591st sapper company august newsletter

8/4/2019 591st Sapper Company August Newsletter

1/12

OUR MAILING ADDRESSWE will let you know when

we get an update for this

In this Issue:

First Sergeants

Soap Box 3

XOs Two Cents 5

1st Platoon 6

2nd Platoon 9

3rd Platoon 11

Company Commanders CornerCPT Mark H. Welch

Where to begin for the Month of August is a tough

spot to start. Lets begin with what day of the week is it? Orhas the sun risen already? Those are questions that pop up

from time to time based on the high operational tempo at the

moment. The platoons have done an incredible job adjusting to

missions that change on a moments notice. During August the

company really shined in Iraq clearing routes to allow others to

go home safely to their families, conducting demolition ranges

with Infantry Companies as well as our Iraqi Counterparts, and

completing many training requirements.1SG Skidmore departed on leave and SFC Ipatzi did

a commendable job in his absence. Our prayers go out to him

for the next selection

Board to Master

Sergeant that occurs

later this fall.

For the Soldiers benefit

and morale weconducted an all hands

bar-b-que. The platoons

competed in games of

mental toughness and

physical strength and

endurance.


2/12

First Platoon had a great month that included one of the awesome moments as

they took a picture (see page 8) that captured the culminating blast on the

demolition range. This is definitely a keeper in the Sapper Photo Collection as they

represented themselves, the 591stEN CO and the POW MIAs always remembering they

Will Never Be Forgotten.

During the month the company received a command visit lead by MAJ

Morgan and MAJ Hoyman along with CSM Hart. Overall assessment is that the 591st isdoing pretty darn good as we run the show within the 1-5 CAV boundaries. One thing

for sure is that they were left in the dust by CPT

Gustavson and 1LT OConnor during a cross-fit

workout that is not for the feint or weak hearted.

CPT Gus moving out on with good form and a 45

pound weight to build the core strength. In the

background is CPT Diaz, our Intel Officer and

standing behind him is MAJ Hoyman the newBattalion Executive Officer. To be honest all of

these guys are PT Studs that set the example for others to follow.

CSM Hart went on a mission during his VIP visit to see how the platoon

operates and provide some Senior NCO guidance. This mission ended up more like the

boat trip on Gilligans Island for us older folk. It started out to be a short 6 hour mission

and ended up to be our longest mission of the deployment at 15 hours and here is

why!!!

Back to Awesome 591st Story- the unit had so many Soldiers earn company coins,

promotable statuses, and continue executing their missions and I am blessed and

proud to be their Commander. The 1SG will identify those personnel, but as a

company we grow on a daily basis as the We Strike Family and remain focused on our

task at hand. Once we return to Fort Campbell we can sit back and reflect on these

moments that will leave us with the memories of our efforts on Route Clearance

Operations to reduce the IEDs in USD-N and provide safe passage to all.Until Next Month, Take Care, GOD Bless, and Go Phillies / GO Eagles

Our Vehicle, just

your normal

breakdownIntroducing the

hero of the day,

Recovery Vehicle 2.

Recovery Vehicle #1, it

did not do so well so it

needed a little help from

his friend also known as

recovery vehicle #2


3/12

First Sergeants Soap Boxby 1SG K. Skidmore

Another month has come and gone, bringing us a little closer to returningto our family and loved one. As we get closer to transferring this countryback to the Iraqi people communications home are going to become moreand more difficult. As you know the post office here on Speicher isscheduled to shut sown on the 10th of September and now the fate of theinternet service provider has come into question. I will try to keep you upto date on avenues available to talk with your Soldier through Bethany(tag your it, Bethany) Highsmith. Just remember, the way this is going towork over the next few months is that it is going to get harder and more

difficult before it gets any better.

The Company had a good month for promotions. Jared Deweese addedhis first rocker with his promotion to Staff Sergeant , the other Jared, JaredMartin and Steven Weeks joined the NCO Corps with their promotion toSergeant. Chase Buettner was promoted to Specialist and Kayron Brooksand Travis Sloan were promoted to Private First Class. Also, SPCChristopher McConnell was awarded the Good Conduct Medal.Congratulations to all.

I just returned from leave a few days ago. While I was at home I had theopportunity to participate in a Family Readiness Group meeting. Thankyou to all those that attend voluntarily and even involuntarily. As I havesaid before, if you have any questions or issues you need help with pleasesend them to me through Bethany (got ya again) Highsmith and I willaddress them as soon I can. Also, while at home I got the chance to seesome of the newest members of the 591st Family. Congratulation go outto SGT Eric and Dorierann Westbrook on the arrival of Quinn and to SGT

Nicholas and Mandy May on the birth of Madalynn.

Just a reminder for all the families, due to current operations andrequirements the internet and other communications systems my becomescarce over the next few months, We will try to keep everyone updatedas best as possible.

Until next month, be safe.


4/12

Augusts promotions and awards

SSG Jared Deweese

SPC Chase Buettner, PFC

Kayron Brooks and PFC

Travis Sloan

SGT Jared Martin and SGT

Steven Weeks

SPC Christopher McConnell


5/12

Ramblings of a Mad XOby CPT Donald A. Gus Gustavson

Actually he is just on leave


6/12

Hello to everyone back home. Once again the PLT has had a busy month in AUG. Everyone is

beginning to see that this deployment will soon be over and we will be back home with our

loved ones in a few months. This month was spent in conducting patrols, beating ourselves

up at the gym, enjoying a company BBQ, and working with the Iraqi Army on route

clearance. The highlight of this month was being able to go out on 27 AUG and conduct a

PLT demolition range. Some of the pictures in this newsletter will be from that range.

