Monticello Live

Congratulations to Airman Joshua Ryan Walker.

He is the son of Patty and Glen Walker of Monticello One Brother Bradley Johnston and wife Amy Johnston.

He graduated from Lackland Air Force base in San Antonio Texas On Aug, 13, 2010. He is a 2008 graduate from Monticello High. The Airman Completed an Intensive Training program and is now based in Wichita Falls Texas Undergoing Training in the field Aviation mechanic.

Do you need help in filing a claim with the Veteran’s Administration for SC Disability Compensation, NSC Pension, Health Care ?  The Drew County Veteran’s Service Office provides this service to veterans.

We also assist families of deceased veterans in requesting headstones and related memorials,also outreach services for V.A. Educational Programs, V.A. Guaranteed Loan Eligibility Certificates.  Our office hours are 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays. 

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Private First Class Kenneth Kevin Trotter, son of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Trotter of Wilmar, AR, has completed entry level training for the United States Marine Corps.

His graduation of boot camp for the USMC was on January 8, 2010. This accomplishment began for him on November 2008 when he weighed in at 320 lbs. He then talked to his first Marine Corps recruiter and learned that to leave for boot camp he must weigh 190Ibs or less. At this point he started his dieting and exercise regiment that brought him to the weight of 190 lbs by April 2009 when he signed up.

October 13 2009 began his thirteen week training were he was trained in Martial arts, expert marksmanship, customs and curtsies, first aid, drill, and he overcame the crucible. Now that he is a fully qualified United States Marine his next step will be Marine Corps Combat training on Camp Pendleton CA. After he completes that training he will report to Pensacola, Fl to complete his training as a Combat Photographic Specialist.

Jackie Sharp, of Monticello, received his 2nd and 3rd award of the Purple Heart, and also received the Combat Action Badge, at a Purple Heart Ceremony, late last month.

PVT Sharp was assigned to Bravo Company, 70th Engineer Battalion, serving as a Combat Engineer in Afghanistan.

While on route clearance missions, on June 5th, and then again on July 21,2007,  his vehicle was struck by improvised explosiv devices, which casued Private Sharp’s combat injuries.

Jackie is the son of the late Donald Sharp and Debra Sharp.

His mother, Debra, and his grandmother, Dorothy Sharp, attended the ceremony, which was held in San Antonio, TX.

PVT Sharp’s first Purple Heart was awared on March 18, 2008.  Click here for that photo and information on that honorary award.

Jackie’s many family members and friends wish to express their support for Jackie, and the example that he has set, as well as appreciating the sacrifice that he has made, while serving his Country.

Private First Class Mark Chapman has completed his tour of duty with the 1st Infantry Division ( The Big Red One ) Bravo Battery 2/32 Field Artillery Regiment Ft. Riley Kansas and returned home to his beloved Monticello Arkansas.

He attended Ft Sill Oklahoma for Basic training and trained as a 13 Bravo Cannon Crew Man training in all climates and places such as Ft. Erwin CA ( Mojave Desert ), conducting live fire with the M119A2 Howitzer were he became profisent in his skill as a crewman setting fuses, implacing the Howitzer, loading and firing the weapon with great skill. He also became skilled in Air Assault manuvers with the Howitzer slinging the weapon system under the Army Blackhawk and Chinook twin rotor helicopter. (more…)

The Arkansas National Guard held its reintegration training program at UAM Saturday, in an effort to ease the transition of its returning Soldiers back into civilian life. The program is designed for the 3,000 Soldiers who recently returned from Iraq with the 39th Brigade and will provide them information about resources and services available to them and their Families.

“The goal is to make military members and their Families aware of all the benefits available to them since they have come back home,” said Lt. Col. Cary Shillcutt with the Arkansas National Guard. “The Reintegration Program is a federally mandated congressional program, but of course, we want to do this for our Soldiers.” (more…)

Reintegration training designed to ease the transition from Soldier to Citizen (more…)

Drew County Deputies escorted a group of National Guard troops to the Warren armory Friday around noon.

Monticello’s 39th will soon be returning home, after arriving at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Wednesday.

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Drew County Developmental Disabilities Council, Inc., is conducting a Socks for Soldiers program. The agency is seeking donations of new knee-length, white tube socks. These socks will be packaged and sent to soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Often, it is the little things that mean the most, and the soldiers can always use the socks.A donation box is available at Drew County Disabilities, 168 W. College St., in Monticello. Donations of sock will be accepted until November 1. For more information, contact Sandy Patrick or Debra Banks at 870-367-6825.

