,
The Charger Battalion (minus B Co) is finally on the ground in vicinity of Basra, Iraq. Bonecrusher is a
few hours north of us working with 2‐82. We are currently going through the Relief in Place/Transfer of
Authority Process (RIP/TOA) which consists of unpacking our gear, signing for theater provided
equipment (vehicles, radios, etc.), orientation briefings, meeting key personnel in the area, and
orientation patrols. Although the trip from Kuwait took a bit longer than expected, 1‐68 Armor was
more than prepared to give us a thorough and professional transition period. Although it has been
almost 4 weeks since most of the battalion left Fort Hood, I think most of the Soldiers are happy to
finally be in Iraq so they can get settled in and finally start working towards accomplishing our mission.
Although most of the Soldiers and leaders would probably say that the amount of time spent in Kuwait
was too long, it was time well spent. The Soldiers conducted final training there to ensure they are
prepared for our mission in Iraq. Training included day and night firing with personal weapons to ensure
all weapon systems worked and were properly zeroed, IED awareness, anti‐fratricide, HMMWV and
MRAP extraction training in case of a roll‐over, close quarters marksmanship, drivers’ training, and some
medical training. Some of the Soldiers even got to see the band Smashmouth perform. While the
Soldiers and junior leaders were conducting that training, the company commanders, battalion
operations officer, and I attended the Stability Academy on Victory Base Compound in Baghdad.
The Stability Academy allowed the leadership and Stability Transition Teams (STTs) the opportunity to
not only receive operational environment briefs from the current brigade, but also allowed the senior
leaders in Iraq the opportunity to see us and give us their guidance personally. The Academy also
provided time for the battalion leadership to form working and personal relationship with the STTs who
will be working with the Charger Battalion. Following the week long Academy, we headed to Basra to
begin the process of conducting the RIP/TOA.
Our Battalion TOA date is currently scheduled for the first week in March, and although all US Forces are
to be out of Iraq by 31 December 2011, I fully expect that our deployment will be at least 12 months
long, at least that is the truth as I know it today.
We are deployed for more than a few reasons, but I want to share a few of them with you. First, we are
here to build an enduring Iraqi alliance with the Iraqi Security Forces (ISF), the Iraqi Government, and
the Iraqi People (we are mainly focused on the Security Forces) that will last well into the future.
Second, we are here to facilitate the training of the Iraqi Security Forces through advising and assisting
them while helping them to use and improve their systems for sustaining their force. This is important
because this will allow the ISF to not only secure the Iraqi people, but will also allow them to defend
their borders against foreign attacks. The third reason is to allow us to reposition and reposture our
forces from Iraq with dignity and pride. The fourth, and probably the most important, is to ensure those
who were killed or seriously injured in support of operations in Iraq did not sacrifice in vain. Our mission
here will be much different from any of the previous deployments. We are here as part of an Advise and
Assist Brigade conducting stability operations to complete the transition to Iraqi self reliance. In other
words, we are here to help the Iraqis find Iraqi long term solutions to Iraqi problems. We will NOT be
conducting combat operations. We will be conducting training with Iraqi junior leaders through the
Stability Transition Teams, conducting Key Leader Engagements to build relationships and to better
learn how we can advise and assist, and supporting the Provincial Reconstruction Teams with movement
and security so they can facilitate further Government of Iraq development. We will also do whatever is
possible to facilitate the standing up of a US Consulate in Basra.
I would like to offer a few things for those of you who are newly married or experiencing your first
military deployment. A year is a long time, but you and your relationship can be stronger when the
deployment is done. Communication is the key, so I encourage you to stay connected with your loved
one. Whether that be via email, snail mail, Facebook, Twitter, or phone, come up with a plan or
schedule to keep the lines of communication open. Second, find a deployment buddy – someone you
can talk to, vent with, or share the hardship with. Third, get involved with the community, the FRG, the
local schools, etc. If you have a problem or issue that you can’t resolve, contact the FRG, FRSA or Rear
Detachment and they can point you in the right direction and/or assist.
I am proud to be associated with this great unit, and truly honored to be in command. I am proud of all
our Soldiers, leaders, and families and I couldn’t be happier with their performance thus far.

Always Ready! First Team’s First String!



ANDREW T. POZNICK
LIEUTENANT COLONEL, INFANTRY
Commanding

another year passes without her

isabelle chloe
as i moved away from my family 10 years ago, i was so twitterpated i never thought of what i'd miss. my sister gillian got married 2 months after i did, and i didn't have the documents to go across the border. so i missed her wedding. then the following feb she had a baby girl. isabelle chloe. missed that too. so the following june my sister leah got married and i had recieved my visa so i was able to go and be a bridesmaid at her wedding. that week i was up was the first time i'd get to hold, kiss and cuddle my new little niece. sadly it was the last as well. isabelle died peacefully in her sleep the following month. what heartbreak for my sister. i dropped everything to be by her side through this trial.
yesteday was her birthday, and she would be 10. i can honestly say not a day goes by when i don't think of her and her mother. i am so grateful for the plan of salvation that allows us to be together forever. i am also grateful for gillian and her strength, and example of carrying on even on the toughest days.
i know she is watching over her mom, dad and brother, and in some ways, all of us. i think of the saying "Because someone we love is in heaven, we feel a little bit of heaven in our home." and the comfort it can bring.
we love and miss you dearly isabelle.

