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CAMP VICTORY, Iraq (January 12, 2009) - The
40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion held a mass re-enlistment
ceremony entitled "Operation 200" at the Al Faw Palace at Camp
Victory, Iraq, Dec. 31.
The New Year's ceremony began at 2330 with an invocation given
by Chaplain Capt. Vincent Garcia, 40th ESB.
The national anthem was played by the 10th Mountain Band Brass
section and at 0001 hours 125 Soldiers rose as Lt. Col. Linda
Jantzen, commander of the 40th ESB, issued the reaffirmation. Three
Soldiers were selected to tell why they chose to re-enlist in the
Army.
"Re-enlisting on New Year's is important because it's symbolic
to starting anew, doing something else that you love for another
year...when I decided to re-enlist it was to take further advantage
of the opportunities the Army has afforded me and to give my little
girl the opportunity to see things I wasn't able to see as a
child," said Spc. Tavares Thomas.
The goal of Operation 200 was to reenlist 200 Soldiers on New
Year's. With 125 in attendance, eight of which attended via video
teleconference from Afghanistan. The event was viewed as a huge
success.
"Even though it wasn't quite what we envisioned it was a
phenomenal success," said Maj. David Lambrecht, executive officer
for the 40th ESB. "Lt. Col. Jantzen said it best in her speech 'if
you want to reach the moon you have to shoot for the stars.' With
125 re-enlistments the battalion will have exceeded the retention
goal for the entire FY09 in the first quarter alone, which is a
great credit to the whole reenlistment team."
The week began with the arrival of Soldiers and guests from all
over theater including Commanders Brig. Gens. James T. Walton,
335th Signal Command; Scott E. Chambers, 261st Signal Brigade and
Gregory L. Brundidge, Multi-National Force-Iraq CJ6. This ceremony
required a lot of work and coordination, in which there were plenty
of volunteers.
Thirty Soldiers worked together to hang the large American flag
and others worked to ensure all the necessary arrangements were
made to support the event. Sgt. David Ostrum, 40th ESB
re-enlistment NCO and Staff Sgt. Lisa Cowboy, 40th ESB career
counselor, worked tirelessly to ensure all the records and
contracts were correct and ready by the time of the ceremony.
"The whole event turned out great," said Cowboy. "With lots of
careful records scanning it was a really good feeling to be able to
get every Soldier what they wanted whether it was a bonus or a
specific duty assignment."
The Soldiers had their individual photos taken in the infamous
Sadam Hussein chair inside the palace; they also had the
opportunity to send greetings back home to their Families and
friends. Each of the Soldiers received a battalion coin, American
flag, certificate and a t-shirt to commemorate the event.
The ceremony concluded with a New Year's Prayer and benediction
by Garcia and the singing of the Army song.
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