1. 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment JUNE 2011 ISSUE 4
BRAVO COMPANY NEWSLETTER
Letter from the Commander Letter from the XO
Welcome to the first special more unstable places, and already your sol-
edition newsletter. As you can diers with their Afghan partners have done
tell, this past month was Mus- more than the previous two years’ worth of
tache May. Actually, it was units combined. I’m excited to see how much
Mandatory Mustache May be- more we can improve in the few months we
cause when Bravo does some- have left here. Speaking of partners, we also
thing, we do it big. I’m proud to welcome a new company of Afghan National
say I think I grew a pretty good Army. As I’ve said, they change out about
Burt Reynolds, but sadly I was every 8 weeks or so. We were sad to say good-
not the winner. If you look on bye to our last partners, but are all looking
page three you’ll see the real winner. As with anything, forward to working with a new group. 1SG We have finally moved everyone out
when there are winners, there are also losers. You can find and the guys have been working like crazy to of tents and into better living areas.
the losers of Mustache May on page four. A lot of guys, improve the COP, and I think the quality of The Containerized Housing Units
me included, had never had facial hair before and didn’t life here continues to get better every day. (CHUs) are a great addition to our
know how it would turn out. These are the guys that proba- Last month, I mentioned that we had some COP and overall quality of life. Un-
bly won’t ever grow facial hair again. This month has been media visitors. It seems that we’re really popu- fortunately, the large concrete build-
busy (but I think you’re used to hearing me say that every lar, as we had another visit this month from ing that was being built for our new
month). We’ve integrated 4th PLT fully into operations journalists. Stars and Stripes sent a reporter to dining facility collapsed one evening
and have gotten back out there to do some regular patrols interview the guys, and we also had a visit due to poor quality work by the local
to surrounding villages. It is important for us to spend time from a military historian. The historian is nationals, luckily nobody was inside
in the bazaar, but I know the boys get bored doing the same Army-oriented, but look out for the Stars and or injured. However, the CHUs have
thing all the time. Now we’re able to get out to some new Stripes article at a post near you. allowed us to free up one of our pre-
places and reconnect with some people we haven’t seen in engineered buildings, which we have
a while. The improvements that we see out among the peo- -CPT David Wilson turned into our new dining facility. It
ple truly are amazing. Charkh was considered one of the “Charkh 6” is not as large as we would like, but
it is better than a tent and even has a
Letter from the First Sergeant TV setup, maybe next month we will
finally have AFN up and working.
Your loved ones have that no one was injured in the collapse. We All of the soldiers are working hard
accomplished great things have since moved our kitchen and converted and doing their part each day to
this past month here in another building on the COP into our Dining make not only the COP a better
Afghanistan. This month Facility. With some help today, I installed a place, but the district of Charkh a
we have extended our se- TV and CPT Day donated his XBOX so that better place.
curity bubble in Charkh we can watch movies while dining. Later this
into the village of Pen- week, we will get Armed Forces Network -1LT Sean Cockrill
gram. Everyday, your Television up and running in the Dining Facil- “Charkh 5”
loved ones are making a ity, as well. Our mortar section has completed
huge increase in the secu- their improvements to the mortar bunker. I
rity of Charkh residents should really call it an earth home, they even Promotions
and extending the influence of the Government of Af- installed air conditioning! It is an amazing
ghanistan. This month was “Mustache May”. Everyone in fortification and has all the comforts you could Not a ton of promotions this
Team Charkh grew a mustache or tried to grow one. The have here in Afghanistan. It is a testament to month, though we did finally
looks on some our visitor’s faces as they arrived on the their hard work and ingenuity. Your loved promote two officers about 2
COP made it all worth it. We found out that no one can ones have worked very hard changing the months after they were both offi-
grow a better “Tom Selleck” than one of our night crew whole look of the COP, striking tents, filling cially promoted by the Army.
NCOs, SGT Yeager (pictured on page 3). We have been sandbags and clearing out all the clutter on the
We did Doc Cantrell on time.
To SPC
very busy on the COP and out in sector, improving our COP. Thank you all for the unwavering sup-
Clayton Cantrell
positions. On the COP, we have moved all of 2 nd Platoon port you continue to give to this Company and
To 1LT
and the remainder of 4th Platoon into Containerized Hous- your loved ones.
Cody McBroom
ing Units. Now, all your loved ones are living in hardened
To CPT
structures. Our brand new dining facility collapsed a few -1SG Karl Fratzke
Griffin Day
days ago. We are sad to lose this building, but are thankful “Charkh 7”

