VALUE OF THE MONTH: Integrity - Do whats right, legally and morally QUOTE OF THE MONTH - Soldiers must possess

integrity in order to build trust and confidence in themselves, our leadership, and the American public. Among the things I've learned during my career is that you must be honest with everyone about everything. - SMA Glen E. Morrell

Volume 1, Issue 6 October 2011

Commanders Corner
673RD DENTAL COMPANY (AS) FORWARD PROVISIONAL Final Greetings to the friends and family of the 673rd DCAS FWD PROV! This morning we saw the coolest temperatures in Iraq so far in the low 50s! It still has been in the 90s during the day, but next week they predict highs only in the 80s. What a change from last summer! One day we hit a recorded 143 degrees F at COB Adder. Well see if the Weather Man here is as good as those back home; not! I am sure well return to liquid sunshine at Ft Lewis/JBLM. It was our pleasure to conduct a Reenlistment Ceremony today for SPC Sara Newton. She may be the first of several to take advantage of this special opportunity for selected 673rd DCAS-FWD Soldiers. COL Michael Apicella conducted the ceremonies, and we were pleased to have TF 47 MED CSM McBean in attendance. Thanks, SPC Newton, for your outstanding dedication to the US Army and the Dental Corps. Your hard work will continue to take you far! Redeployment. Just to say the word sounds a bit foreign. We have only been here for about 7 months of our anticipated 1 year deployment, but thats the talk across Iraq. Soldiers are heading home as bases close down. At the height of Operation Iraqi Freedom, there were nearly 600 outposts, Contingency Sites, and Forward Operating Bases across the Iraqi Joint Operational Area

Sabertooth Express

IJOA. As of today there are only 18. The President announced yesterday that all Soldiers in Iraq will be home by the end of the year, so the Generals are executing the plans to wrap things up for Operation New Dawn. We will keep you informed through the Family Readiness Group leadership and the 56th MMB for our return date, and they will get the word out to family members. So stay tuned! Let me say again how proud I am to have served with so many dedicated, professional, and compassionate Soldiers and officers that comprised the 673rd DCAS-FWD team. You performed magnificently as you took care of Americas sons and daughters! Let me encourage you to continue to strive for excellence in all you undertake, make the most of every opportunity to seek higher levels of education, and continue to be the best leaders of todays US Army for our countrys tomorrow. Stand Tall! Be proud of what you have accomplished! Hooah! Sabertooth 6: Out! COL Daniel Reese 673rd DCAS - FWD PROV Commanding

Inside this issue: Notes from Top Special Dates Al Asad, Adder, & Taji Warrior Messages from Home Sabertooth Spotlight 2 2 3 4 5 5

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time and it wasnt Greetings everyone! As you read through this newsletter, you an easy task, but will notice that there are only 4 our Solclinic submissions this month. diers exWe have closed all the other celled and clinics and are in the process of closing one of the four remaining completed it in superb fashion. As we get ready as I type this. The remaining three will close very soon as we to depart, I want to encourage everynear the end of mission. It looks one to focus on our next mission at hand, and that is redeploying and relike our time is nearing an end and this will be our last newslet- integrating with our family, friends, ter while deployed. Once we get and community. Everyone needs to back in Garrison and return from keep safety in mind and look out for their battle-buddy. This doesnt stop Block Leave, I am looking for someone to pick up the torch and when our last foot steps off the sands of Iraq or Kuwait, we must remain continue doing the monthly vigilant and resilient after we return. newsletter. We have almost We work best as a team and we all completed our mission here in need to look out after one another. Iraq and are finishing up a huge task of turning-in everything that For most of us, it is our first deployment so we do not know what to exhas accumulated over the last 8 pect when we return home. Take it years. Everyone has done a slow and dont try to rush into anyGREAT job with this task!!! thing. If you (Soldier or Family) are This hasnt been done in a long stressed or having any problems, please talk to someone. A battlebuddy, Chaplain, or Behavioral The core of a soldier is moral Health Specialist. The important discipline. It is intertwined with the discipline of physical and thing is that you get assistance. I mental achievement. It stand ready along with the other motivates doing on your own NCOs and Officers of the Comwhat is right without prodding. pany and Battalion to assist anyIt is an inner critic that refuses one that needs help, regardless of to tolerate less than your best. the time of day or night! We are Total discipline overcomes there to help, and you do not have adversity and physical stamina to face these challenges by yourdraws on an inner strength that says "drive on." SMA William G. self.
Bainbridge

