Mosul

Greetings from Mosul, our new home. We have not been as active on the site as we would like to be mainly because gaining access to a computer that has the ability to work with the site has been a challenge. However, now that we have figured out the system, we look forward to being a bit better at updating our portion.

We are in our new home and settling in and busy with working with our Iraqi Army counterparts. It is proving to be both as challenging and as rewarding an experience as we hoped. There is no set schedule and we are being kept very busy working our daily issues.

As we go along, we will be updating the photos and as I see you have been introduced to Lady, our guard dog, who is both a wonderful companion and exceptional bird dog.

Until next time, I wish everyone a great start to the New Year and all our best from your Barbarian Team.

MAJ Ian Bennett
Barbarian XO

Address for Mail and Packages to be sent to Barbarian Team

Soldier's Name
2-2 IA Brigade MiTT
FOB Marez/Diamondback
APO AE 09334

REAR D Welcome Letter

Rear Detachment Welcome Letter
Dear Spouses and Families,

Welcome to the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division Family! I would like to provide some information about our team and how we may be able to assist you as Spouses and Families of deployed Soldiers. I am a Field Artillery officer and have been stationed at Fort Riley for almost four years. I was the Rear Detachment Commander for 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery from July 2006 until taking command of the 1st Brigade Rear-Detachment on 11 October 2007.

Our Rear-Detachment First Sergeant, has a wealth of experience helping both Soldiers and their Families. The 1st Brigade Rear Detachment Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA) for the MiTT (Military Transition Team) also offers an excellent avenue of experience and assistance. She may be reached at 785-239-1042. Her primary goal is to help you become connected with local spouses in your area who also have Soldiers on MiTT teams. This group of spouses is known as a MiTTIN (Military Transition Team Information Network) and aid in local support and social activities. The FRSA can also provide information for local agencies in your area that may provide assistance if the need arises.

The Rear Detachment is here to assist Spouses and Families as best we can by providing information to you. Unfortunately we cannot provide information or an update on what a team is doing in Iraq or Afghanistan or their mailing address. Due to the number of teams deployed and for security reasons it is not possible for us to give these updates that you would receive with a typical deployment under a Brigade, Battalion, or Company. The information we provide is contact information for different agencies (i.e. Red Cross, Military One Source, Army Emergency Relief, etc.) if a situation arises where you need assistance.

The most critical and heart wrenching part of what the Rear Detachment does is casualty notification. If your loved one is injured or killed the Rear Detachment assures that the appropriate Family members are notified. Though we hope we never have to use it, it is essential that you keep the Rear Detachment informed if you will be out of town or if you have an address or phone number change. The update can be done by telephone or by email through the Fort Riley link at http://www.riley.army.mil/Units/1BCT1ID/RearDet1Bde.aspx or the virtual FRG site at https://www.armyfrg.org. Once at the site click on "Contact 1/1ID Rear D" located in the upper right hand corner. The phone numbers to call are 785-239-9980/5519/1042/1599/and 5125. If you have any questions for the Rear Detachment you can use the above link and previous listed phone numbers to contact us for answers.

Please don't hesitate to call us if you have any questions, we look forward to assisting you in any way we can.

CPT/ FA

Commanding

Points of Contact - Rear Detachment at Fort Riley

Points of Contact
10/16/2006 1:45:26 PM
1BCT REAR-DETACHMENT:
Located in BLDG 7033.

REAR -DETACHMENT COMMANDER:
Office: 785-239-5125
Soldier Family Support Center: 785-239-9980

REAR -DETACHMENT FIRST SERGEANT:
Office: 785-239-1599
Soldier Family Support Center: 785-239-9980

XO Notes

We are rapidly winding down training and getting ready to take some well earned leave and spending time with loved ones. It has been a very interesting last few weeks and have completed all our training and now ready to move on to bigger and better challenges. I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and safe travels.
MAJ Ian Bennett

Team Barbarian after completing training

Military One Source

Military One Source is a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week couseling service available to anyone who has been deployed or affected by a loved one's deployment. It provides callers with detailed information and counseling at no cost. The toll-free number in the U.S. is 1-800-342-9647.
The International toll-free number is 800-3429-6477. The International collect number is 1-484-530-5908.
You can also visit Military One Source online at www.militaryonesource.com.