CONTINGENCY OPERATING BASE ADDER, Iraq – Maj. Gen. Randall Marchi, commanding general, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Todero, senior enlisted leader, 28th Inf. Div., arrived for a three-day visit with Soldiers in 28th Combat Aviation Brigade at Contingency Operating Base Adder recently.
They stopped at COB Basra to meet with Maj. Gen. Richard Nash, commanding general of Multi-National Division-South. They also paid a visit to Company B, 1st Battalion, 150th Aviation Regiment.
At COB Adder, they visited with Soldiers in various sections of 28th Combat Aviation Brigade Headquarters, 628th Aviation Support Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regt.
At each stop, Marchi and Todero took the time to tell the troops they were proud of them and they also fielded questions and concerns.
Marchi recognized Task Force Keystone, as the 28th CAB is also known, is made up of Soldiers from several states working collectively. “The Pennsylvania Guard gets the job done, and they know what joint efforts are all about,” he said. “It’s a team effort.”
Marchi said a good team is comprised of strong individuals.
“It is definitely a team effort, but the individual needs to contribute,” said Marchi. “And that’s exactly what I’m seeing here.”
He said he was also impressed by the initiative the Guard members of the CAB took to establish operations at COB Adder after their mission and location was changed from Joint Base Balad shortly before entering Iraq.
“This is what citizen-Soldiers bring to the fight that many of their active-duty brothers may not,” said Marchi. “You’ve got skilled carpenters, electricians and others who took control of the situation and built your city here and the operations never stopped. It took a lot of energy to get this place to where it is.”
Most Soldiers were very receptive to the visit and were very glad to welcome their leaders from back home. Spc. David Budavich, who also deployed with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team in 2005, said visits like this are essential to morale.
“There isn’t a rank in the Army that is above paying simple visits to check on their troops,” said the Pittsburgh resident.
Staff Sgt. Jason Zahurak, who was presented a surprise award by Todero for being an outstanding noncommissioned officer, said a sergeant major checking on his sergeants is just as important as a sergeant checking on their junior enlisted Soldiers.
“It’s important for all NCOs to recognize the hard work of their subordinate NCOs and Soldiers,” he said. “I look after my troops, and by paying us a visit that is what CSM Todero is doing too.”
The 28th CAB is expected to begin demobilizing near the end of 2009 and Marchi said he and Todero will gladly be there to greet everyone when they return.
Addressing the Soldiers in the 628th, he said, “You guys continue getting the job done. I’ll see you all on the flight line at McGuire.”
