Photo By Spc. Douglas York | Marlene Novacheck (left), from Orlando, Fla., and Kim Sauberan, from Fort Polk, La.,...... read more read more
By Spc. Douglas York
Multi-National Division – Baghdad
CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Looking across this vast expanse called life, few of us will ever get the opportunity to have a job that is not merely a job, but is in reality a part of who we are.
There are indeed exceptions to that rule, and there are exceptional people who fill those roles and fill up our lives.
There are two such individuals who have been filling up the lives of Soldiers serving with 4th Infantry Division and Multi-National Division – Baghdad during the unit's tour in Iraq.
"We affectionately refer to them as 'Thelma and Louise,'" said Maj. Michael McGregor, a native of Roaring Spring, Pa., who serves as the deputy director of the human resources, or personnel section, of 4th Inf. Div., MND-B, the division section that the MWR program falls under.
"Thelma and Louise" are two Morale Welfare and Recreation civilian volunteers named Marlene Novacheck, from Orlando, Fla., and Kim Sauberan, from Fort Polk, La.
"They go way above and beyond their call of duty," McGregor added.
Novacheck and Sauberan are two Department of Defense civilian employees who answered the MWR's call for volunteers to deploy with the various units in theater. While they come from different walks of life with respect to their roles in the States, they've come together here, and their collective dedication has been providing the Ironhorse Division with activities and entertainment since March.
"They asked for MWR employees to volunteer to come over to Iraq," Sauberan said. "We didn't know exactly what we would be doing. We were just told that we'd be working directly for division and to find out what their needs were."
The division's "needs" were for her and Novacheck to escort the various entertainers who have come through to visit the troops.
"I've deployed twice before, but both of those deployments were very different," Novacheck said. "The first deployment, I was in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and the last time I was here, I was home-based in Kuwait [2003-2004] and pushed a lot of the entertainment into Iraq," she added.
Despite their roles here in providing the potential outlet for deployed Soldiers and civilians to star gaze and get caught up in the moment of meeting celebrities, Novacheck and Sauberan haven't taken their jobs lightly and have improved the quality of entertainment and activities many times over for the division.
"Together, they have expanded the sites visited [by celebrities and dignitaries] from only 10 in December 2007, to over 43 in October 2008," McGregor said. "Marlene has traveled to every joint security station, combat outpost, and forward operating base in MND-B – every one of them! They have brought over 94 shows to our Soldiers," he added, noting that together they've brought in entertainers such as Toby Keith, Bo Bice, Scott Kennedy, Mark Wills and a host of others.
"You know, I really am one of those Army 'kids,'" Novacheck said. "I was born in Pennsylvania, left there when I was three months old, and I've been on the road ever since."
Her father served in the military and her ex-husband served for 22 years as well.
The result is that the Ironhorse Division has benefited from her 27 years of experience serving the military, most recently as a youth program coordinator, in addition to Sauberan's vast experience.
"I've been an MWR employee for over 25 years," Sauberan said. "I'm currently running a fitness center [Wheelock] at Fort Polk, La., but I've also done intramural programs and things like that."
Working for MWR in the States is vastly different from what the two are doing in Iraq, where they work anywhere from 12 to 17 hours a day, depending on how often they're traveling. This, of course, begs the question of why they would volunteer to serve overseas with the day-in and day-out toll deployments can take on those serving here.
"There are always the moments of brilliance, where you put on a program, you run a [sports] season, or you have a community event and there's great participation and everybody has a great time," Novacheck said, noting that for all the times things go according to plan, there are many more times with challenges to overcome and it is hard to maintain a perfect success rate with so many factors involved.
"Working MWR is a great job; it's a service business, and I suppose that's why I've hung in as long as I have," she said.
Hanging in through the trying times is paying off for the Soldiers, their leaders and all who are fortunate enough to attend the events the two ladies put together.
"One of the comedians has a line: 'For the next hour or so, it's a piece of home. It's not what's going on; it's not your mission; it's let's just have a good time,' and I think that is true," Novacheck said.
