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Warhorse Brigade connects from Iraq to Fort Carson
Tuesday, 07 October 2008
Colonel Butch Kievenaar, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. commander, answers a Warhorse Family member’s question by streaming real-time video feed from Iraq to Fort Carson, via satellite during a Family update meeting Oct. 2. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Carlos Burger)
CAMP ECHO, Iraq – Having recently arrived in Iraq, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division headquarters held an update meeting for Family members by streaming live video from Iraq to Fort Carson, Colo., via satellite Oct. 2.
Family members back home were able to ask questions or voice concerns in real-time directly to the brigade commander, Col. Butch Kievenaar, who also answered previously emailed questions.
“I appreciate everyone taking time out to come today. We will continue to do these (Family update meetings) at least monthly. If you’re looking to find out the most current information, get current pictures, stories about what your spouses and your units are doing, please use the virtual (Family Readiness Group web site),” Kievenaar said. “We are trying to push as much information as we can back there. There is the rumor control button (on the VFRG web site). If you’ve got a question, if you’ve heard something and you’re trying to get information, please use that.”
Some of the topics of discussion included environmental morale leave dates, which will run from November thru July, getting mail to the Soldiers and quality of life.
“At this point for anybody in 2nd Brigade, if you’ve got an APO address, you can start sending (your Soldiers) packages and letters,” Kievenaar said.
Kievenaar explained that different units from the brigade are experiencing varying living and working conditions because most of the units are moving into areas where there was no prior, sustained U.S. presence.
“We have to either change what we’ve encountered or build it up to get it to the standards that we want for our Soldiers. We’re working very hard at each of the locations to provide what I have established as the minimum quality of life for each Soldier,” said Kievenaar.
Those standards ensure that every Soldier has a climate-controlled environment to live in, whether a tent with a constructed floor, a building or a containerized housing unit. All housing environments have power, protection against attack and access to showers and latrines.
Each of the locations will also have internet and phone access, water points and a dining facility, said Kievenaar.
He said that quality of life will continue to improve with a goal to put all Soldiers into buildings. The brigade also plans to improve methods for Soldiers to communicate with their Families, including video teleconference and Web cam capabilities.
“We will use every means necessary to try to ensure that we can provide a capability for you and your spouse to be able to interact and we won’t stop until we are able to fix all of those pieces. We don’t have that at every location right now, but we are working hard to achieve that,” said Kievenaar. “We will continue to work to try to get the VTC capability to each of the battalions so that you are able to talk to your loved ones and see them and carry on a conversation as if they were there.”
Kievenaar also explained that the brigade has a mission of overwatch in the area, but that the Iraqi Security Forces are in charge of security in the Iraqi Provinces that the brigade operates in.
“The security forces that are here are very good. The task that we have is to continually make them better. They still need a lot of our assistance as they execute their operations, but it is not the same type of army or police force that we encountered before. They are vastly improved from the last time I was here and the last time that most of your spouses were here,” said Kievenaar.
“Here in Iraq, there are a lot of changes that are ongoing. The security situation is vastly different even when I came on a pre-deployment site survey. The attacks are way down across all of Iraq,” said Kievenaar.
The information given at the meeting will also be placed on the VFRG web site, said Connie Kallerson, brigade Family Readiness Support Assistant. She has received requests for the information from Family members across the country.
“It’s important for Families to hear information directly from the commander. It is straight from the source and they can trust the information. They can question him directly and make sure their concern is addressed,” said Kallerson.
“The Family members were pleased. They learned a lot and it was to the point. It was the questions they wanted answered and the information they wanted to hear,” said Kallerson.
Approximately 500 Family members showed up for the event, with others contributing emails.
“I can’t thank you enough for all the support that you give to your spouses and the Soldiers in the units,” said Kievenaar. “They have performed magnificently over here as we have dealt with some complex issues and a changing situation as we were deploying in. I appreciate everything you do every day in taking care of your Soldiers and we are working hard every day to take care of their needs.”
“As I’ve said before, you are the true heroes. You enable us to do the missions that the nation has asked us to do,” said Kievenaar.
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