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704th MI BDESHARP TeamSHARP:Changing the normMs. Amy L. BraleyBrigade SARC240-444-1512Sergeant 1st Class Michael HolmesBrigade Victim Advocate703-254-9601Staff Sgt. Aleksey MoiseyenkovBrigade Victim Advocate703-217-53-91Safe Helplinewww.safehelpline.org877-995-5247Photo: U.S. Army/ ReleasedStaff Sgt. Aleksey Moiseyenkov704th MI Bde. Victim Advocate10 The VOICEWhile in the office, have youever seen a YouTube video thathad profane language or sexuallycharged jokes? Everyone wasthere, no one complained, andeveryone thought it was funny.But why did you have that feelingyou were doing somethingwrong? What about the time youwere hanging out with the crew,and everyone had a nicknamefor a team member that soundedfunny and sexual? The nicknamedperson said they don’t have aproblem with it, might even thinkit’s funny, then why do you have abad feeling in your stomach whenyou hear that name? Finally, asyou sit in the office, a coworkercomes and ask you how yourmorning went “honey”. Youthink that’s no big deal, that’show everyone talks around here.But why don’t you respond withthe same term or greeting?I mean why not? Everyone inthe office has just seen the sexualfunny video on the internet andno one said it was offensive orwrong. But nobody should besubjected to sexually chargedor inappropriate material inthe office. This includes sexualinternet videos, pin-up posters,or sexual photos on your phone.When sexual nicknames or termsof endearment are used, it takesaway from the professionalismand respect within our ranks.When Sgt. Snuffy all of a suddenbecomes “darling”, or has anexpletive used to describe abody part as a nickname, ittakes away from his humanityand dehumanizes him to sucha point that a potential predatorcould easily take advantage.The Army defines sexualharassment as a form of genderdiscrimination that involvesunwelcome sexual advances,requests for sexual favors, andother verbal or physical conductof a sexual nature between thesame or opposite genders. AllSoldiers and DA Civilians have aresponsibility to help resolve actsof sexual harassment. The wayyou as a Soldier or DA Civilianare supposed to respond to itmight be one of the hardest thingsyou ever have to do. Telling abattle buddy to “stop”, requiresa lot of personal courage andprofessionalism but we mustremember that what one personthinks is funny, appropriate, orthe norm may not necessarily beso to another. When we subjectour peers to these behaviors,we are creating a climate that isconducive to sexual harassment,or fostering a hostile workingenvironment. Remember thatpersonal courage is an Armyvalue that plays a major partin the fight against sexualharassment and sexual assault.If you brush off the opportunityto help your battle buddy in theirtime of need, so will everyoneelse. The blame for their sufferingwill be partly yours to bear.Make it personal, make it count!InterveneAct andMotivate!- Your Brigade SHARP Team.The VOICE 11

Be safe.Here and everywhere!Autumn/winterSafetyWinter DrivingMr. Axel Gonzalez704th MI Bde. Safety ManagerHalloween tipsBe sure that childrenhave on some type ofreflective and flameretardant clothing,and carry flashlightsso they are easilyseen.Once the children returnhome, thoroughly checktheir treats for safetyreasonsMany children(and adults) willbe out on ourstreets, roads,and sidewalks inthe evening. Beextra alert whendriving.Winter driving can be inconvenient, annoying, eveninfuriating. But you can offset those aggravations andminimize the special risks of winter driving. The main thing isto give yourself plenty of time to get to where you are going.Visibility is another big hazard of winter driving. In heavysnow, keep your lights on. Stop and clean your windshieldand lights if necessary. Get off the road before you getstranded by worsening weather conditionsWinter is the most difficult driving season. Not only do youhave snow and ice to deal with, but there are fewer hours ofdaylight as well. Before winter weather arrives, make sure your vehicle is ingood condition, especially the tires. Make sure you've got good snow tires, and put them onearly. Try not to get caught without them in the first snowfall.Never combine radial and non-radial tires on the samevehicle. On front-wheel drive cars, it's best to put snow tires or"all-season" tires on all four wheels, not just the front. If you must drive, clear the ice and snow from your vehicle,all windows and windshield wipers. Be sure the windshieldwasher reservoir is adequately filled with a freeze-resistantcleaning solution. Plan Your Route Be familiar with the maps/directions to avoid confusion Check the weather reports and adjust starting time Let others know how you are coming and when you'll arrive Always fill the gasoline tank before entering open country,even for a short distance, and