Soldier re-enlists 340 feet off the ground

Courtesy Photo | Following his re-enlistment, Spc. Bobby Nieto, from Stonewall, Texas, flies the flag passed down to him by two of his brothers, who also re-enlisted with it during their deployments. Nieto, who re-enlisted on top of a 340-foot smokestack, April 8, at Forward Operating Base Iskan, Iraq, is an infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. (Photo/1st Lt. Jordan Nearhoof)  

ISKANDARIYAH, IRAQ

04.12.2008

Courtesy Story

4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division Public Affairs

By 1st Lt. William Perdue
4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division

FORWARD OPERATING BASE ISKAN, Iraq – U.S. Soldiers opt to stay Army on a daily basis. In an office among peers or outside a headquarters building are frequent spots for re-enlistment ceremonies.

One Soldier in the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment, wanted to make his commitment to the Army unique. Spc. Bobby Nieto, from Stonewall, Texas, chose the top of a 340-foot smokestack to raise his hand to re-enlist, April 8.

The infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-7th Inf. Regt., 4th Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, climbed one of the four smokestacks that Forward Operating Base Iskan, Iraq, is known for. The stacks are part of an Iraqi thermal power plant that sits in the middle of the FOB.

"It was something different," Nieto said. "Everyone was always talking about it but no one ever did it - I did."

With flag in hand, Nieto and four others climbed to the top of the smoke stack to conduct the ceremony.

"I was honored to re-enlist such an outstanding Soldier and I was motivated to climb the smoke stack to do so," said 1st Lt. Jordan Nearhoof, executive officer for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3-7th Inf. Regt.

The flag that served as the backdrop for the re-enlistment has already been on several deployments to Iraq.

Nieto, who manages local contractors on the FOB, said the flag is a traditional keepsake for him and his brothers who are also serving in the Army. The tradition started with his oldest brother, Isaac, who served with the 1st Cavalry Division and deployed to Iraq in 2003. At the end of Isaac's deployment he passed the flag on to Nieto's third oldest brother, Matthew, who is currently serving with 101st Airborne Division and also deployed to Iraq.

"I will put it back in rotation," said Nieto, when asked what he plans to do with the flag once he redeploys.

Options for Soldiers who re-enlist range from bonuses, college, Army schools, military occupational specialty reclassification and duty station of choice.

Nieto was available for re-enlistment back in December but waited until now in order to get the duty station he wanted - Fort Hood, Texas - which is only an hour and a half away from his family.

"I would give up all the money for the duty station of my choice," Nieto said.

• Date Taken: 04.12.2008
• Date Posted: 04.21.2008 15:58
• Story ID: 18628
• Location: ISKANDARIYAH, IQ