Buttner, a 34-year-old crew chief in Company C, Task Force Phoenix, began the process of obtaining his citizenship after arriving here in September. Originally from Fulda, Germany, Buttner deployed to Afghanistan prepared with all of the paperwork he would need to begin his naturalization packet. He acknowledged he was anxious about the process even though he had been extremely thorough. “I was nervous and excited -- nervous that I was missing any documents, [and] excited that I was on track for citizenship,â€Â he said. Buttner mailed the completed packet back to the United States to begin the review process, and naturalization authorities began his background check. Four months after submitting his naturalization packet, Buttner and his escort, Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Allan Mace of Sacramento, Calif., flew to Kandahar to finish the immigration process, which included completing an interview. “The interview took about one and a half hours, and I was very nervous, because the decision for citizenship approval or disapproval is made right then and there,â€Â Buttner said. “Of course, the thought of missing any paperwork or supporting documents was on my mind.â€Â Prior to his interview, Buttner was required to study 100 questions for an exam that covered American history and government. He passed with flying colors. Mace, who has known Buttner for more than four years, said Buttner sacrificed and invested himself in the United States. “It is people like him who tell the world that with hard work, diligence, dedication and love for a nation that the United States continues to be a country of opportunity and compassion,â€Â Mace said. Buttner recommends that soldiers who want to become U.S. citizens take advantage of the support the military offers. “I am extremely proud to be a citizen and to continue to fight alongside my fellow citizens for the stabilization of Afghanistan and to ensure the freedom and liberty of all back home,â€Â he said. March 2, 2011: By Army Sgt. Amanda Jo Brown- Task Force Phoenix

The 34-year-old educator from Brookfield will attend officer candidate school to obtain her commission.Matheney has taught for the past four years and possesses both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. About 300 people live in the small town of Callao where she teaches. In addition to the 70 student-school, there’s a post office and a couple of antique shops. “In this area [the students] don’t have a lot of choices,â€Â Matheney said. “I want them to know -- especially in kindergarten -- that you can do whatever [you want to do].â€Â Pam Halstead, a fellow teacher, said she had mixed emotions when Matheney shared her plans about joining the military. “I’m selfish enough to want her to stay, but love her enough to wish her all the best,â€Â Halstead said. “I know that in order to be a great leader, you have to be an exemplary servant. That is Jamie. She is loyal, patient, willing to get out of her comfort zone, kind, hardworking, unconventional, funny, and my kindred spirit.â€Â “All the teachers here have been very supportive,â€Â Matheney said. Matheney said she received a mixed response when she told her eight young students she was joining the National Guard. She said they did not fully understand what was going on. “After I told the class, one of the students looked and me and said, ‘I licked an icicle,’â€Â Matheney said. “I said, ‘Good. I’m so glad you did.’ In two weeks they will have forgotten about me.â€Â Some of the older students Matheney had taught in years past have a better understanding of what their former teacher is doing and asked more questions. “I love my students, I do,â€Â said Matheney. “When I told them I was leaving, I cried.â€Â Matheney believes she’ll return to her classroom as a different person after spending 21 weeks of training with the National Guard. “I might be a little stricter,â€Â Matheney said. “I’m very laid back and talk calm to them. I try to respect the kids no matter what, and expect them to respect me. That may be more intensified when I get back.â€Â The decision to join the military was not entered into lightly. Matheney knew her choice would affect a lot of people in different ways, not only at school, but at home as well. A driving force in her decision to become a Guard member was the opportunity to receive up to $50,000 in student loan repayments. Matheney said her husband, Todd, is extremely supportive. “He pretty much said, ‘If you want to do it -- do it,’â€Â Matheney said. Army Sgt. 1st Class Brad Gladbach recruited Matheney. He said she is a stand-out soldier that the Missouri National Guard is fortunate to have. Matheney’s impressive education “has already taught her how to be a leader,â€Â Gladbach said. “Her experiences with the National Guard will only increase those leadership skills in her classroom and help her to be a strong leader to her soldiers.â€Â Gladbach said Matheney is the first soldier he has enlisted that will go straight into officer candidate school. He said most of his recruits are either right out of high school or attending college. Matheney’s education, he said, makes her unique. Matheney and her husband live on a family farm and raise cattle with their 14-year-old son and 11-year-old daughter. Matheney received her master’s degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia and her bachelor’s degree from Graceland University in Trenton. She plans to continue teaching this fall. Feb. 28, 2011: By Jennifer Archdekin- Missouri National Guard

Awarded by the Recording Academy, the Grammy honors excellence in the recording arts and sciences. The album, "Quincy Porter: Complete Viola Works," also is nominated in two performance categories: best instrumental soloist performance with orchestra and best chamber music performance. Lane also has engineering credits on "Sarah Schuster Ericsson: 20th Century Harp Sonatas," nominated in the best instrumental soloist performance without orchestra category. Before she joined the Army in July, Lane was the head audio engineer at Sono Luminus, a record label in Virginia that specializes in classical and jazz music. These albums were completed during her time there. "It was truly an honor to be part of such a special project," Lane said. "The album was a fantastic melding of research and performance involving many world-class engineers, producers and performers. “Many thanks to them, and the rest of the team at Sono Luminus for allowing me the opportunity to be a part of it. I feel proud to be representing the West Point Band and the Army Band program in such a positive way," she added. Lane also has engineering credits on the 2008 Grammy-nominated album, "Ronn McFarlane: Indigo Road," which was in the classical crossover category. The engineering and classical portions of the award ceremony will be streamed live at http://www.grammy.com before the live telecast Feb. 13. Lane will attend this event and the televised ceremony. Feb. 8, 2011: From a West Point Band News Release