stop to fill-up long before thetank begins to run low. Keeping the gas tank as full as possiblewill minimize condensation, providing the maximumadvantage in case of trouble. A Citizens Band (CB) radio and/or cellular phone can be veryuseful to you or another stranded motorist in case of anemergency. Remember, pull of the road to talk on a cellularphone.BLACK ICEBlack ice is clear water that has frozen on black pavement,usually forms below overpasses, on bridges, in areas that aresurrounded by landscape or on a source of water runningacross pavement. Black ice commonly occurs in low, shadedareas and/or when the road surface starts to freeze at night.You usually cannot see or feel this ice until the vehicle isalready on it. You may not expect a patch of ice becauseyou've been driving on dry, clear pavement. It may be an areawhere melting snow or a roadside spring caused water to runonto the road and freeze. If you are not aware that the waterhas frozen, you could lose control and the vehicle could skid.12 The VOICEFor more safety tips, training aids andinformation contact the Brigade SafetyManager:Mr. Gonzalez(301) 677-0204axel.gonzalez-delgado.civ@mail.milFor current statistics, training, and moreinformation visit the Combat readinessCenter websitehttps://safety.army.milParty decorationsWhen planning party decorations,bear in mind that dried flowers andcornstalk are highly flammable.Keep crepe paper and otherdecorations well away from all heatsources, including light bulbs,heaters, etc. Decoration withcandles should be avoided.Pumpkins can be safely illuminatedwith small, inexpensive flashlights.When decorating, remember tokeep exits clear. Be sure childrenare supervised at all timesThe VOICE 13

Mentorship:The wholeSoldier conceptSgt. 1st Class Diane C. Noggin704th MI Bde. Brigade S114 The VOICEWhat is mentorship? Dowe, as leaders, really knowwhat it means to be a mentor?Mentorship can be defined as adevelopmental relationship inwhich a more experienced personhelps guide and advise a lessexperienced person. The newArmy leadership doctrine definesmentorship as “the voluntarydevelopmental relationship thatexists between a person of greaterexperience and a person of lesserexperience that is characterizedby mutual trust and respect”.Both the civilian and Armydefinitions of mentorship arevery similar and the term cantake on a variety of meaningsdepending on who you ask. Talkwith a junior enlisted Soldier or anewly promoted Sergeant and youmay get the Army Study Guide’sanswer of providing purpose,motivation, and direction. Why?Is this actually the meaningof mentorship or is it closer tothe definition of leadership?These groups of Soldiers areonly providing answers fromwhich they have had to studyfor boards and may not havehad anyone in their careers toprovide any mentorship. Theseyounger, less experienced Soldiersand noncommissioned officersneed senior leaders to providethat mentorship. If you wereto ask senior NCOs to definementorship, their answersmay be more closely related tothat of the Army doctrine.Pfc. Artis Johnson, a humanresources specialist with704th MI Bde., works closelywith his noncommissionedofficer, Sgt. Rondy Osorio,in the brigade S1 shop.I have been in the militaryfor 20 years and throughoutmy career I have noticed someSoldiers are eager to learn,grow, and develop themselves;craving that mentorship fromtheir senior leaders to excelin every aspect. As the Armydoctrine states, mentorship isa voluntary relationship basedupon mutual trust and respectand respect goes both wayswhen providing mentorship.If Soldiers feel respected andtrust that their senior leadershave their best interests bothpersonally and professionally, thewill welcome guidance and bewilling to achieve high standards.In my experience and opinion,there are three categories ofmentors. The first group consistsof those NCOs who are onlyholding the rank, checking theblocks, and not wanting any typeof responsibility for leading ormentoring subordinates. TheseNCOs come to work, do only thebare minimum of what is asked,just doing their time until ETSor retirement. In my experience,some Soldiers believe that assoon as they reach eligibility toattend a promotion board, weshould immediately send them.But junior Soldiers should waituntil they are able and willing toaccept the responsibility that theyare -expected to fill as a mentor tosubordinates before they becomeeager to advance to the next rankof sergeant or staff sergeant.Can we honestly say that aspecialist or sergeant who onlyhas eight months time in gradeand four years time in serviceis ready to be promoted? Isthis Soldier able to be a mentorto others when they may noteven have the experience ormaturity for that next level ofimmediate responsibilities?The second category is thoseNCOs who believe they are goodmentors because their Soldiersmeet Army standards. Thesestandards are a basic masteringof Soldiering, for example APFT,basic marksmanship, 350-1training, uniforms, etc. Whilethis is an important aspectof being a Soldier, the wholeSoldier concept that includes theThe VOICE 15