Arkansas Guard gets first call for support in preparation for Gustave ~ Over 40 Guardsmen heading to Louisiana to provide Airspace Management

Checking the signal. Tech. Sgt. Bill Smith, left, practices aligning a satellite with the help of Staff Sgt. Scott Roach. The men are members of the Arkansas Air Guard’s 154th Weather Flight, which provided weather support to the Arkansas Army Guard’s 1st Battalion, 114th Security and Support during their recent annual training. (more…)

Members of the 1st Battalion of the 185th Aviation provided the aviation assets during annual training at Swindle Airfield in Walnut Ridge, Ark.  “The most important take away from the practice missions is making lessons learned on things that would have been better if you’d had the resources and assets that you needed,” said 1st Lt. Melissa Shipman, Blackhawk pilot for the 185th. 

(Photo by 2nd Lt. Theresa L. Walker, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

Sgt. Shaun Taurone, from Dover, Ark., explains his training experience within the tactical operations center for flight operations with the 77th Aviation Brigade’s 1st Battalion of the 114th Security and Support.  Communication is their first priority and identifying the equipment needed is part of this annual training. 

(Photo by 2nd Lt. Theresa L. Walker, 119th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)

A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery  Regiment, 101st Airborne Division provides instruction during a vehicle  search class in the Radwaniya community of Baghdad. “They are a very proud  people, and they want very much to protect their community,” said 2nd Lt.  Vincent Barber.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

Spc. Jason Stevenson (foreground), 1st Battalion, 320th  Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, serves as the  demonstrator during personnel search training at a school in the Radwaniya
community of Baghdad.  “Our guys are very professional. . . great [enlisted  leaders], and we’re basically trying to teach them skills we’ve learned in  our careers,” said 2nd Lt. Vincent Barber. “The more we train the Iraqis the  more effective they become, and the less hands on we have to be with them.  We want them to take over the security of their community.”
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

During a vehicle search demonstration, a ‘Sons of Iraq’  student in Radwaniya opens the hood to begin the search. The SOI training  was being conducted by 1st battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment of the  101st Airborne Division. “I want to protect my family and keep it safe from
the outside terrorist,” claims one middle-aged Iraqi man attending the  course.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public  Affairs Office)

A Soldier with 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of  the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, shows his ‘Sons of Iraq’ students how  to detain an individual during a personnel search. “They know the area, and  the people in it. And when strangers come up to a checkpoint, they are very critical of them as to why they are in the area,” said Col. Kendall Penn,  commander of the 39th. “It’s their community, their home. If the [Son's of  Iraq] are successful you can rest assured that the Coalition is going to be
more successful”
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Staff Sgt. Justin Fisher, of Hatfield, Arkansas, speaks with his interpreter while training the ‘Sons of Iraq’ on vehicle searches. Fisher is a member of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Members of the ‘Sons of Iraq’ participate in hands on training in Makasib with the 39th’s 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment. The Soldiers are working to train the SOI to more effectively secure their own communities.  “It’s a win-win situation as they have a sense of pride for what they are doing, and they’re able to provide us with valuable information that allows us to be that much more effective in our mission here,” said Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 39th.” 

(Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Staff Sgt. Justin Fisher, of Hatfield, Arkansas, provides ‘weapons posture’ training to members of the Sons of Iraq. Fisher is a member of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.  “Bottom line, we want the Iraqi citizens to own security of their country, and we’re doing our part to ensure they have that opportunity,” said Col. Kendall Penn, commander of the 39th. (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Staff Sgt. Justin Fisher, of Hatfield, Arkansas, provides ‘weapons posture’ training to members of the Sons of Iraq. “It’s kind of like a friendship,” said Fisher, who was leading the instruction on weapons posture on this day. “It’s a very positive working relationship, and we have a mutual respect for one another. The important thing is that they are willing to learn, because they want to help their community.”  Fisher is a member of 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment of the 39th Infantry Brigade
Combat Team.  (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne dine with local sheiks from Radwaniya prior to the opening of the water purification system. The meal provided the opportunity to, once again, get to understand the Iraqi culture and continue to build on a relationship that continues to develop in a positive way. (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public
Affairs Office)

Sheik Abu Mohammed turns the valve to release water to test the new water purification system in Radwaniya.  Speaking in his native Arabic tongue to a gathering of about 100 people, Abu Mohammad, a local sheik, pauses and allows the interpreter to catch up with him, “This is going to feed 150 homes with clean drinking water. We get irrigation water and boil it and that is why everyone was getting sick, because it not a good water to drink.”  The system was made possible through the efforts of the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division that is currently serving with the Arkansas National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.  (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Sheik Abu Mohammad takes the first drink of water that has passed through his community’s new water filtration system that was constructed in coordination with the 101st Airborne’s 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment which is currently serving with the 39th Brigade.

