Incoming Division Senior Enlisted Leader visits 41st Fires Soldiers

Photo By Spc. Allison Churchill | Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Julin, 34th Infantry Division, listens as a Palladin crew member from Battery A, 1st Battalion, 77th Field Artillery Regiment, explains updates to the Howitzer and ammunition, May 12. Julin spent a few years working with Howitzers early in his 32-year Army career. Julin visited the Palladin crew as part of a tour of Forward Operating Base Delta prior to 34th Inf. Div. taking authority of Multi-National Division -- South.  

AL KUT, IRAQ

05.18.2009

Story by Spc. Allison Churchill 

Multi-National Division-South

FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq — Command Sgt. Maj. Douglas Julin, 34th Infantry Division senior enlisted leader toured Forward Operating Base Delta, May 12.

The 34th Inf. Div. is scheduled to take authority of Multi-National Division — South from 10th Mountain Division later this month.

"I think you'll see a lot of good support from division," Julin told a team of non-commissioned officers in 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade after the NCOs had briefed Julin on their contributions to the battle.

The Deep Strike leaders also showed Julin a guided multiple launch rocket system and a Paladin self-propelled Howitzer. Julin spent a few of his more than 32 years in the Army as an artilleryman and asked the crew members of each weapon system questions for several minutes.

Julin expressed genuine curiosity throughout his tour of FOB Delta. He asked military police at the 772nd Military Police Company headquarters about their working relationship with Iraqi security forces, if Soldiers have been in contact with home recently and toured the departments of the troop medical clinic. Then he visited the 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Bde., headquarters in Hanger 49 and the battalion motor pool.

"You can tell a lot by seeing and looking . . . and everything here looks good," said Julin.

Command Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Hughes, 41st Fires Bde., and FOB Delta's senior enlisted leader, who escorted Julin on the tour, said he had tried to choose locations with a large concentration of Soldiers available for Julin to meet and speak to.

"In the larger units, the spectrum of operations is broader," said Hughes, adding that size has nothing to do with a unit's role on the camp. "No element on FOB Delta is more important than another."

Julin's tour was part of a command visit that included Maj. Gen. Richard Nash. Nash and Julin arrived on FOB Delta the evening of May 11 for a dinner with unit leaders. While Julin spent the next day touring FOB Delta, Nash toured Al Kut with 41st Fires Bde., commander, Col. Dick Francey.

• Date Taken: 05.18.2009
• Date Posted: 05.18.2009 10:57
• Story ID: 33746
• Location: AL KUT, IQ