The whole Soldier concept continuedmilitary occupational specialty(MOS). Most Soldiers voluntarilychoose their MOS because it wassomething they took interestin as a career. Leaders needto remember what it meansto mentor professionally andpersonally within the lives ofSoldiers. This is not to say weas leaders need to cross the linesof professionalism, but provideguidance, share experiences,and advice to the youngerSoldiers and NCOs who do nothave as much life experienceas the more seasoned NCOs.The third category of NCOmentors not only ensure Soldiersare trained and mentored in basicArmy doctrine, but also withinthat of their profession. Overthe course of my career, I haverealized the importance of passion16 The VOICEand pride amongst Soldiers andNCOs. In my experience withinmy branch, adjutant general(AG) personnel can have a badreputation and are sometimeslooked upon as just ‘paperpushers’. But even though 42Asare considered a low-densityMOS, the importance of our jobshould not be underestimatedor underappreciated. AGSoldiers need to understandthe importance of what wedo - customer service.You and every Soldier, NCO,Officer, and Family memberARE our customer. We can’tallow the pride, passion, anddesire to exceed the AG Corpscompetencies to slip away inour younger Soldiers. For myentire career in the HumanResource arena, I’ve tried toinstill the importance of caringabout the service provided andthe products we produce fromour offices. AG Soldiers donot just push or file papers, wemanage and are responsible forSoldiers’ careers, finances, familybenefits, assignments, etc.Every action that comes throughour office should be processed asexpeditiously and accurately as ifit was our own personal action.We all want to get paid, promotedon time, or ensure our Familiesare enrolled in DEERs right? Thatis exactly what I mean by havingthe passion and drive to ensureyou, the customer is taken care ofto the fullest extent – it’s our JOB!Having Soldiers, NCOs, orOfficers say ‘thank you’ forupdating their records accurately,entering promotion points in atimely manner so that Soldiergets promoted, or even providingreliable information for Familymembers to enroll in DEERSto receive benefits, should besatisfying to the AG Soldier.We should take pride in whatwe do and strive to be subjectmatter experts within the wholefield. If Soldiers do not knowhow to do this, then it is theresponsibility of senior leadersto provide that mentorship. Wecan’t give up trying to makeour current and future leadersbecome this type of mentor.I have always told my Soldiersthat although nearly anyone coulddo your job, it’s how you do itthat makes all the difference. I notonly ensure they become the bestAdjutant General professionals,but ensure they excel as Soldierstoo. We’re often perceived to haveone strike against us because weare AG Soldiers, so I tell them notto give anyone the opportunityto place a second strike on themfor not meeting Army standards.Each and every one of us shouldhave that passion to excel nomatter what our MOS and it is ourresponsibility as leaders to passthat drive and motivation to ourjunior Soldiers and NCOs, bothprofessionally and personally.Mentoring is more thanjust answering questions andcompleting Soldier tasks, it’s anongoing relationship of learning,dialogue, and challenge. Sowhich type of mentor are you?“We shouldtake pride inwhat we doand strive to besubject matterexperts withinthe whole field.”The VOICE 17

742nd MI BNconductstraining atGunpowderSgt. Amy Christopherson704th MI Bde. Public AffairsA Soldier with Headquarters andOperations Company, 742nd MIBattalion, 704th MI Bde., participatesin the company’s quarterly significanttraining event at Gunpowder MilitaryReservation in Glen Arm, Md.18 The VOICETwo companies with the704th Military IntelligenceBrigade left their usual trainingareas on Fort Meade, Md., toconduct training in unfamiliarterritory at Gunpowder MilitaryReservation in Glen Arm, Md.Headquarters and OperationsCo., 742nd MI Battalion, 704thMI Bde. conducted traininglanes focusing on individualmovement techniques andmovement under direct fire.Pvt. Rhys Underwood, asignals collector/analyst withHOC, said he enjoyed thetraining environment and theopportunity to build his skills.