By Pfc. Evan Loyd
2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Public Affairs Office
BAGHDAD – Soldiers in the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, received a chance to send a video holiday greetings back to their families in Germany and the United States Dec. 12.
The troops stationed on or near Combat Outpost Cashe had two broadcast Soldiers recording shout outs in order to help boost morale for Iraqi based Soldiers and family members at home station by recording holiday wishes.
"It really builds unit's morale. It's great to see all the smiles as I look at my guys," said Master Sgt. Michael Sullivan from Yakestown, Ohio, platoon sergeant for Battery C, 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery, Task Force 2-6 Infantry, 2nd BCT, 1st Armd. Div., MND-B. "I think it reminds them of home and gives them a break from the reality of being here."
Since many of the Soldiers won't be home for the holidays, this is a chance for their families and friends to see their loved one is all right and looking forward to the end-of-deployment reunion.
"It's nice to be able to talk to my family," said Sgt. Jonathan Brown, from Escondido, Calif., one of the Soldiers who recorded a greeting. "Even when I'm a thousand miles away they can still see me and see I'm ok."
The Soldiers provide their hometown in hopes that the local stations will air them. But, even if their hometown station isn't able to schedule airtime, families and friends can still watch them on the internet by going to the Digital Video and Imagery Distribution System website.
DVIDS is a platform that uploads video recordings, pictures and news stories from the military via satellite to the internet so it may be viewed instantly from around the world.
"It's a great way to get videos, photos and audio files from the military to the public," said Staff Sgt. Kelly Collett, from Salt Lake City, Utah, 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, MND-B. He was one of the two broadcast journalists recording shout-outs. "Anyone who can use the internet can access these videos and watch them once we load them to the system."
The DVIDS can be accessed by visiting their homepage at www.dvidshub.net. Once there, families and friends can search for the Soldier's name and the unit that he or she is part of to find their greeting, a story, or photos of them. For easy access, the Iron Brigade's contributions to the system can be found at the http://www.dvidshub.net/units/2BCT-1AD.
"I think this is a great thing for a deployed Soldier and their family," said Spc. Ryan
Wahl, from Grand Blanc, Mich., a Soldier of Task Force 1-35 Armor Regiment, who also recorded a greeting to his family. "I just want to give a shout-out to my mom, my girlfriend and my friend Justin in Grand Blanc, Mich., Happy Holidays and I miss you guys."