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Volume 1, Issue 1

The GoldminerThe Goldminer

749th Combat Susta inment Support Batta l ion

Upcoming Events:

10 –12 SEPT Drill

12 SEPT YELLOW

RIBBON EVENT

12 OCT DRILL/AT

(PLEASE SEE DRILL

SECTION)

12 OCT-6 NOV CAMP

ROBERTS

12 NOV Farewell Ceremony

13 NOV TVL FT HOOD

13 NOV-17 DEC FT HOOD

17 DEC FLY TO KUWAIT

The 749th CSSB, formerly the

749th Maintenance battalion,

is one of the few remaining

units in the CAARNG that can

trace its lineage back to when

it was part of the old 49th In-

fantry Division. This division,

also known as the "49er divi-

sion" had a Gold-miner pan-

ning for gold on its shoulder

patch and unit flags. This im-

age represented the Gold Rush

history of Northern California.

The Goldminer logo and the nickname Goldminers connects the battalion to

its past service with the 49th Infantry Division as well as the California Gold

rush days.

Welcome to the New BN Newsletter! 1st Quarter FY2011

Inside This Issue:

Commander & CSM 2

Chaplain Corner 2

Welcome to 749TH! 2

Yellow Ribbon Event 3

Congratulations! 3

749TH Readiness 4

Family Readiness Group 4

Snapshot Soldier 5

Training Pics 6

Birthdays 6

“The Life l ine o f Batt le”

WANTED: Your pictures! Please send any pictures you take

during training to sheila.babot@ng.army.mil

Training….. Training….. and you got it - more training!

We have been spending a lot of time at the Camp Roberts Training Area; a former U.S. Army

base in central California, which sits on both sides of the Salinas River in Monterey and San

Luis Obispo counties and is named after Harold W. Roberts, a World War I Medal of Honor

recipient. It is here that we have training for deployment. Camp Roberts provided Combat

Lifesaver (CLS), Driver, Radio Communications, Combative, Anti-terrorism, Rollover and

Weapons Training during T4T for 38 of the 78 Service Members preparing to Mobilize to Iraq.

This set the stage for Annual Training (AT) 6

August-27 August where the remaining Ser-

vice Members had the opportunity to train.

During this 3 week AT, those Soldiers that

trained in July will have the opportunity to set-

tle into their new sections for deployment. All

troops will be returning to Camp Roberts in

October for a second 3 week AT coupled with

an adjoining drill totaling nearly 4 weeks of

training prior to their movement to Ft. Hood.

With 100% success in training the troops, the

749TH CSSB will be Army Strong once they

hit the sandbox in December in order to sup-

port Operation New Dawn.

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Almighty God, We thank you that you

have enabled us to serve our Country

in Iraq. Care for our families and

keep them strong. Thank you for the

wisdom and experience of our BN. It

is a gift to be brought together in a

Goldminer Battalion, congratulations on an

outstanding pre-mobilization annual training

exercise this past August. The headquarters

and the staff performed superbly. Our training

has without question established the 749th

CSSB as the premier support battalion in the

California Army National Guard. No other

logistics formation has the functions and capa-

bilities to command and control sustainment

operations like we do. This is a credit to you,

the Soldiers of the 749th CSSB, who live up to

the motto “Lifeline of Battle”. The operations tempo now through our

actual mobilization day is high as we will conduct staff exercises and

command posts exercises at Camp Roberts and Ft Hood. Furthermore,

many of our fellow Soldiers are currently attending required training at

various Army garrisons nationwide in preparation for the deployment.

Although the training we are about to enter into will be both rigorous

and challenging I have a high level of confidence that each of you will

exceed that standard. There are very few days remaining before we go

back to Camp Roberts and depart for Fort Hood. I strongly encourage

everyone to take care of business at home in order to prepare your-

selves and your family for our deployment. Also, take time to spend

some quality time with your family as well as consider your plans for

your mid-tour leave. Maybe take that trip to Hawaii you have always

talked about. Start planning now, you will be glad that you did. Re-

member mission first, Soldiers and families always! Lastly, a note on

communication. Keep your chain of command informed at all times.

Keep your Soldiers in the loop. High performance organizations com-

municate well thorough out the chain of command. Your efforts at

effective communication will reduce stress and make the challenges of

mobilization less challenging.

