Family Readiness Group Volume 1, Issue 6, April 2010

108TH QUARTERMASTER CO
Rough Riders…..Ride or Die!
Inside this Issue:

NEWS News 1
NCO/Soldier of the Month 1
We are over 4.5 months into the
deployment as of this newsletter. To Promotions 1
date, the 108th Soldiers have Meant to be… 2-3
completed over 45 missions and driven over 343,000 miles. Photos 4-7
Community Information 8

CONGRATULATIONS to Important Numbers 8

SPC Mason Polewarczyk!!! From the Commander’s Desk 9
He is now the 110th CSSB
From the 1SG’s Desk 9
Soldier of the Month.
FRG Volunteer Contact Information 9
108th Soldiers are setting the
standard as always!

NCO/Soldier of the Month

The 108th QM Company NCO/Soldier
of the month is:

SGT Shephard and

SPC Slinger

Promotions:
SGT FARLOW, JASON
SGT GIRALDOQUIROZ, JUAN
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Meant To Be by 1LT Monica Patton-Neal

COB Adder, Tallil, Iraq – The 108th has 5 married couples that are deployed with us. One

of our couples has a very unique love story. Specialist Todd Fountain, a native of East

Longmeadow, Massachusetts and his wife Specialist Jacqueline Betancourt, a native of Quito,

Ecuador first noticed each other in basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. They were

assigned to the same company but in different platoons. SPC Fountain remembers that he

would always see SPC Betancourt and think, “Wow, she’s beautiful! But why is she always

doing push-ups?” What he didn’t know at the time was that SPC Betancourt didn’t speak a

word of English. She was always doing push-ups because she says, “I didn’t understand what

the Drill Sergeant was saying to me, but I noticed that whenever he would speak to someone

else they would do push-ups, so I did them too.”

Upon graduating from basic training they both went on to Advanced Individual Training

(AIT) at Fort Lee, Virginia. This time, not only were they assigned to the same company, but

they were assigned to the same platoon and the same class as well. It didn’t just stop there.

SPC Fountain and SPC Betancourt graduated from AIT and were both selected to attend the

Petroleum Vehicle Operator Course (PVOC) at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. They graduated

from PVOC and were both assigned to Fort Lee, Virginia in the 58th Maintenance Company.

According to SPC Betancourt, “that is when we began our friendship.”

[Married couple SPC Betancourt and SPC

Todd Fountain in front of a mural at House of
Pain Gym on COB Adder, Iraq. (US Army
Photo taken by 1LT Monica Patton-Neal)]

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Although there was a language barrier at first, “We worked out our way of communicating,”
says SPC Fountain. SPC Betancourt added, “I couldn’t speak English very well but I could
write and read it, so we would write notes to each other. Todd helped me so much, and he
was so patient with me.”
The friendship blossomed into a relationship and then after dating for less than a month they
were married on May 30th, 2008. They spent their honeymoon at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in
Maryland, while attending a Hazardous Materials Handler Course (HAZMAT).
They were both transferred to the 108th Quartermaster Company in late summer of 2009, and
deployed with the unit in December of 2009. When asked what they felt was the
best thing about being deployed together, SPC Betancourt said, “I just feel so lucky to
be with my husband.” SPC Fountain added, “We don’t have problems with roommates, and
I can’t imagine what it would be like without her being here.”

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Community Information
** The Fort Lee Movie Theater opened over the 15 th of April weekend.  They offer $2 movies, cheap popcorn, drinks
and fun! The movie schedule for showings and times can be found at : http://www.aafes.com/ems/conus/lee.htm

** The new 6 ½ million dollar gas station, shoppette, Popeyes chicken, and class six off 6th street opened one week ago.
We are very excited to have this open on Fort Lee! The new auto care center, and car wash will be open soon. 

22 April-02 May 2010 Spring Carnival: Southpark Mall, Colonial Heights Reithoffer Shows Carnival arrives in Colonial
Heights Enjoy rides, food, and games! http://www.southparkmall.com/shop/southpark.nsf/index
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FRG REMINDER: MAY 8 POT LUCK!!!!! 3 pm to dusk. Scott Memorial Park 6800 Courthhouse Road, Prince George, VA  Craft
for kids, banner, bring your favorite side or desert and drinks. FRG provides hot dogs and hamburgers. Play for kids, pavilion. 
We’ll see you there!!!!

**Some of the best family information out there is at http://www.leemwr.com/ you can search upcoming events, check ACS
happenings, sports, cys, cdc, etc.. very good link.

** For tickets, season passes at a discount check out Fort Lee Information Tickets/Travel “ITR” office!!!
http://www.leemwr.com/Rec/rec_tickets.html Located on post off Battle Drive next to the bowling ally, across the street from
the Battle drive pool. With summer approaching something to think about.  804-765-3789 Open Mon-Fri 9-5 pm.

