'Wagonmasters' have their 1st re-enlistment in Iraq

Courtesy Photo | Sgt. Elizabeth Whitehead; 15th Special Troops Battalion personnel clerk; re-enlists in the Army and is the first Soldier in the battalion to do so during this deployment.  

QAYYARAH, IRAQ

10.01.2009

Story by Sgt. Matthew Cooley 

13th Armored Corps Sustainment Command (13th ESC)

CONTINGENCY OPERATING LOCATION Q-WEST, Iraq — Sgt. Elizabeth Whitehead, personnel clerk and Laredo, Texas, native, became the 15th Special Troops Battalion, 15th Sustainment Brigade's first in-theater re-enlistment here Oct. 1.

Whitehead said she planned on making the Army a career and re-enlisted soon after coming to Iraq for a $4,500 bonus.

"I wanted to re-enlist anyway, but I did it here in Iraq because I knew it would be tax free," Whitehead explained.

"I wanted to make sure I got the bonus before it goes down."

Sgt. Rachelle Hurd and Staff Sgt. Shanna Culotta, battalion retention noncommissioned officers, explained the present re-enlistment situation in Iraq, stressing that the tax-free deployment bonuses will be reduced by Oct. 20.

Although some Soldiers prefer to wait for special events such as a child's graduation or their own birthday, these retention NCOs urge Soldiers wanting to re-enlist to do it quickly before the money is gone.

"We expect to make mission [quota]," Culotta said.

"Quickly," Hurd interjected.

"Very quickly," Culotta agreed.

Many Soldiers who weren't eligible for a bonus back at Fort Hood, Texas, may qualify while deployed to Iraq.

"People are still wanting to stay in the Army because it's a good career," Hurd said.

Culotta smiled and broke into song.

"We like it here we love it here, we finally found a home!" referring to the Army marching cadence.

For more information on re-enlistment options, contact your battalion retention team.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2009
• Date Posted: 10.06.2009 09:28
• Story ID: 39732
• Location: QAYYARAH, IQ