an update

from the LT!!! he's been gone not even a week, and we miss him terribly. glas to hear things are going well for him. we love you!!!

http://herkaliciousadventures.blogspot.com

say good-bye to.....

the blog. i am done with blogging for now. as if you couldn't tell. i have decided to stop because i either have too much to say, or not enough. in recent days my life has changed and has put things in a different light. i need to step away from this to stay in line with what i need to. life is tough..... everybody's is.

here i sit.....

wondering what to write. wondering what's okay to write. wondering if it's worth it. i vowed to write every week to show my gratitude. that got boring really quick. (sorry kass. i'm not as talented as you.) then i said i would just write the going on's here at home. boring. i don't have the drama, excitement, adventure that is needed for an interesting blog. however it's been a long time, and i feel the need to update. so bear with me.

school ended, and hannah did wonderful. she loves school and trys really hard. she received two awards. one for outstanding achievement in english, and being a good citizen. way to go girlie!!

brad and i were together for our 10 year anniversary. that was our first one together in 4 years. we didn't do anything spectacular, just being together was enough.

the summer was hot!! we invested in a swimming pool us, and we definitely got our money's worth. the girls swam in it daily, and they both had swimming birthday parties.

sandee, brad's mom, came for a visit. we had so much fun. she absolutely LOVES the girls and spoils them ROTTEN!! she's a hardworking, brave woman who's starting a new phase in her life, and i hope it works out for the best. we will actually see her soon as she's coming in a few weeks.

then my dad, brother and nephew came to visit. we just hung out at the lake the whole time it seemed. they came at a busy time with school just about to start and frg stuff (a nightmare) so i hope we'll visit again soon.

Then brad was gone half of aug and sept. this is what is making me avoid blogging as i have very little time. and when he is home, i don't want to sit in front of the computer. you understand.

he's been told he's deploying after january but before march. it's not afganistan, it's the other place. well iraq is sending troops home early, so it's hard to think that they won't change it to afganistan. that would suck... big time. i thought is was okay with deploying, i have to be, but some days i'm not sure. i want to go running home to mom, but the other half feels okay with staying. i have made great friends here, and know i can depend on them if i need to. but nothing is as comforting as a hug from your mom, no matter how old you are. we still have time to decide. i'll keep you posted.

then just as fast as it came the summer ended. hannah started second grade and ainnsley started pre-k...... all day, everyday!! first day she loved it. then she hated it.... for about a week. so she needed new shoes, as she grew big time this summer, and they were pink and sparkly. she was so excited to show her teacher that she has had no problems since.

so it's just me and breonna all day. some days i feel like we are just in the car from 7am to 3pm, but others we are so bored. it's fun to just have us. i feel like her first year we were moving, traveling, settling that it just flew right by, so this will be fun!

so that's where we are. much the same, but soon to be much different.

happy, sad, happy, sad.....

well it's been an interesting week or so. our family is well. breonna is a walking machine. it's so fun to see her pride as she struts around the house. the older girls are enjoying the summer weather. they love playing out in the water. i love ease dropping to hear what made up situation they've created. oh the simplistic lives of children. this is our first summer together as a family in four years, and we have great plans.

brad was promoted from 2nd lt to 1st lt. not really sure what that means, but i know it come with a pay raise, so i'll take it. he absolutely loves his job and it was wonderful to be part of his ceremony. i'm so proud of him and all he does for our family. he is the love of my life and still after 10 years makes my heart skip a beat when i see him.

just before brad's promotion we learned that he will be deploying early next year. it really hasn't sunk in yet. when i think about it, i get sad. i knew it was coming obviously, but we were originally told aug 2011. so it puts this summer in perspective. everything is turning into, this year we should, we need to, what about....

i think of the impact it will have on the girls. too young to understand, but still affecting them. breonna and him took a long time to become buddies, and how long will it take them again? can i do it on my own? can i be strong enough? it was always over a year away, and now it's closer.

he is very excited. he's one of the last troops that will close out iraq, supposedly. that's from our pres and we know what that means.... nothing. he's excited to go as a lt and a platoon leader. "more action" he says. that makes my stomach flip

so a new page fast approaches our lives.

happy and sad.

the truth about me

i absolutely love my life. i have a wonderful husband who loves me regardless, three beautiful, healthy girls and we all like each other pretty well. it's easy to say i am very fulfilled.
that being said, here's the truth about me. my house is always just a little untidy. i hate housework. i get tired of it. it's the same thing day in and day out.
i am most always in my work out clothes, aka. pajamas. and that's how it's been for six years. i only change if i'm meeting someone or have an appointment. so yes, i am a chick who wears pj's at walmart.
i hate doing make up. i wouldn't be caught dead without my make up as a teenager, but now it's just a tedious task.
my kids watch more than the recommended two hours of tv a day. then the other hours they're on the computer or ds.
i cannot function without caffeine. it's the absolute first thing i do in the morning. i am truly addicted.
i hate my hair. i'm never happy with it.
i love tattoos. i wish i had more, and i wish mr h had some.
i love to cook, but i hate the clean up. i'd eat out everyday if i could, however that would just add to the 50 lbs i need to lose.
i'm the worst dieter in the world. i almost never last day one.
i like to exercise, but am too lazy to do it regularly.
my favorite thing to do is watch tv in bed.
so that's the truth. i completely understand if half of you remove yourself, and the other half........ welcome to the club.