"Some of the first sergeants and commanders were coming forward and saying 'Hey, you guys missed this particular FOB, JSS or COP. Is there a way that maybe you can get out there to those guys?' and as long as we can land there or have a short commute for a convoy, if they permit us, then we can take entertainment to [those] Soldiers," Sauberan added.
She went on to elaborate that it doesn't matter if there are only 10 Soldiers on a base or if there are 100 of them, as long as she and her crew can get to where they are, the troops will have entertainment.
In turn, there are benefits for the entertainers as well as the two ladies – things that seem to go beyond the monetary benefits most of the stars are used to.
"Somebody said 'Hey, you've got a really neat job because you get to hang out with all of these entertainers and big stars,' and certainly that is an aspect," Novacheck said. "That is not the reason I do this at all. It really is the look on Soldiers' faces when they just appear to be relaxed and having a good time. They just work so hard. They're laughing or they are singing and there is no greater feeling than that," she added.
Novacheck has been around the military her entire life, but she has never served as a troop. The deployment, she said, has allowed her to feel like she is one of them.
"I think it's a bit overwhelming for them [the performers] when they hear the Soldiers thank the entertainers for being here. The entertainers are just overwhelmed with that; it's very humbling for them," Sauberan added.
These feelings are mutual for the people Novacheck and Sauberan have been tirelessly serving and their efforts have certainly not gone unnoticed.
"These two ladies are phenomenal, and I can't say enough great things about them," McGregor said.
Marlene is getting ready to depart at the end of October, and Sauberan will likely be leaving around the time the division leaves in the early part of 2009. Their departures will impact those they have been serving during their time here.
With the sad farewell that looms for Novacheck on their minds, the two ladies know that there have been many factors which have made their time here as productive as it has been.
"We have also had tremendous support, not only from our boss, but from [all] the folks who have worked with us to fly us to these places," Novacheck said. "It's just sort of been that moment of brilliance where everything works. It has been that moment in time where everything came together and with tremendous results I think," she added.
Sauberan shared her friend's thoughts and added to them.
"All of the entertainers have been very pleasant to work with," Sauberan said. "They're just amazed, and they are surprised at how the Soldiers live over here," she added. The often negative things entertainers hear on the news are not what they see when they come over here and they go back home with an enlightened perspective, she said.
The entertainers aren't the only ones whose perspectives are changed. The Soldiers and the peers that Novacheck and Sauberan have served with are forever changed by their efforts as well.
"We have commanders who will come and thank us for bringing people out to their troops and to the smaller sites to let our Soldiers know that they haven't been forgotten," Sauberan said. "It's been very rewarding because they're surprised when they see us, and then when they see us again, they know we're bringing someone to them," she added.
Sadly, as with all good things, the ladies' time here will end with or around the time of the division and both are etched in each others' hearts.
"I told Maj. McGregor that I really want to come to the 4th Inf. Div.'s welcome home ceremony, whenever that is. I want to come for selfish reasons. It's sort of that closure that all of the people that I have been here with are home," Novacheck said. "It's time [for me] to go, but the other side of the sword is that my friends will still be here working hard, and there's always that part of me that says I should stay."
Both ladies said they have enjoyed their time here, and while the mission has provided some rough spots, it has been by and large memorable and fulfilling for both.
"I worked for the Olympics in 1996, and I always thought that was going to be the best job I ever had – but this one topped it," Sauberan said.
Novacheck seconded the remarks and wanted to leave a parting shot of gratitude for all who have helped her time here be unforgettable.
"I don't know if my peers, my command, the pilots and all the guys that work at the desk, I don't know if I have ever been able to convey to them my thanks," Novacheck said. "Just my thanks for letting me be a part of this team. It is a great adventure, and it is because of them and the Soldiers that it has been one of the greatest highlights of my life."
Reflecting on the experiences they've had many years from now, Soldiers and civilians alike will probably remember with fondness the MWR events and activities they were able to participate in while serving here.
With that, here's to hoping those same folks will remember the two Steadfast and Loyal women who helped make it all possible and who provided all of them with the morale, welfare and recreation they needed and deserved.
| Date Taken: | 10.29.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 10.29.2008 14:58 |
| Story ID: | 25695 |
| Location: | BAGHDAD, IQ |
| Web Views: | 252 |
| Downloads: | 191 |
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