August

Newsletter

1 | P a g e

Charlie106th Financial Management

Support Detachment

August News Letter

United States Army Finance Corps

CONTENTS

Page 2 ….. From the Commander Page 3 ….. From the Detachment Sergeant

Page 4 …… Prime Time Leaders Training Page 5 ……. Change of Command

Page 6 ……. Military Education Page 7-8 …….. Soldier’s perspective on

Leadership Page 9 - 11 ……… Hail & Farewell Charlie

Cobras Page 12 …….. Det. Hero of the Month

Page 13 …….. Upcoming Events

August

Newsletter

2 | P a g e

From the Commander

Cobras,

“Yours is the profession of arms, the will to win, the sure knowledge that in

war there is no substitute for victory, that if you lose, the Nation will be

destroyed, that the very obsession of your public service must be Duty,

Honor, Country.” Although spoken in 1962, this oft-quoted statement by

General Douglas MacArthur still holds tremendous implications today. As

a Soldier, especially one serving the Nation during a period of prolonged

and continuing conflict, you must completely dedicate yourself to standards

and ideals that are higher than those of the average citizen because you cannot fail to succeed. I

guarantee you will succeed in every way, in any activity or pursuit, on or off duty, if you follow my

and SFC Santos’s expectations: live above the common level of life, choose the harder right rather

than the easier wrong, never compromise, and live the Army values. In regards to living above the

common level of life, just being a Soldier mandates that you do so. Your actions and behaviors will

always be held to a higher degree of accountability than those of a civilian because your mission is

too great. This concept is all encompassing – morals, ethics, thoughts, words, and deeds – you must

act with the intent of being the best. Along the same line, when faced with a decision you must

choose the harder right rather than the easier wrong. Never disregard the standard because it appears

too difficult or seems too inconvenient. Your leaders, your subordinates, and your peers count on you

to always do what is right. By choosing the harder right, you are also expected to never compromise.

Whether it is the standard, your integrity, or what you know to be true, you must not adjust and settle

for less. Finally, inculcate the Army values into your daily life. Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless

Service, Integrity, Honor, and Personal Courage should always be considered. By following these

expectations, the Detachment will continue its tradition of success. I commend you for doing an

outstanding job this summer, and I know you will continue to do so this fall.

2LT Nicholas S. Bayer

“Lead from the Front”

August

Newsletter

3 | P a g e

From the Detachment Sergeant

Did you know that the Army has a program called Military Tuition

Assistance? This program is aside from the Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB)

and Post 9/11 GI Bill. With the Tuition Assistance program, the Army will

pay 100% of the tuition to the college that you choose to attend. This is one

of the benefits that the Army offers us, and most service members do not

take advantage of this great benefit.

Currently each Soldier gets $4,500.00 a year, the date range being 1

October to 30 September of the Fiscal Year. There are plenty of Colleges

and Universities that have online degrees available to Service Members. Take advantage by enrolling

in a College that assesses your military schooling and training to advance your education. Colleges

that consider your military schooling and training will, in many cases, apply a certain number of

semester hours towards your degree.

There is no reason for us not to take advantage of a free education. Certain schools will even pay for

your textbooks as well. If you are looking for a school that is highly considerate of Soldiers I

recommend looking into Columbia Southern University, which is out of Orange Beach Alabama.

My challenge to you is to get enrolled in a school before 1 September 2013. Furthermore, I am

challenging you to enroll in at least one class before 25 September 2013 to take advantage of the

unused benefits that are provided to us. Not only will you benefit from expanding your knowledge,

but also you will be opening up new doors for your future.

On the military side, furthering your education will not only benefit you but also will set you apart

from your peers for promotion. A college education goes a long way, even once you are done with

your military service. Take the challenge and seek to further expand your knowledge base.

SFC Melvin H. Santos

“Lead from the Front”

August

Newsletter

4 | P a g e

PRIME TIME LEADERS TRAINING

SSG Mais led Charlie Det. Soldiers through a realistic simulated convoy exercise.

The convoy exercise demonstrated how well the unit was able to move from

one point to another, how to react to IEDs, pulling proper

security, and how to send tactical reports.

