Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. until 0400 est. February 15th

(e.g. yourname@email.com)

Forgot Password?

    Defense Visual Information Distribution Service Logo

    Radio Station, 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), partners to tell the Sustainer story

    JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq — Since May 2008, WQXE FM 98.3, a radio station located in Elizabethtown, Ky., partnered with the 3d Sustainment Command (Expeditionary), to help tell the Sustainer's story.

    Located near the command's home base of Fort Knox, Ky., WQXE, or "Quicksie" as commonly known, is a 25,000 watt Hot Adult Contemporary radio station that reaches 11 counties throughout Kentucky. As a result of its partnership with the 3d ESC, WQXE has been instrumental in keeping families and friends informed of what and how their Soldiers are doing while deployed here.

    "Civilian listeners call or e-mail to say 'thanks' for giving them weekly updates and that it makes them mindful of what our Soldiers are doing in Iraq," said Hollie Sexton, a WQXE broadcaster and one-half of the "Greg and Hollie Everything You Need to Know When You're On The Go Morning Show."

    WQXE began devising ideas for becoming more involved with Fort Knox and its surrounding communities, until one day, a post representative came to the station with a similar interest.

    "Even before our partnership with the 3d ESC, we were interested in developing a better relationship with Fort Knox," said Greg Milby, the other half of the "Greg and Hollie Morning Show." "Then one day, Maj. [Paul R.] Hayes [3d ESC public affairs officer] walked into our office, introduced himself and expressed an interest with WQXE."

    What has developed since this introduction is a successful partnership that began with a tour of the 3d ESC's headquarters and continues to this day, with weekly broadcasts with Sustainers. These broadcasts include a weekly interview with a 3d ESC Soldier which is known as the "Weekly Phoner," and the "Sustainer Minute," a one minutelong broadcast produced by the 3d ESC public affairs office.

    According to Milby, the two 3d ESC products are popular amongst their listeners as they give a unique perspective of life as a deployed Soldier. During the "weekly phoner" interview, Milby and Sexton converse with Soldiers to find out about the day-to-day rigors of their lives while in Iraq.

    "Our listeners look forward to our interviews on Friday to hear what the day-to- day life of a deployed Soldier is like," said Milby. "The partnership has worked out great for WQXE and the listeners by giving a better understanding of a Soldiers life."

    From a 3d ESC standpoint, the partnership has been meaningful as well.

    "Everyone of those interviews is different, but one thing they all are is meaningful—both to the Soldiers who do the interviews and those who hear them on the radio," said Sgt. 1st Class David McClain, the 3d ESC public affairs non-commissioned officer in charge and Brook Park, Ohio, native.

    For the 3d ESC family members back in the Fort Knox community, this 3d ESC partnership has been successful in getting them up to date information. Milby explained that because of their partnership with the 3d ESC, WQXE feels as if it is a part of the Sustainer team, and ultimately, a part of the family.

    "We have been able to put ourselves in with many different families. We've talked to Families about their children, like when they graduate and have talked to mothers who help their daughters buy prom dresses from Iraq," said Milby.

    "Doing what we do with the 3d ESC is the least we could do for Soldiers
    considering all they do for us."

    LEAVE A COMMENT

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 05.29.2009
    Date Posted: 05.29.2009 03:58
    Story ID: 34257
    Location: BALAD, IQ

    Web Views: 184
    Downloads: 167

    PUBLIC DOMAIN