Notes from Top

After we return, we will have approximately 10 days of reintegration training and then block leave to enjoy some well deserved time with our family. After Block leave, we will go about the task of getting back into the daily activities and training on JBLM. Some of you will go to school, some of you will attend training, and some will start reestablishing our HQ and waiting for our Brothers and Sisters that are still in Afghanistan. It has been an honor and a privilege serving as your First Sergeant on this deployment. I am extremely proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to the next several months as we transition back to JBLM. Have a blessed month of November and always remember to be ARMY STONG and stay SAFE! Sabertooth 7 - OUT! 1SG Mark E. Eavey Sabertooth 7 - OND

November & December Family Member Birthdays & Anniversaries

October Birthdays
12 Oct - SGT Mitre 18 Oct - COL Reese 25 Oct - CPT Le

Nov & Dec Birthdays

13 Nov - SPC Keathley 23 Nov - SPC Rodriguez 30 Nov - SPC Walton 27 Dec - CPT Meyer

23 Nov - Destiny Mason (SFC Masons Daughter) 11 Nov - SPC & Mr Toby Keathleys Anniversary 13 Nov - SPC & Mr Jacob Newtons Anniversary 04 Dec - SSG & Mrs Alyson Torres Anniversary 08 Dec - SGT & Mr Angelmanuel Mitres Anniversary 27 Dec - SPC & Mrs Nabeeha Bryants Anniversary

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Al Asad Dental Clinic

The Al Asad Dental Clinic said goodbye to LTC Choi and welcomed SPC Delgado. Over the past month we continued to process equipment, supplies, and vehicles for turn in. As we are preparing to leave, we continue to provide the greatest dental

OIC: COL Douglas Wade NCOIC: SSG James Whitehead

care in Iraq. With the end of mission date drawing near, we will miss Butch and Zach, our friendly Combat Stress dogs, and all the sand storms. We are definitely ready to get back to our family and friends in Japan, Germany, and the good ole USA.

Adder Dental Clinic

OIC: COL Michael J. Apicella NCOIC: SPC Ria Keathley

This month we bid farewell to COL Blythe who finished his tour of duty with the 673rd DCAS (provisional) in Iraq - thanks for a job well done. COL Apicella, the former OIC of the JBB Dental Clinic, will assume the duties as the OIC at COB Adder Dental Clinic. In addition we have SPC Beard, SPC Hill and SPC Newton working at the Adder Dental Clinic. In addition we have CPT Lee and SPC Carey from 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division. Special congratulations to SPC Newton who just re-enlisted for 4 years and plans on going to Germany next year for her next assignment. We are all working hard to complete the end of mission here at COB Adder, Iraq. A special Happy Birthday to SGT Mitre.

Taji Dental Clinic

OIC: LTC Alex Eke NCOIC: SPC Sheldon Cavaco

Greetings MIGHTY 673rd! Me and LTC Eke are doing very well out here. Nothing new to report as far as entertainment is concerned on Taji. I did get some movies on my hard drive from some other Soldiers. Sometimes they'll come over and we'll watch one of them. It's great for killing time. We are getting closer to packing. We will see you all shortly.

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Warrior Dental Clinic

As September ran into October, the seasons were changing and so were the deployed lives of SPC McLaughlin and CPT Meyer. Both soldiers were tasked with the mission to standup the dental clinic at COB Warrior in Kirkuk, Iraq and facilitate the lateral transfer to the Department of State. Coming from different bases, the new location and situation provided different challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth. COB Warrior offered a welcome change in environment for the newly assembled dental team. The dental clinic is a small 1-chair clinic located within the hospital run by the Air Force 321 EMEDS. So small, in fact, that the entire clinic is only a tad bit larger than only one operatory in either of the operations in Balad or Basarah. The base itself is much smaller than the two previous bases from which soldiers came. This, however, is seen as an advantage with everything being within a short walking distance. The landscape was also different. Normal sized trees are commonplace instead brush like trees of southern Iraq. Temperatures had finally returned to double digits bringing vastly appreciated nighttime chills, a far cry from the ninety degrees nights of just a few months earlier.

OIC: CPT Matthew Meyer NCOIC: SPC Kahil McLaughlin

SPC McLaughlin and CPT Meyer look forward to finishing the dental mission at COB Warrior and transferring the dental clinic to the Department of State. They would like to thank their family and friends for their prayers and support during the deployment. Before long, the mission will be over and they will be home again.

This will be our last newsletter while deployed. If you have photos or information to put in our next newsletter back home, please send it to 1SG Eavey at mark.eavey@us.army.mil.

abertooth S Spotlight

We are all looking forward to coming home soon! Thank you for all your love and support the last several months!

SPC Newton Reenlists for 4 more years!

PROFIS dentists receive end of tour awards

SFC Masons family welcomes him home!!!

The Sun sets on another day in Iraq and on our time here!