Incoming Soldiers Officers:

None at this time

Incoming Soldiers Enlisted:

None at this time

Welcome to the 749TH CSSB “Lifeline of

Battle”. I am delighted you are joining us as a new

749TH CSSB Soldier. Your role is critical in fulfill-

ing the mission of our Battalion and the California

Army National Guard.

Chaplains’ Corner CHAPLAIN DURHAM, DANA

BN Commander & CSM Notes

LTC David A. Ceniti & CSM Paulo K. Vaka

Welcome to the 749TH CSSB!Welcome to the 749TH CSSB!

Page 2 The Goldminer Volume 1 , Issue 1

way that will enable absolute success for Operation New Dawn.

May the citizens of Iraq be empowered to be strong and unified

as they continue to defend against insurgents. Give them wis-

dom and courage as they build a free country. Continue to pro-

tect our troops and grant them success in their new mission. In

your matchless name we pray, Amen.

For the last two months, I have wit-

nessed so many people step up to the

plate, put their differences aside and

work together as a team. We are not

quite there yet, but at least we have

an idea who we’re working with,

who is going to be our Warrior Com-

panion, scratch that…BATTLE

BUDDY is and so on. I know it is

getting close to our projected deploy-

ment dates; however, we still have

quite a few training requirements, briefings and training

obstacles we have to complete. I know most of you still

have the deployment packing list that was distributed last

month and if you don’t have a copy please contact your

squad leader or immediate supervisor today. I am sorry I

won’t be there for the Battalion Yellow Ribbon events for

our friends and families; CSM Waterhouse will be the

BN CSM during my absence. Please take some time to

introduce yourself and your family; CSM Waterhouse

will be an integral part of our operations as well as taking

care of Soldiers and their families. Until then, spend qual-

ity time with your family and loved ones.

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The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration

Program (YRRP) consists of infor-

mational events and activities for the

members of the reserve component

of the Armed Forces, their families,

and community members to facili-

tate access to services supporting

their health and well-being through

the 4 phases of the deployment cy-

cle:

1) Pre-Deployment

2) Deployment

3) Demobilization

4) Post-Deployment/Reconstitution

This program assists more than just

the Soldier, but provides support

and services to Soldier’s families,

Soldier’s employers, communities,

as well as their respective units.

The YRRP provides education,

information, services, referrals and

proactive out-reach

opportunities for all

involved throughout

the entire deployment

cycle.

Our YRRP is going to

take place at the

Crowne Plaza Garden

Grove in

Concord,

California

(see en-

closed map). Lunch and child-

care are provided at the hotel.

The uniform is ACU with beret.

Top APFT Scores

Yellow Ribbon Event - Sunday, September 12, 2010

Top 2 Mile Time for Male/Female:

SSG MOXLEY DARRYL - 12:51

2LT BABOT SHEILA - 16:36

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The Physical Fitness Badge is awarded to

Soldiers who obtain a minimum total score

of 270, with a minimum score of 90 on

each event, and meet the weight control

requirements in AR 600-9.

SSG MOXLEY DARRYL GORDON 300 PASS 19-Jun-2010

SSG FOSTER ANDREW OQUINDO 299 PASS 18-Apr-2010

CPT HENDREN SHAWN MARIE 294 PASS 18-Apr-2010

CPT CLARK BRIAN ELLIOT 293 PASS 18-Apr-2010

CSM VAKA PAULO KUPA 291 PASS 16-Dec-2008

2LT BABOT SHEILA RENEE 289 PASS 2-Jun-2010

SGT SIEGLE ROBERT PATTON 289 PASS 3-Oct-2009

SGT FRESCAS MARY LOUISE 287 PASS 3-Oct-2009

2 SEPT SGT FRESCAS, MARY

11 SEPT SFC EADDY KEVIN

16 SEPT MAJ GREEN, MARVIN

19 SEPT CPT PARKS, JOHN

21 SEPT MSG DIAZ, DAVID

25 SEPT PFC CARTER, ANTHONY

29 SEPT CSM VAKA, PAULO

6 OCT LTC CENITI, DAVID

7 OCT SFC OLIVER, LARDELL

10 OCT SGT CARR, GERARDO

12 OCT CW4 CLARKE, THOMAS

14 OCT SPC JOHNSON, JACOB

24 OCT SFC PEREZ, JOSE

25 OCT SPC AQUILIZAN, MARIA

30 OCT MSG RAE, OREN

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749th Readiness Scorecard Rankings

