Posted on 08/25/2005 4:34:03 PM PDT by SandRat
SULAYMANIYAH, Iraq, Aug. 25, 2005 — While the slogan officially may be retired from the Army's public relations program, it is obvious that Staff Sgt. Anthony “Scott” Longar believes in being all he can be. The 36-year-old, currently serving as the non-commissioned officer in charge for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sulaymaniyah Resident Office, also happens to be the only service member assigned there. As a result, his extensive list of responsibilities ranges from mundane to most significant.
Assigned to the Missouri Army National Guard, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Engineer Brigade, 35th Infantry Division, Longar answered the military's call in February 1989. In his civilian life, he works for a small-scale contractor; when serving in the Army, he is a construction engineer.
Longar arrived only six weeks ago, but, has scored some impressive accomplishments.
His first order of business was to establish and improve security. Because of his efforts, members of the Kurdish Peshmerga now carry out security for the base camp.
The name of these fierce opponents of Saddam Hussein and his regime literally translates to “those who stand in the face of death” and Longar's respect for them is obvious.
"Their reputation is so intense that no one will mess with them,” he says.
Through ongoing interaction with the Peshmerga, Longar was able to fortify security despite challenges with standard operating procedures and cultural forces.
He also coordinates with the Iraqi Police Academy and Department of Border Enforcement and believes the conversations “go a little smoother” now that an American service member is involved.
“We render military courtesies to one another and, even though we don't speak the same language, we speak the same (military) language. We're both ‘bottom-line' people,” he says.
Typically cheerful, the soldier refers to one of his day-to-day responsibilities of coordinating personnel or visitors' movements as being a “part-time travel guide/part-time concierge.” He ensures that the billeting rooms are clean and even launders the visitors' bed linens himself. Due to the vast number of small-but-significant details that demand his constant attention, Longar likens this portion of his responsibilities as similar to “being pecked to death by ducks.”
Additionally, he coordinates with the British and South African members of the personal security teams assigned to serve SRO employees and their visitors, and remains sensitive to their cultural needs and differences.
Conversely, many of Longar's responsibilities cause him to interact with individuals far above his rank. Due to the office's remote location (less than 40 miles from Iraq's northeast border with Iran), Longar coordinates meetings with Iraqi generals from the Department of Border Enforcement and Sulaymaniyah Police Department, as well as a Peshmerga lieutenant general. Frequently, he attends meetings with these general officers on behalf of Donna Street, Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region North, Kirkuk Area engineer.
“This is the most unique assignment I've ever had,” says Longar, “because all of these separate organizations work beautifully together.”
“Staff Sgt. Longar certainly hit the ground running since he arrived at SRO,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael A. Leogrande, acting Gulf Region North command sergeant major. “It is an honor and a pleasure to serve with such a professional young soldier.”
With reference to his dealings with civilian colleagues, he says, “I spend more time ‘sweet talking' them than letting the ‘NCO' come out. Since I'm (usually) a civilian 28 days of the month, it's not that much of a stretch.”
Longar also nourishes his “civilian side” by getting online every evening with his wife Sarah and their five children: Kelley, 18; Eric, 15; Haley, 11; Ethan, 10; and Evan, 2. The proud father plays chess with his children over the Internet and regrets having missed Kelley's high school graduation due to his deployment. He beams, however, when he mentions that she has earned a “full-ride” scholarship to a local university and that Evan is now speaking in full sentences.
The staff sergeant also keeps in close contact with his father Ken Longar, in St. Charles, Mo., due to a program called “The Denton Project.” Through their combined efforts, the father-son team collects and distributes shoes, clothing, and toys to needy Iraqi children.
When asked how he broke the news of his upcoming deployment to his children, Longar says he simply told them, “Daddy's got to do it again.
“It's hard,” he continues, “but they understand it and know it's something that needs to be done. I just hope they're more proud than sad.”
Despite the challenges of his current assignment, Longar would enthusiastically recommend it to others.
“It's the first time in my career that I feel like I am part of a purpose … where I have very real influences on people and am part of a larger purpose,” he said.
“I feel like we're doing right by (the Iraqi) people and wish more people realized that. I believe our intentions are as good as can be.”
Longar's chain of command showed that it feels much the same way about him when Leogrande presented him with the Gulf Region North coin in recognition of his service.
ESSAYON'S PING
The name of these fierce opponents of Saddam Hussein and his regime literally translates to “those who stand in the face of death” and Longar's respect for them is obvious.
"Their reputation is so intense that no one will mess with them,” he says.
Bump for later.
Yet one more example where our troops don't point guns at Iraqis but improve their living conditions. In addition,
the Donna Street, meantioned in this article is the one
that is responsible for seeing that a number of hardened
concrete border patrol bunkers are constructed for Iranian/Iraqi border checkpoints. She has had a tough time getting the structures finalized due to lack of Iraqi labor force. The hardend bunkers will eventually provide the Iraqi border police with permenant safe shelters for 24/7/360 border monitoring.
Thanks for the ping!
BTTT!!!!!!
Combat Engineer Bump.
Faciendum est!
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