SSG Herter and SGT Maquis led the

detachment through “shoot don’t shoot

scenerios” at the EST 2000.

August

Newsletter

5 | P a g e

CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY “Training tomorrow’s Leaders”

After successfully completing his command, CPT Hossain relinquished command to 2LT Bayer. CPT Hossain led the Charlie

Cobras through a successful deployment that required him to maintain command and control over personnel located in three geographically separated locations throughout Afghanistan. CPT

Hossian ensured the Detachment, tasked with running FMST missions to 11 separate austere locations during the

deployment, always completed the mission. No other detachment had such a demanding tasking during the

deployment. CPT Hossain also led the detachment through a smooth transition of taking over Military Pay Operations from

the Italy Finance Office.

August

Newsletter

6 | P a g e

MILITARY EDUCATION “Building Tomorrows Leaders”

SSG Mais and SGT (P)

Kimbrough attended SOC40

Unit Safety Officer / NCO

Course. The Unit Safety

Officer / NCO Course

teaches future Safety

Officers & NCOs how to

reduce risk within their

unit. The course was

established by the Combat

Readiness Center to ensure

the safety of Military and

DoD Civilians.

SGT Cheruiyot, SPC Killion,

and PFC Ramos attended

HAZ 11 Hazardous

Materials Drivers Training

Course. HAZ 11 teaches

Soldiers how to transport

hazardous materials such

as Ammunitions and Fuel.

This course is crucial

because it allows the

detachment to sustain its

mission.

August

Newsletter

7 | P a g e

What Leadership Means to Us…..

Leadership means that

you are the standard and

you lead by example. A

leader should show his or

her Soldier, as well as

other Soldiers, the correct way to do things. If

they fall short, let them know what they did

wrong and show them different ways they could

have handled the particular situation. A leader

should act like a leader at all times whether at

the workplace, out on post, or in the mall. A

good leader admits when he or she is wrong and

makes the correction. A good leader respects his

or her Soldier as a person and treats him or her

as an adult and not as someone who is lesser.

Leadership, and being a leader, is an everyday

journey, not a destination. Every day is a new

start and a new way to show a subordinate what

right looks like.

Carmen Ramos

PFC, USA

Pay Clerk, Customer Service

A good leader is strong,

courageous, decisive,

and knowledgeable. In

times of pressure a good

leader needs these

qualities because it is hard for people to follow

someone that is weak, indecisive, scared, and

does not have expertise. Also, a good leader is

not only someone who directs and orders his or

her people from the front but also is someone

who is able to lead alongside and behind his or

her soldiers. A good leader is not only an expert

in his or her field but also of his or her Soldiers.

A good leader can extricate his or her Soldiers

of their weaknesses and aid them in becoming

better, so that they also may be able to lead one

day. A good leader displays all of the army

values, is not hypocritical, and does not

discriminate. Under pressure a good leader does

not fold, when it is time to train a good leader

can adjust, and when it comes to his or her

expertise a good leader knows the answer.

Avery Woods

PFC, USA

Pay Clerk, Processing

August

Newsletter

8 | P a g e

The world is composed of all different races, genders, ethnic groups and

ages. Leaders come in all different shapes and sizes. I have been

exposed to various leadership styles and my comprehension of good

leadership is measured by the quality of the individuals’ prior examples

of leadership and the individual leader. Good leaders will always be

prepared, communicate effectively with their team, build trustworthy relationships, be honest,

stand for what is right, and never act without knowing the facts. Good leaders know the

company they keep. They also have a positive outlook on every situation regardless of the

circumstances. Good and effective leaders are not afraid to take the lead and do what they

must in order for their team to obtain a high level of excellence.

Camela J. Parker

SPC (P), USA

Terminal Access Security Officer

August

Newsletter

9 | P a g e

HAIL & FAREWELL COBRAS

NAME DEROS NEW DUTY STATION POSITION

CPT KHANDOKER HOSSAIN 28 JULY 13 JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI MEPS

SGT (P) ALICIA DAVIS 02 AUG 13 HAWAII 125Th FMSU

SPC JOHN THRIFT 11 AUG 13 KOREA 176TH FMSU

SPC HASSAN WILLIAMS 19 AUG 13 FT. HOOD, TX 15TH FMSU

These Charlie Cobras will continue to “Strive for Excellence and Lead From the Front” in all their

future endeavors.