As of: 11 September 2010 Primary Business Address:

Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

711 Hillcrest Ave Benicia, California 94510

Phone: (707) 745-0508

Fax: (707) 745-6174

Battalion Adjutant: shawn.hendren@us.army.mil

U.S. Army - Cal i fornia army nationa l guard

ones that I’ve been working so hard

on getting. Also, I really want to

meet your families and children

because I have so many summer

Hello and thank you to everyone

who registered for the Yellow Rib-

bon Event. I just want to let every-

one know how important it is for

everyone to have their primary

Point Of Contact REGIS-

TERS!!!! There will be

“Opportunity Drawings” dur-

ing the Yellow Ribbon Event

and then some Grand Prizes

that can only be collected if

YOU and YOUR primary POC

are registered online for the

event!! So HA! Register, I

really want everyone to have

an opportunity to win the big

camp opportunities for children of

deployed members that your fami-

lies can take advantage of.

Soon we will be on the web,

this is a work in progress but

once we have it completed you

and your families will be able

to access a multitude of infor-

mation. Lastly your coopera-

tion with everything has helped

us out a great deal in organiz-

ing the Yellow Ribbon Event

and Farewell Ceremony, Thank

You!

Family Readiness Group Leader

by Jessica Jennings

We are on the WEB!

www.lifelineofbattle.com

%

STRENGTH 83.6

MOSQ 83.6

NVP 1

PHA 82

APFT Pass 62

HHC CDR CPT HENDREN

HHC 1SG 1SG BAKER

S1 CPT GALVAN

S2 1LT GARTON

S3 CPT PARKS

S4 CPT ALAN

S6 CW2 SCHWEITZER

BMO 1LT BIRTCIL

SPO MAJ CHAMBERLAIN

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SGT Peralta, Cyrus J.

Section: SPO

MOS: 88N

SMOS: 63B, 88M

Married: No

Children: No

SGT Peralta was born

in Frankfurt Germany

in 1977 where both his

mother and father were in the military. His father did

a 1 tour with Army Active Duty and his mother is a

34 year California National Guard Veteran (AGR)

who retired at the OTAG service maintenance office.

While she was full-time at Camp Roberts, California

they lived in the Trailer Park (still in use) and his

grandfather planted the willow tree that still grows

today. SGT Peralta joined the California Army Na-

tional Guard in 1995, holds an AA in Motorcycle

Technology, entered the 749TH in January 2010 and

this is his second deployment. He has a passion for

motorcycles and fishing for all types of fish, season

dependent.

Misfires: SGT Peralta, while on deployment in Iraq

brought his own camping commode for lack of fa-

cilities. He seen an opportunity to go when a gunner

was injured and needed light medical attention.

Making his way over sand hills, feeling certain not to

be seen, he set up shop. About half through his busi-

ness he feels the commode begin to give way and

collapse and as it does he goes into a crab like stance

using his heels and elbows to complete his mission.

Just as this happens an entire platoon of 915’s rolls

over the hill and begin taking pictures and laughing.

“Just when you think you’re all alone and at the most

inopportune time…” - SGT Peralta

SSG Baranovic, Nicholas

Section: S2

MOS: 35M

SMOS: 63B

Married: No

Children: 1 Daughter

SSG Baranovic was born in

Florissant, Missouri where

he lived until he was 17 yrs

old. He has an AA from Wentworth Military Acad-

emy and continued his education at Middle Tennessee

State University. SSG Baranovic commissioned as a

Military Intelligence Officer in 2005 and moved to

California after Officer Basic Course to attend the Ara-

bic Basic Course at the Language Institute in Mon-

terey. He later decided to return to the enlisted ranks,

resigning his commission when his wife became preg-

nant so that he could better provide for his family and

became a 35M. SSG Baranovic stayed in California

for the opportunities, he has been in the CAARNG for

8 and a half years and this is his first deployment. He

has a passion for woodworking where he enjoys build-

ing furniture.

Misfires: While attending school at Fort Huachuca,

he took a hike into the desert. While hiking he tripped

over a loose rock and fell down a hill and into desert

and beavertail cactus! Luckily he had his GERBER to

pull the needles out of his arm, neck and face. Look-

ing like he had lost the battle with cacti his ID card

appointment the next day was unavoidable. Good

times.

Snapshot Soldier

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