2. 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment JUNE 2011 ISSUE 4
BRAVO COMPANY NEWSLETTER
First Platoon Soldier of the Month
SPC Saikwan Corbitt is a rifleman/machine gunner in 2nd Squad, 1st Platoon, Bravo company,
from Newark, New Jersay. He enlisted in the military after high school and plans on applying to
the green to gold program after re-deployment. His hard work and discipline make him one of the
best soldiers in 1st Platoon. Throughout this deployment, SPC Corbitt has participated in Operation
Charkh Bite, Charkh Attack I and II, and Charkh breach, as well as hundreds ofdaily dismounted
patrols throughout the AO. His self-less serviceand willingness to accomplish the mission has
doubtlessly improved the lives of the Afghan Citizens in Charkh District.
Second Platoon Soldier of the Month
SPC Roberto Soliz came to the unit at the beginning of March. He is 24 years old and hails from
the Lone Star State. Originally from San Antonio, Texas he is married to Emerald Soliz and they
have a 2 year old son name Amar’e. SPC Soliz is on his 3 rd deployment. His first to deployments
were to Iraq with 1st CAV out of Fort Hood, Texas. For leaders of a platoon you pray for soldiers
like SPC Soliz. He is a soldier who knows his job and has 2 previous deployments as experience.
SPC Soliz has shown in these past few months he can handle more than just his job, and because of
this he earned a team leader position in the platoon. SPC Soliz is a well rounded young leader who
has become an asset to this platoon and company.
Third Platoon Soldier of the Month
SPC John Fisher is a SAW gunner for 2nd squad 3rd Platoon. He from Charlotte North Carolina and
has been in the army for a year and a half. SPC Fisher worked in construction before deciding to
join the army. He has shown great leadership and anetative during this deployment. SPC Fisher is
the platoon armor and prepares the trip ticket before each mission. He is also the platoon handy
man, SPC Fisher installed all the Chigos for the new living quarters. SPC Fisher also helps teach
classes to the ANA on communications and small unit tactics.
Fourth Platoon Soldier of the Month
The Soldier of the Month for 4th Platoon is SPC Daniel Badillo. SPC Badillo, 36, is from Chicago,
Illinois and serves as the line medic for 4th Platoon. SPC Badillo attended college at DePaul Uni-
versity, graduating with a degree in Organizational Leadership. In the month of May SPC Badillo
treated more than 10 civilian and US military personnel. On one occasion SPC Badillo’s actions
helped save the lives of 3 Afghan civilians critically wounded during a Taliban attack. SPC Badillo
has proved to be a valuable asset to the platoon since he joined us last month..
Headquarters Platoon Soldier of the Month
SGT Roe, 23, is from Charleston, South Carolina and previously served in Germany before moving SGT Roe, 23, is from Charleston, South Caro-
to Fort Polk. He hopes to be a recruiter near his hometown after his tour of duty with 2-30 IN. lina and reviously served in Germany before
SGT Roe currently serves as the TOC NCOIC, where he is responsible for communicating with moving to Fort Polk. He hopes to be a re-
higher and lower units to ensure that our Soldier’s on the ground are armed with pertinent informa- cruiter after his tour of duty with 2-30 IN.
tion and every available asset. His hobbies include working out at the World-Class COP Charkh SGT Roe currently serves as the TOC NCOIC,
Fitness Center and going to the beach. Soldiers at COP Charkh can always count on SGT Roe’s where he is responsible for communicating
humor and enthusiasm to brighten up their day. with higher and lower units to ensure that our
Soldier’s on the ground are armed with every
available asset. Soldiers at COP Charkh can
“OUR COUNTRY, NOT OURSELVES”

3. 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment JUNE 2011 ISSUE 4
BRAVO COMPANY NEWSLETTER
Mustache Heroes
CPL Harvey– pretty good
for a carrot top
Doc Roman does
the triangle look
SPC Quintanilla looks a bit
SPC Weitzelsmith looks a
like Doc Roman‟s slightly
bit like a NASCAR driver
less mustachioed twin
PFC Diaz sets the standard
SGT Yeager– the winner
Night Crew (SSG Cardona and SGT
Yeager) fosters success
SPC Tyler classes up the joint
with both mustache and flowers
SPC Seiger is ready
to lay down the law Doc Hall… BAMF

4. 2nd Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment JUNE 2011 ISSUE 4
BRAVO COMPANY NEWSLETTER
Mustache Failures
PFC Burgos spent a month with no results
SGT Lopez rocking the Fu Man Chu
SPC Smith didn‟t shave
the middle of his
„stache. It grew in like
that.
CPT Day‟s new
nickname is
“patches”
SPC Vo‟s
mustache failure
Gumby came to visit. He didn‟t have a mustache merits a close
up. Yes, this is a
weeks long
effort.
If you look hard you can see LT
Hanson‟s mustache