Courtesy Photo | Staff Sgt. Bernice Stratton, a native of Del Rio, Texas, is pictured with husband,...... read more read more
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By Anishka Calder
1st Sustainment Command (Theater) Public Affairs
CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – She gazed into the light blue sky as the humid breeze brushed against her face and made her short, curly hair sway in the direction of the wind. She shifted her body to reposition herself against the concrete barrier and snapped back to reality. Her large, brown eyes sparkled and a huge smile swept across her face as she explained her contribution to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Staff Sgt. Bernice Stratton is a geospatial analyst from 1st Sustainment Command (Theater). Her job is to ensure that all map requests are done accurately and in a timely manner. These maps outline the areas of operation of U.S. and coalition troops and routes of travel.
Delivering supplies to troops in combat and non-combat areas is an integral part of the war on terrorism, Stratton said. Ensuring that the supply routes are safe for the sustainers delivering these goods is one of the major tasks for topographers in the military.
"My job involves the management, development and dissemination of topographic data. We create and engineer battlefield assessment and aid in the planning and decision-making process during intelligence preparation of the battlefield," said Stratton. "We do maps for exercises and contingency operations. It is tailored to the unit's mission. This unit's mission is logistics, so we focus on main supply routes and alternate supply routes."
Stratton's job plays a major role in the 1st TSC's logistical mission. She has to ensure that the maps that are requested by commanders provide the safest routes to supply critical goods to Service members in the fight in the CENTCOM areas of operation.
"It (her job) allows personnel to do a map reconnaissance prior to going to any of the locations requested," said Master Sgt. Quintina M. Donald, security manager for 1st TSC. "That's important because our analyst does route studies and can tell which route is safe and the precautionary measures that need to be taken when going to certain areas. The maps can tell where certain bases or forward operating bases are for supply and fuel locations."
With an important role to play in sustaining the mission, Stratton ensures that the work she produces is of optimum quality and that it reflects all the effort that was put into making each map.
"She produces outstanding products. She is very strict in upholding her map standards," said Donald Williston, Fla., native. "On top of that, she is also the platoon sergeant, the training noncommissioned officer-in-charge and the equal opportunity representative for our section."
When Stratton deployed to Kuwait in June, she had one Soldier. She coordinated with 20th Engineer Brigade, deployed in Iraq, to have their topographic team send a four-man detail to assist in setting up 1st TSC's topographic section.
"Initially, 1st TSC didn't have a typography section. She came to us in April and built the section from the ground up," Donald said.
Sgt. Daniel Barr, a Manassas, Va., native and a geospatial analyst, was part of that team and is now attached to 1st TSC. He is impressed with Stratton's work ethic and looks up to her as his supervisor.
"Her sense of humor helps keep the stress level down here. She leads by example," said Barr. "If there's work to be done, she'll work later than her shift to help others out, and is always available to teach someone who needs assistance."
Pfc. Tamsyn Lambert, a Broken Bow, Okla., native, is also attached to 1st TSC from 20th Engineer Brigade. She has been working with Stratton for two months now and has high praises for her.
"She is out-going and easy to talk to. She makes sure we're doing our job and that our job is done to standard," said Lambert. "She is a hard worker. She never sits down, and is always there to provide a helping hand when we need it."
Stratton, a native of Del Rio, Texas, is married to Warrant Officer Joshua Stratton, who is currently deployed in Iraq, and they have a three year-old daughter, Isabella. Stratton (Bernice) was recently awarded a four-year scholarship for the Army Green to Gold program, and will soon join her husband in the officer ranks.
Stratton will be pursuing a degree in nursing. She chose to become an Army nurse because of her love for people and her desire to give back to her community.
"I'm very proud of the fact that she has been accepted to go from Green to Gold. They could not have chosen a better candidate," said Donald. "The enlisted side of the Army will be losing a born leader. She has the attitude of a go-getter and strives for perfection. Going Green to Gold was something that was near and dear to her heart. She wanted it, and she went out and got it."
There are new challenges ahead for Stratton as she prepares to go to school on the scholarship, but she is grateful for the opportunity to get to be home with her daughter and provide some kind of stable environment for her while going to school. Her daughter is currently with her parents in Mexico due to the deployment of both parents.
"The thing I look forward to the most after redeploying is spending time with my daughter," said Stratton. "I am grateful to my parents for all their love and support, especially taking care of our daughter during our deployment."
With all the challenges that she faces on the job, Stratton enjoys what she does and would have it no other way. She enjoys working with people and working to get the mission accomplished, no matter how hard the mission gets.
"I love the continuous learning process that is involved with my job," said Stratton. "It's very challenging and it is a tedious process to gather the data and learn the various networking and software updates."
The mission of the 1st TSC continues, and so does Stratton's critical role in its success. Geospatial analysts will continue to be one of the main tools commanders use in getting the mission accomplished.
"She is one of our greatest assets in the topographic section," said Donald. "She motivates the Soldiers to get the mission accomplished. She is the epitome of military leadership."
| Date Taken: | 10.10.2007 |
| Date Posted: | 10.19.2007 12:46 |
| Story ID: | 13130 |
| Location: | CAMP ARIFJAN, KW |
| Web Views: | 338 |
| Downloads: | 242 |
This work, Mapping Troops to victory, by SFC Anishka Calder, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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