“I learned how to react tocontact and building clearing,” hesaid. “I learned a lot, but I thinknext time paintball gear would bea good addition to the training.”Alpha Company, 742nd MIBn., 704th MI Bde., conductedmovement to contact and ambushoperations training whilesimultaneously exercising theirland navigation skills Sept. 11.After arriving at Gunpowder,A Co. Soldiers broke into twoteams and had time to plantheir operation, build a sandtable and brief their plan to thecommander and first sergeant,as well as the battalion’scommand sergeant major.The teams moved out, withone team conducting a searchand the other team setting upthe ambush. After the initialoperation was complete, theteams switched roles so eachteam had the opportunity toconduct the search and ambush.Capt. Frank Peachey, whotook command of A. Co.Sept. 18, praised the Soldiersfor their efforts during thefull day of training.“Never think that because ofyour MOS you’ll never have todo this in real life,” he said. “Younever know when you’ll needto use these skills. You may notdo this every day but you cameout here and made it happen.”“Never thinkthat because ofyour MOS you’llnever have to dothis in real life”The VOICE 19

OutbackresiliencyWhen people think of Australia,they may picture kangaroos orthe Sydney Opera House, but nothard working American Soldiersand their families in the middleof the outback supporting ournational mission and internationalpartners. This is what you willfind in Alice Springs, where adetachment of the 743rd MilitaryIntelligence Battalion is situatedin the center of the NorthernTerritory, half a world away.Capt. Jared Vineyard, the 743rdMI Bn. chaplain, and 1st Sgt.Michael Grimes, first sergeantof Headquarters and OperationsCompany, 743rd MI Bn., visitedwith the detachment in order toenhance both individual and unitresiliency, Aug. 15 through Sept.20 The VOICE1. Vineyard’s key objectives wereto assess both the spiritual andemotional climate and needs ofthe personnel while deliveringsupport in both of these vitalareas. Planned events included asingle Soldier retreat; a marriedSoldier retreat; ‘Operation Face-toFace’ (meeting with all personnelin one-on-one conversations);visiting with local ‘helpingpartners’ which included both theEmployee Assistance Programand local clergy; and conductinga group sensing session.The singles retreat (conductedAugust 20-22) was a trulyunique event that required muchcoordination and approvals.Vineyard and Grimes took 9personnel to the ‘Top End’ ofCapt. Jared Vineyard743rd MI Bn. ChaplainAustralia, 15 hours away, to thecity of Darwin. The title of theevent was “Building a MoreResilient You.” Key sites along thejourney (as well as an audio bookin the van) were the backdropsfor the training along the way.The audio book of the ‘Five LoveLanguages for Singles’ servedas the key curriculum and ledto guided discussions alongthe trip about building healthyrelationships both on and offwork. The first stop along the tripwas at an amazing rock formationcalled the ‘Devil’s Marbles.’ Aftereveryone explored the formation,a discussion was conducted onfinancial resiliency (a ‘devilish’area in many Soldiers lives).In Darwin, the group visitedCrocosaurus Cove (a saltwater crocodile ‘experience’),which became the setting fora class in dealing with stressin a positive way; the DarwinWorld War II Museum (focusingon the Japanese bombing ofDarwin), which became thesetting for Army Leadershipand Values 101; and the MindilBeach Sunset Market (a hugeAustralian/Southeast Asianmarket), which was a greatexperience in cultural diversity.On the return trip to AliceSprings, the group stopped atthe Mataranka Thermal Pools(a natural thermal oasis in themiddle of the outback), whichprovided the setting for a practicalexercise in rest and resiliency.The event was a huge successand all individuals felt it hadbeen a great opportunity forboth learning and adventure!The married event was “AllBecause Two People Fell in Love,”at the Pioneer Outback Hotel andLodge at the Ayers Rock Resort inYulara, Northern Territory, Aug.29-31. The primary curriculumfor the retreat was the “FiveLove Languages”. During theretreat the couples covered topicssuch as defining what love is,learning how to express lovecorrectly, discussing intimacyin relationships, communicatingappropriately, as well as learninghow to forgive. Child care wasprovided for each of the sessionsand was followed by a time forcouples to discuss the topics witheach other in a ‘guided couplestime.’ Saturday afternoon wasleft open in order for familiesto explore ‘the Red Center’ ofAustralia on their own and bondas a family, and then cappedoff with a ‘date night’ whichalso included child care. Themarriage retreat was also a hugesuccess and was highly praisedboth for the content of materialand overall ‘fun’ of the trip.After a full schedule ofevents the finale on the lastday of Vineyard’s visit whenhe was able to baptize one ofthe detachment Soldiers, StaffSgt. Jacky Reyes, coordinatin

fear of you having to live without their products. Fear of aging, fear of loneliness, fear of poverty, . upon me to eat my flesh, it was they, my foes and my adversaries, who . were hanging out with the crew, and every