**ALU (army logistics university) has a WONDERFUL Library on post!  They have story-time with crafts on Friday @11 am. The
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library is located at : BLDG 12420 34 Street, 2 Floor, Fort Lee. (It’s right by the Mahone Gate just before the guard station, take
a left at the light). More Info http://www.leemwr.com/Comm/com_library.htm

**Some families are moving to the Lee area prior to the August return home; they may be interested in ACS! ACS has
WONDERFUL programs, training, lending closet, help with many aspects of the army life!!! I highly recommend ACS! Go by and
visit to see the vast array they have to offer when you get to the area! http://www.leemwr.com/Comm/ACS/com_acs_acs.htm

**IF you rent a home/apartment OFF Post and will be paying utilities; you might be interested in the Utility Wavier program!!
Check it out at: http://www.leemwr.com/Comm/com_utility.htm

**Some of you will need a hotel room for the return home time frame. Fort Lee has lodging/hotel on post:
http://www.leemwr.com/Comm/com_lodging.htm

*Youth sports on Fort Lee! Soccer, basketball, baseball, etc. Your benefit of $100 per child in your household is good through 90
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days after the 108 returns to Fort Lee! Here is a list of programs offered by Fort Lee Sports
http://www.leemwr.com/CYS/cys_cys_ysports.htm
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*SKIES: TOO many programs to list! You have a $300 PER child benefit, this is good through 90 days after the return of the 108
QM. A list of SKIES programs you can pick from: http://www.leemwr.com/CYS/cys_cys_skies.htm
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**CDC: Your benefit of 16 free hours of child care PER child PER month; also good for 90 days after the return of the 108 more
info at http://www.leemwr.com/CYS/cys_cys_cdc.htm 804-765-3765 Located on Yorktown Rd, Ft. Lee. After you use the 16 hrs
the hourly rate for care is reduced to $2.00 per hour. You also will get 20% off full time or part day care.

**FYI To use the Fort Lee Youth sports, Skies, CYS, or CDC benefits listed above: your child/children MUST be registered with
Central Registration! Located off Yorktown RD, BLDG 10612, Fort Lee. 804-765-3852.
http://www.leemwr.com/CYS/cys_cys.html

Important Numbers
http://www.leemwr.com/CYS/cys_cys.html
Red Cross: 877-272-7337
108th Company : 804-734-4447;
Rear D Commander: 1LT Rivers 804-892-4163 ACS/AER: 9023 Mahone Ave; Fort Lee, VA; 804-734-6388
Rear-D 1SG: SFC Cruiz-Ortiz 804-895-1830
Chaplain: CPT Gunther 804-895-3444 Military One Source: 24/7 # 1-800-342-9647
www.militaryonesource.com

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From the Commander’s Desk REAR-D Commander:

Another month of our deployment has gone by. It
1LT William Rivers
was another month in which the Rough Riders set
[email protected]
the standard in operations, knowledge and
professionalism. We continue our missions and 804-892-4163
have even inherited a few others. I am hearing lots
of chatter about our early redeployment. We are FRG Leader: Heidi Weaver
still awaiting final confirmation of this, but we will not return till [email protected]
August at the earliest. So DO NOT believe rumors saying 804-318-7500
otherwise! Once I know something concrete, I will ensure
everyone is informed. I thank the Soldiers of the 108th for another Co leader:
month of hard work and dedication. I thank the families and
friends of the Rough Riders for your continued support! SSG Stephens
[email protected]
Rough Rider 6
804-901-3290
From the 1SG’s Desk
Key Callers:
Hello Rough Rider Family,
1st PLT: LeAndra Turney
All is well from COB ADDER; your Soldiers [email protected]
continue to be the professionals that they are, 804-733-4986
executing every mission to the highest of standards.
This month was filled with a little excitement, we 2nd PLT: Wilma Gircsis
had two Soldiers participate at the Battalions [email protected]
NCO/Soldier of the Month Board, with the Soldier 804-723-8167
being the overall winner and the NCO runner up, they will both
compete at the next NCO/Soldier of the Quarter Board. Also it 3rd PLT: Lyla Moore
will be one to remember for a select few of individuals within the [email protected]
unit. On 18 April 2010 COB ADDER hosted the 114th Annual 804-415-4369
Boston Marathon event in Iraq, 26.2miles of pain and endurance.
Nine Soldiers participated in this event: 1LT Patton, 1SG Maint: Major Chatters
Peterson, SFC Johnson, SSG Wirfs, SGT Robinson, SPC Bello, [email protected]
SPC Alcantar, SPC Countryman, and PFC Medellin. These 804-715-4454
Soldiers showed they had the heart and mental toughness to
accomplish whatever they set their mind to. I am truly proud of HQ: Natalie Bassett
your Soldiers and what they have accomplished in the short time [email protected]
we have been here. 562-373-8745
1SG Shout Out:
Rear-D: Ronika Herring
This month’s Shout Out go’s to the 108th Boston Marathon Team, [email protected]
a team of 9 Soldiers that endured the elements, and pain in order 804-957-5903, 706-442-1193
to accomplish a feat that most will never attempt in life
(26.2miles). With the intestinal fortitude and courage of Lion, Newsletter: Heidi Weaver
they defeated the odds and overcame all adversity to run and
finish the Boston Marathon. With that accomplishment, I Shout Secretary: OPEN FOR
Out the 108th Boston Marathon Team. As always, thanks for APPLICATION: APPLY TO HEIDI
holding down the home front, take care and always remember to WEAVER IF INTERESTED.
keep us within your prayers.
Treasurer: SSG Stephens