 

 Redistributed by www.SupportOurTroops.org

Assigned to the 3rd Military Police Group as a human resources technician, the 14-year Army veteran hasn't let his injury hold him back. Rather, he said, being injured has spurred him to do things he never attempted before, such as running a half-marathon."When I first got injured, I thought if I could ever run again, I'd give it my all," he said. Holsey's Army career began in 1992 when he joined as an armor crewman. He has been stationed in Georgia, South Korea, Florida and Washington, D.C. He changed his military occupation after a few years and deployed in 2004 as an administrative specialist. While serving in Iraq as a staff sergeant providing personnel support to the 2nd Infantry Division, Holsey was swiftly initiated into the infantry lifestyle with near-daily convoys. His unit was relocating to another forward operating base, he explained, and troops and supplies were shuffled constantly. Holsey said he wasn't very worried about riding in convoys, because "you never really think you might get hit." But on Nov. 10, 2004, when Holsey was headed out on another routine trip, the unexpected happened. "That whole day is a blur," he said of being hit. "I never remember anything I did that day." Pieced together from the memories of other soldiers who were there, Holsey only knows what happened second-hand. He doesn't remember his vehicle lurching in the blast from a roadside bomb, and he doesn't remember how he managed to get out. Holsey said he lost consciousness until he arrived at a clinic on a Marine base. "The one thing I do remember is that I almost rode in a different vehicle that day,â€Â he said. “I was supposed to switch, but I went back. I always think about that.â€Â Holsey was flown to Germany for initial treatment and then to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington. When he arrived at Walter Reed, Holsey's left leg was reinforced with metal pins, and he endured "washout" surgeries every two days to prevent infection. Finally, Holsey's doctor told him that amputation might be his best option, and the next day he went into surgery. Told later by his ex-wife and stepsons that he reacted more emotionally than he remembers at the news he'd lose his leg, Holsey said he's at peace with his decision now. "I think I've learned to accept it," Holsey said of his injury. "I think some of the things I've accomplished I wouldn't have if I wasn't injured." Throughout his year of recovery, he said, he felt at times as though he wasn't making progress. But within two months, he was fitted for a prosthetic and was walking again. In 2008, Holsey ran his first Army 10-Miler with Walter Reed's "Missing Parts in Action" wounded warrior group. That’s when he met Sue Bozgoz, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and running coach. Bozgoz, who's helped hundreds of other runners throughout her Army career and now coaches full-time, said Holsey was the first wounded soldier she trained. "I realized that there's a lot of need to inspire wounded warriors," Bozgoz explained, noting she coaches because she loves seeing people finish what they started. Bozgoz and Holsey kept in touch via e-mail and phone, with Bozgoz providing a training schedule and new distances and times to aspire to. One of Bozgoz's colleagues, retired Army Capt. Millie Daniels, met Holsey at a track two to three times per week to help him train. Bozgoz, who's completed 52 marathons, also is an agent for world-class runners who run in support of wounded warriors during races around the country. "The goal is to inspire more people to run," she said. Since 2008, Holsey has run in each consecutive Army 10-Miler, a few half-marathons and the last 10 miles of the Marine Corps Marathon. Holsey said he wasn't really a runner prior to his injury, but he pushes himself harder now, just to see what he can do. In 2009 Holsey applied for Warrant Officer School, and became the first amputee in the Army to graduate. He said the instructors at the school showed him no favoritism because of his injury, and that the school was all-around challenging. "I think I was physically prepared for it, but I'm not sure I was mentally prepared for it," he admitted. Even at his current duty station, Holsey said, most of his peers didn't know he was injured until them saw him in shorts. But now when they see him running or working out, he added, many of them are inspired to work harder. Although Holsey inspires others -- he receives e-mails constantly from people he doesn't even know to offer him support -- "it's the people around me who make me stay positive," he said. Before he was wounded, Holsey noted, he'd never met an amputee. But now, he said, he believes he relates best to other wounded warriors. "Sometimes, I think we have to see each other out there," he said. "To me, it makes me realize I can still do it." Holsey's advice to other wounded soldiers is to talk with people facing the same challenges to let feelings and frustrations out. "I think you just don't give up," he added. "Don't allow your limitations to be my limitations." Holsey said he plans on staying in the Army until he retires, and that he has his injury, in part, to thank for his decision. "Because of the opportunities they've given us as wounded warriors, it's important for me to stay and help pave the way for others," he said. Feb. 15, 2011: By Alexandra Hemmerly-Brown- Army News Service