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CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Dec. 22, 2008 – For the first time in 26 years, Army Capt. Michael Beissinger won’t be home for Christmas. Army Capt. Michael Beissinger distributes gifts to members of his unit during their company Christmas celebration at Camp Taji, Iraq, Dec. 15, 2008. Beissinger’s parents, Stephen and Chris Beissinger, managed to gather support from more than 60 families from the Winter Haven, Fla., area to help make his company's holiday season a little happier. U.S. Army photo by Capt. Michael Shaw  (Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available. The Apache attack helicopter platoon leader, along with 32...

CAMP TAJI — Traffic builds while a truck struggles to make it up a sandy on-ramp as the vehicle’s driver navigates an alternate route in an attempt to bypass a damaged bridge. After some time, Iraqi Police and locals give the driver a push. The scene replayed every few minutes, frustrating military and civilian drivers alike near the city of Taji. A steep slope on the on-ramp, coupled with a lack of a hard surface, were making it hard for traffic to travel the road and causing traffic to regularly back up for half a mile. This is where the...

The M777A2 Light Weight 155 mm Howitzer made its debut at Camp Taji, Iraq, Jan. 2. The Soldiers from Battery B "Banditos," 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, first Army unit to field and fire the cannon system in Iraq. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti. CAMP TAJI -- The Soldiers from Battery B, “Banditos,” 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, “Warrior,” 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, made history, Jan. 2, when they were the first Army unit to...

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – Task Force Baghdad Soldiers at Camp Taji are being given the opportunity to advance to sergeant or staff sergeant, even while deployed. The standard is the same here as it is back at home station: prospective noncommissioned officers must still appear before a promotion board. Prior to the board, however, a Soldier must get ready. Preparing good Soldiers for advancement is extremely important to Staff Sgt. Everick L. Moore, who is serving with the 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq. “If I send good Soldiers to the board, the Army will have good leaders,” said Moore, a...

CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Aug. 22, 2005 — Day in and day out, aviation brigade aircraft are taken apart for routine “phase” maintenance or to handle problems that come up in daily operation. After looking at an aircraft that’s been taken apart into what looks like a million pieces on a hangar floor, and then put back together, it can take a special breed of pilot willing to be the first one to take it out for a spin. “There's no boredom with this job. It's taxing, mentally and physically, but there's something new every day.” U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer...

The army-issue footlocker had not been to combat since World War II. Now it serves his son in Operation Iraqi Freedom 3. CAMP TAJI, Iraq, Aug. 20, 2005 — The old footlocker had been semi-retired for nearly 50 years. Oh sure, it had been used for storage. It had even seen a few Army National Guard annual training sessions. But retired Master Sgt. Robert M. Rawls’ army-issue footlocker had not been to combat since World War II. Now it serves his son in Operation Iraqi Freedom 3. “He had several,” said U.S. Army Capt. Charles R. Rawls, referring to his...