Legionnaire mail representatives work hard to strengthen morale

AFGHANISTAN

08.30.2012

Story by Sgt. Ryan Hohman 

2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – Legionnaires with the personnel office of the 2nd Battalion, 1st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division work hard to ensure the quick delivery of mail to Soldiers with the Combined Task Force Legion in southern Afghanistan.

The CTF Legion deployed to the Arghandab District in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan with the 2nd SBCT, 2nd ID from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. in late spring.

The mail provides soldiers a taste of home, and every time mail is delivered to the drop point the soldiers gather around eagerly awaiting their packages.

“I am always exited [when I open packages] because I always know there is something good inside,” said Sgt. Michael Piotrowski, who serves as an intelligence analyst with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-1 INF.

The CTF Legion receives more than a thousand letters and packages a week, which brings a wide range of goods from Soldiers’ loved ones back home.

“It is almost like Christmas when we come,” said 1st Lt. Eric Antinucci, who serves as the personnel officer for 2-1 INF. “Soldiers are always exited to receive mail because it is one of the few things they can receive from their love ones back in the States.”

The first stop for the mail is Forward Operating Base Walton, Afghanistan where it is sorted by the 2nd Brigade Support Battalion and then moved out to the individual locations.

“I like going out on the convoys because we get to see how much it really means to the soldiers, whether they are getting a letter or package from their wife, mother, brother or sister; it is amazing to see how one package improves their morale,” said Antinucci.

The delivery of mail plays an important role in keeping the morale high for deployed soldiers.

“Mail is very important because it is a big morale booster,” said Piotrowski. “Guys are pretty quick to complain if the mail takes too long.”

Each unit mail representative makes it their number- one priority to ensure each soldier receives their mail in a timely manner.

“We always do our due diligence and ensure that, even if the packages are not addressed correctly, that we get the packages to that soldier as quickly as possible,” said Antinucci. “We know how important it is to their morale.”

• Date Taken: 08.30.2012
• Date Posted: 08.30.2012 15:41
• Story ID: 94060
• Location: AF