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Soldiers Magazine, Jan, 2005

January 2004

Jan. 3

The U.S. Army All-American Bowl in Antonio, Texas, brings together the top 78 high school football players in the annual East vs. West all-star game sponsored by Army Accessions Command.

Jan. 7

Officials announce that the latest Stop-Loss initiative will affect approximately 7,000 Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Soldiers will be required to remain with their units during the deployment process.

Jan. 7

Family and friends gather to welcome home the first of 18,000 101st Airborne Division Soldiers redeploying from Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Jan. 8

A plaque honoring LTC Kim Orlando is placed in the FBI Academy's Martyr's Wall in the Hall of Honor. An academy graduate and former commander of the 716th Military Police Battalion, Orlando was killed in Karbala, Iraq.

Jan. 11

Khamis Sirhan al-Muhammad, former Ba'ath Party regional chairman for the Karbala government is captured. He was number 54 of Iraq's 55 most-wanted fugitives.

Jan. 20

The Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle is deployed to Iraq to assist with gathering intelligence information from high altitudes.

Jan. 22

Elements of the 101st Airborne Division hand over control of the Tigris River Valley area of northern Iraq to Stryker-equipped elements of the 3rd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Div.

February 2004

Feb. 4

Soldiers of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Ga., travel to Iraq to teach other Soldiers marksmanship techniques.

Feb. 5

The Army safety campaign begins.

Feb. 8

SPC Emilee Pardo, Soldier of the year for the 25th Inf. Div., is chosen as part of a joint force to participate in Pro Bowl activities at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Feb. 8

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service continues to serve Soldiers deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom by opening a new exchange at Forward Operating Base Ironhorse in Tikrit, Iraq.

Feb. 12

SPC Ryan Anderson, a member of the Washington National Guard's 81st Armored Bde., is apprehended on charges of attempting to aid the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Feb. 17

All Soldiers are directed to wear the U.S. flag on the right shoulder of their utility uniforms.

Feb. 26

Defense officials announce the criteria for the award of the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.

March 2004

March 4

SGT Hasan Akbar, who of premeditated murder and premeditated murder, goes before general court martial for a grenade attack in Kuwait that killed two Soldiers and wounded 14 others.

March 12

The Department of the Army announces a new program called Assignment Incentive Pay to encourage Soldiers to extend their tours in Korea.

March 12

At a Pentagon ceremony MSG Dennis Woods of the XVIII Abn. Corps at Fort Bragg, N.C., and 45 civilian employees receive the Presidential Rank award for exceptional long-term accomplishments.

March 18

The Army and Air Force Exchange Service opens "Reel Time," its first movie theater in Balad, Iraq.

March 19

A ceremony in Heidelberg, Germany, marks the return of V Corps Soldiers after their yearlong deployment to Southwest Asia.

March 19

Fort Lee, Va., officials dedicate a new public affairs building to NBC News correspondent David Bloom, who died in April 2003 of a pulmonary embolism while embedded with the 3rd Inf. Div. In Iraq.

March 20

Six Soldiers are accused of detainee abuse at the U.S.-run Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. The charges result after a January probe into inappropriate treatment of prisoners at the facility.

March 26

The Army's first "unit of action" begins field testing the new brigade structure at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif.

March 31

The Shades of Green Armed Forces Recreation Center hotel at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida celebrates the opening of a new wing.

April 2004

April 1

The Baghdad International Police Academy graduates its second class of students. Instructors from the United States, other coalition countries and Iraq taught students the basics of police paperwork, search techniques and traffic control.

April 7

SSG Shon Lewis is named the Greco-Roman coach of the year for the second consecutive year by USA Wrestling.

April 12

Golfer Tiger Woods trains for a week with the U.S. Army Special Operations Command at Fort Bragg.

April 17

The Army announces a partnership with the Professional Bull Riders Association to assist in Army recruiting efforts.

April 17

Soldiers from Company B, 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, "The Old Guard," help distribute relief supplies after storms cause flooding near Camp Lemonier, Djibouti.

April 25

SSG Colin Boley of 3rd Bn., 75th Ranger Regiment, and SSG Adam Nash of the regiment's Headquarters and HQs. Co., earn Best Ranger titles.

April 30

The Disabled Soldier Support: System is announced as a way to help wounded Soldiers receive the help and information they need until they can return to active duty, receive a medical retirement or be medically discharged.

April 30

The 2004 U.S. Army Soldier Show begins its season at Fort Belvoir. Va., with the production "The Heart of a Soldier."

May 2004

May 3

MAJ David Johnson, a Reservist with the U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program at Fort Carson. Colo., is selected to be the rifle coach for Team USA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. Greece.