“We thank the commander for being very serious about this project,” the translator says following the Arabic version by the sheik. “Without your efforts and support we would never have this project.” Prior to the addition of the system, the community saw an increasing rise of sickness in the area due to drinking unpurified water. (Photo by Maj. Craig Heathscott, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office)

Spc. Cody Woodall, of New Hope, Ark., and a member of the 39th’s 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, shows Maj. Gen. William Wofford the view of his battlespace from inside his tower position. “Regardless of the mission of each individual company, each Soldier, we are performing missions that are important for the overall effort here in Iraq,” said General Wofford.  “And now I’ve seen, with my own eyes, dedicated troops like Spc. Woodall who want nothing more than to serve their country and make their Family proud. That’s encouraging.”

Maj. Gen. William Wofford and Command Sgt. Major Debbie Collins visit with a Soldier from Uganda who works with the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Victory Base in Baghdad, Iraq. Over 600 Soldiers from Uganda assist in the base defense operations-providing security in the perimeter towers.

Maj. Gen. William Wofford and Command Sgt. Maj. Debbie Collins return to their vehicle after visiting Soldiers in a base defense tower. “I can’t say enough about the heart and soul of our Soldiers,” said a tired sergeant major who was still feeling the effects of jetlag from the day prior. “They give 110-percent, and they give much more than they’ll ever get back-that’s the quality of our Soldiers in Arkansas.

Staff Sgt. Chris Platt, from Heber Springs, takes a break from his job to visit with the adjutant general of Arkansas, Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford.  Platt, who is deployed to Iraq as a member of the 39th Brigade’s Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment, is serving as the chef for the Joint Visitor’s Bureau hotel in Baghdad.

Maj. Gen. William Wofford arrives in Baghdad to visit with his Soldiers who are deployed with the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “It’s important for our troops to realize folks back home really care about what they are doing here in Iraq. I mean, really care,” said Wofford. “It’s good for me to take back to the senior staff in Arkansas what’s going on here in Iraq, because the dynamics of this war are changing.”

Maj. Gen. William Wofford, adjutant general of the Arkansas Army National Guard (right) and Command Sgt. Maj. Debbie Collins, command sergeant major for the Arkansas National Guard visit with Sgt. Ryan Schwarz in Baghdad, Iraq at Camp Victory.  “It’s a big morale boost,” said Schwarz. “These are the highest ranking people we report to on the military side of the house, and it makes you feel good that folks back home are willing to check on you.”

Pictured from left to right, Lt. Col. Scott Stanger (executive officer for the 39th), Col. Kendall Penn (commander), Maj. Gen. William Wofford (adjutant general of the Arkansas National Guard), Command Sgt. Maj. Deborah Collins (state command sergeant major), and Command Sgt. Maj. Steven Veazey (command sergeant major for the 39th) pose for a picture at the headquarters for base defense at Victory Base Complex where Penn is in command.

Youth ChalleNGe Program now accepting applications for July class~ National Guard program offers discipline, learning and mentorship to troubled youth

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U.S. Representative Mike Ross is shown here with Senior Master Sergeant Willie Jackson, a native of Monticello, during a recent visit to Incirlik Air Base in Turkey.

Incirlik Air Base is playing a vital role in support of the ongoing efforts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Ross thanked SMSGT Jackson for his service and had lunch with him and other soldiers to thank them for their service to our country.

SMSGT Jackson is the son of Willie and Shirley Jackson of Monticello. He had been serving in Baghdad since October.

MonticelloLive is posting excerpts from Truman Hamilton’s recent MEDC Director’s report. 

Workforce Training Center—Last month the board approved a motion to hire a part-time person as a supervisor to monitor and coordinate the computer lab. I have communicated with Leigh Bodiford, Family Assistance Specialist of the 39th to set up a schedule for usage and she has agreed to provide additional assistance to make this happen.  Additionally I have visited with Vickey Haycox, Director of Instruction at the UAM College of Technology at McGehee about using the Workforce facility for CNA instruction. We toured the building and reviewed the equipment

Last night, this U.S. Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter landed at the Monticello Municipal Airport, due to bad weather.

The crew spent the night here, and then resumed their trip from Mississippi and ending in Illinois.