Sappers always love blowing things up. As PFC Eason stated at the range, This isnt a range

this is a big Sapper playground, over there on that tank is our jungle gym. Until next month.

To all our loved ones back home we miss you. ROME 17

FIRST Platoon1LT RYAN ROCCO OCONNOR SFC MICHAELTHE BEAST COMFORT

LT OConnor 1ST

in Arm Wrestling PFC Eason & PFC Hutchinson

stomping the competition at spades

Sappers in the Breach

Just wanted to say hi to my

beautiful wife Kaitlin and my

dog, Captain. A few months togo, keep it up. Love Justin

SGT Hitchcock showing his PLT Spirit


7/12

FIRST Platoon

To all the people back home that

support us, thanks for everything.To my Great Wife, Love you so much

and Ill be Home ASAP. Miss you honey.

Hey, everything is good

thanks

For the care packages,

hope to see everybody

soon PFC Covalcine

Everything is going good. Thank you

for all the care packages and stuff.

Hope to see you all soon. PFC Ross

Thank you to all of my family and friends for all their

great love and support They have shown me! Love an

miss all of you SHNOOGINS! PFC Clark

To Courtney,

my lovely wife I Love You

and will see you very

soon on R&R.

To Waylan, Miss ya little

man and when Dad gets

home we will give Mom a

little break.

Love Ya, SSG Deweese


8/12

FIRST Platoon

ONLY THE STRONG

1/591 and Soldiers from A/1-5 CAV

finish training with a Bang

Sapper Eagle Air Assault


9/12

Despite the sweltering 120 degree plus weather in August at the height of the

summer in Iraq, 2nd Platoon continued to work with a sense of purpose, running

Missions, conducting training, and working with the Iraqi Army and Iraqi Police.Conducting Missions almost every other day, the Platoon cleared three different

routes, supporting US and Coalition mobility throughout Salah ad Din. In addition to

a Mission focus, 2nd Platoon also conducted multiple training events including

training members of 1-5 CAV on Engineer equipment, tactics, and techniques,

conducting a demolitions range, and conducting a rifle range. In keeping with the

focus of Operation New Dawn, the Platoon continued to train and conduct Route

Clearance Patrols with the Iraqi Armys 4th Field Engineer Regiment, successfully

clearing multiple routes and continuing to build the vital skills they will need toprotect their country when US Forces return home.

SECOND Platoon2LT JAMES TF LOWE LOWE SFC ERiC RANGER RiCK PRESCOTT

During the Rifle Range, 2nd Platoon Soldiers

ained confidence in their equipment by

ezeroing their personal weapons and

onducting night familiarization fire, using

both visible and infrared lasers in conjunction

with their night vision goggles and tracers.

Keeping proficient on basic Soldier skills, likeifle marksmanship is imperative in staying

harp in the fight.

The firing line through night vision goggles

during night fire

2nd Platoon leads the charge for the

591st EN CO in conducting Route

Clearance Patrols with the Iraqi 4th FER,

helping build partnership, trust, and

confidence. Soldiers and Leaders arefamiliar by now with working with the

4th FER, having completed multiple

successful missions, each time honing

the skills of our Iraqi counterparts.

2/591 and 4th FER Soldiers receive a

Patrol Brief


10/12

SECOND PlatoonOne of the best ways to learn about new equipment is to see it and use it in action. In

keeping with this idea, 2nd Platoon provided valuable hands-on training for our 1-5 CAV

counterparts in order to train them on our capabilities and built confidence in our

abilities. After seeing our equipment in action, 1-5 CAV was so impressed they

requested demolitions training, which 2nd Platoon provided to select personnel later in

the month. During demolitions training, Soldiers and Team Leaders led the charge to

properly train our Infantry brothers in arms, and successfully lead each shot in a safe

and efficient manner.

2/591 and B/1-5 Soldiers

build a charge

The Breach Team

properly sets up a

rubber strip

charge

SAPPER

AIR ASSAULT


11/12

THIRD Platoon1LT BENJAMiN HUGHEY SCHMiDT SFC AARON SMART TiPPETT

Poor SPC Watson, and I have no idea whats

going on with PFC Boadi.

3rdPLT and Iraqi Army EOD and Engineers after some Demo fun.

This might not buff out. PFC

Anglinsnew ride


12/12

THIRD Platoon

Hi Mom! I hope that your recovery

is going good. Everything is good

here. I hope the rest of you are

doing well. Ill see you soon.

Love Shaun

Hey pops hey Joe! Everything is

going good just counting down

the days we get to leave this

place. Cant wait to see you guysand relax and have a few cold

ones. Love Ya, Anthony

SGT Hayes arm wrestles PFC Gibson during

the AUG unit BBQ. He took 1st place in his

weight class overall.

Hello to all my friends and family back home.

I love and miss you guys tons. I want to send

a special shout out to my parents (mom &

dad love you guys and thank you for all

youve done for me.) Cant wait to get home

and spend some time in AZ. Take care and

see yall soon..Oh yeah, GO CARDINALS

DIAMONDBACKS!!!

Hey Family! Just wanted to let you all

know I am doing great out here and all

is well! Miss you tons and cant wait to

see all of you again!

Especially you Lindsay, My Lil

Croissant.

591st sapper company august newsletter

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