Soldiers' Morale on Camp Spann

Photo By Pfc. Cynthia Teears Van Cleve | Warrant Officer Anthony Cameron, an intelligence chief, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, and Warrant Officer Henry Dabney, a personnel services chief, HHC, 1st BCT, lift weights in the gym, April 13, on Camp Mike Spann, Afghanistan.  

CAMP SPANN, AFGHANISTAN

04.15.2010

Story by Spc. Cynthia Teears Van Cleve 

1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division

CAMP SPANN, Afghanistan - If you look beyond the dusty rocks and buildings there's a picturesque view of mountains almost every morning and clouds that hang like drapes. This is the scene at Camp Mike Spann where 1st Brigade Combat Team is setting up its headquarters in Afghanistan.

"We have platoons out in sector, some securing the camp and some running it," said Capt. Timothy Williams, commander, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Special Troops Battalion. "You were in main body one right? So when you showed up Hellraiser Company was already working."

Work is a nonstop necessity to keep a camp running. When one Soldier sleeps another is awake doing the same job.

"You know how it is when a Soldier has something to do morale is high, when there's nothing to do they get bored," Williams said. "Their moral is high because they know they're making an impact on the entire brigade."

A few computers and phones are available to keep Soldiers in touch with their families and friends. Personnel living on Camp Spann stand in line anywhere from five to 40 minutes in order to use them.

There is a Morale, Welfare and Recreation building with books, two pool tables, a ping pong table and a TV. Also two gyms are available with several types of equipment for Soldiers and others to use.

"Honestly if you don't go to the gym and you're not a gym person you'll be bored out of your mind," said Spc. David Dandy, a fueler and escort for local contractors, HHC, 1st BSTB.

With the influx of so many Soldiers there are longer lines for hot chow, but the chow hall is available 24 hours a day for cold sandwiches and other snacks.

"The chow hall is pretty decent, the food is good," Dandy said. "They do give you a variety and they try to switch it up."

Soldiers of 1st BSTB, 10th Brigade Support Battalion and the Brigade Headquarters Company are settling in and building the camp to make their living and working spaces what they need for the year, which keeps morale in good standing.

• Date Taken: 04.15.2010
• Date Posted: 04.15.2010 02:05
• Story ID: 48165
• Location: CAMP SPANN, AF