August

Newsletter

10 | P a g e

2LT Bayer and SFC Santos present

SGT (P) Alicia Davis with her farewell

plaque for her hard work and dedication to

the detachment. SGT (P) Davis has served in

several positions while assigned to Charlie

Detachment. SGT (P) Davis served as the

Camp Eggers Finance Office MILPAY

NCOIC in Afghanistan and she also served

as an Auditor for the Processing Section in

Garrison.

Charlie Cobras enjoy an elegant meal at a

local Italian restaurant as a farewell dinner

for SGT (P) Davis, SPC Williams, and SPC

Thrift. Charlie Det. also welcomed SPC

Acostaramos and PFC Woods to the Cobra

family.

2LT Bayer presents SPC Williams with

plaque as a token of the detachment

appreciation for his commitment and

fortitude. SPC Williams served as a Cashier

at Camp Phoenix, Afghanistan and a

Processing Technician in Garrison.

August

Newsletter

11 | P a g e

Welcome to the Cobra Family

PFC AVERY J. WOODS

HOMETOWN: SUMTER, SC

BCT: FORT JACKSON, SC 24 February 2013

AIT: FORT JACKSON, SC 09 May 2013

PREVIOUS DUTY STATION:

AIT, FT. JCKSON, SC

SPC (P) HIRAM ACOSTRAMOS

HOMETOWN: CABO ROJO, PR

BCT: FORT JACKSON, SC 18 January 2011

AIT: FORT JACKSON, SC 01 April 2011

PREVIOUS DUTY STATION:

CAMP HENRY, SOUTH KOREA

August

Newsletter

12 | P a g e

Detachment Hero of the Month

SGT ANTHONY ALVAREZ

SGT Alvarez’s strong leadership skills and

commitment to assisting Soldiers is noteworthy.

SGT Alvarez has greatly contributed to the

detachment’s success through his determined

efforts, and his attention to detail allows the

detachment to successfully support military

operations in Italy, Africa, Spain, and Turkey.

SGT Alvarez serves as the detachment MilPay

Review/Debt Management NCO. He is

responsible for ensuring that all Finance

submissions are accurate, as well as monitoring

Debt Management issues. In addition, SGT

Alvarez’s duties include assisting the Vicenza

Finance Director analyze monthly pay inquiries

and monthly entitlements by providing detailed

transaction listings and reports. In one

noteworthy instance, SGT Alvarez briefed over

300 re-deployed soldiers from the 173rd

ABCT

on finance entitlements upon redeployment,

which enabled our Soldiers to experience a

seamless financial reintegration. SGT Alvarez

also volunteers daily at the local USO and every

community events in Vicenza. SGT Alvarez’s

Volunteer Supervisors have time and again

applauded his volunteering spirit and outgoing

personality. SGT Alvarez is a true Leader and

lives out the Army Values on the daily basis and

he is a prime example of selfless leader.

August

Newsletter

13 | P a g e

Detachment Events

SGT Kimbrough prepares bratwurst for the detachment to sell to help raise unit funds. Mrs. Bayer (2LT Bayer’s wife) Attempts to

take control of the grill.

SSG Cortez (the money man) counts out change for a supporter. The

detachment sold bratwursts, chips, and soda to help raise money for an

upcoming trip.

Italy Finance Office Local Nationals, GS Civilians and Charlie Cobras came together

to enjoy a delicious potluck. PFC Ramos hands Mrs. Green a dish from the potluck

August

Newsletter

14 | P a g e

CHARLIE DETACHMENT, 106TH FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT SUPPORT UNIT

VICENZA, ITALY

PROUDLY SERVICES

ITALY – SPAIN – TURKEY - AFRICA

UPCOMING EVENTS AND SCHOOLS

15 August Detachment Fundraiser 1100 – 1400

19 August Detachment Fundraiser 1100 – 1400

19 - 23 August Combatives Level 1 0800 - 1700

24 August Organization Day 0900 - Complete

16 – 20 September HAZ 11 / SOC 40 0830 - 1600

26 September Hail & Farewell 1100 - 1400