Fort Drum

Fort Drum's frequent deployments expected “til the end” in Afghanistan

Joanna Richards — Tue, 07 May 2013 03:14:00 +0000

It's a busy time for Fort Drum, near Watertown. Even as the Army prepares to leave Afghanistan, the post has parts of two brigades deployed. Its aviation unit is about to ship off for a nine-month tour. And the 10^th Mountain Division is expecting more orders from the Pentagon soon.

Community comes out to support Fort Drum as Army reorganizes

Joanna Richards — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:58:23 +0000

About 200 community members turned up in a school auditorium in Watertown Thursday night in a showing of regional support for Fort Drum. The event was billed as a “listening session” for the Army, to inform a process of personnel cutbacks and reorganization currently affecting military installations around the country.

Father, daughter Fort Drum soldiers will deploy together to Afghanistan

Joanna Richards — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:38:28 +0000

An unusual pair of “battle buddies” is about to deploy to Afghanistan from Fort Drum. Michael and Miranda Mogg are a father-daughter pair of soldiers with the 10^th Combat Aviation Brigade of the Army's 10^th Mountain Division.

Army bases' land is resource for generating energy

Ryan Delaney — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 20:06:55 +0000

The U.S. military is the largest consumer of energy in the federal government. But it also has a tremendous resource for generating its own energy: all the land bases sit on.

North Country economic council gets crash course on Fort Drum's impact

Joanna Richards — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:40:27 +0000

The North Country Regional Economic Development Council, or REDC, held its most recent meeting at Fort Drum last week. The idea was to give members from the region's seven counties greater insight into how the Army post interacts with the local economy. The council also took steps to implement a new program for water and sewer project infrastructure.

Federal sequester means deep cuts at Fort Drum, impact on regional economy

Joanna Richards — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 13:47:50 +0000

The federal government's across-the-board spending cuts known as the sequester are set to kick in Friday, barring an agreement between Congress and the president. That means a big impact for defense spending, including for Fort Drum, an important regional economic driver.

Owens: Fort Drum “in good shape” as Army considers cutbacks

Joanna Richards — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:03:53 +0000

The U.S. military is in the process of cutting almost half a trillion dollars from its budget over ten years. The Pentagon says the cuts will lead to a more agile force with a new strategic mission. A new Army report weighs alternatives for restructuring that could affect Fort Drum. Under one scenario, the post could see an increase of 3,000 soldiers, but under another, it could lose up to 8,000 soldiers and 15 percent of its civilian workforce.

Soldiers say women welcome in greater combat roles – as long as they can hold their own

Joanna Richards — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:06:11 +0000

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is expected to announce Thursday that a ban on women serving in combat roles in the military will be lifted over the coming years. Around heavily-deployed Fort Drum, soldiers generally welcomed the news – with some caveats.

Wounded Fort Drum soldier calls president's inaugural address “on-the-job encouragement”

Joanna Richards — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 11:32:42 +0000

More than half a million people gathered on the National Mall in front of the Capitol to be a part of President Barack Obama's second inauguration. Among them were about 10 wounded warriors who have been recovering at Walter Reed hospital in Washington. Among that group were four Fort Drum soldiers. One, Specialist Jacob Owens, spoke with a reporter after a long day full of ceremony.

New database makes Fort Drum's historic cemeteries more accessible

Joanna Richards — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 12:00:00 +0000

With the outbreak of World War Two, the Army installation then known as Pine Camp expanded, to become Camp Drum and eventually Fort Drum today. In the process, it swallowed up several villages, including their cemeteries. Fort Drum researchers have created a database and new maps that will help family members of those buried at the cemeteries to find and visit their loved ones' gravesites, both in person and online.

Fort Drum's 2nd Brigade Combat Team prepares for Afghanistan deployment

Joanna Richards — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 06:06:00 +0000

Fort Drum's 2nd Brigade Combat Team is preparing for a January deployment to eastern Afghanistan. The deployment marks a shift for troops from combat to advising and assisting the Afghan security forces.

Vets Peer-to-Peer Outreach Center opens in Watertown

Joanna Richards — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 06:07:00 +0000

A new center to help veterans through mental health problems opened Friday in Watertown. Veteran volunteers will help their peers get the services they need.

New commanding general takes helm at Fort Drum

Joanna Richards — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 03:36:00 +0000

Major General Stephen Townsend has taken over command of Fort Drum and the 10^th Mountain Division following a ceremony at the post yesterday morning.

Soldiers, families reflect on fidelity in wake of Petraeus's affair

Joanna Richards — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:46:26 +0000

Marital fidelity is a sensitive subject for many in the military. Relationships are stressed by distance, frequent moves and the dangers of war. Gen. David Petraeus's admission that he had an extramarital affair has led some Fort Drum families to reflect on the difficulties of keeping their personal relationships whole – and their image among a public that often doesn't understand their culture.

Military Moral Code

Joanna Richards — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 09:49:00 +0000

Transcript

LINDA WERTHEIMER, HOST:

Marital fidelity is a sensitive subject for many in the military. Relationships are often strained by distance, frequent moves, the dangers of war. Gen. David Petraeus' admission that he had an extramarital affair has led some military families to reflect on the difficulties of keeping their personal relationships whole. Reporter Joanna Richards spoke with families from the Army's 10th Mountain Division, based at Fort Drum, in upstate New York.

JOANNA RICHARDS, BYLINE: Around Fort Drum, Gen.

Ann Marie Buerkle on the Campbell Conversations

Grant Reeher — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 22:06:17 +0000

The race for New York’s 24^th congressional district seat has easily been the most intense political contest in this region, pitting incumbent Republican Ann Marie Buerkle against Democratic challenger Dan Maffei, in a bitter rematch. Ursula Rozum has also run a spirited Green Party challenge, which could influence the outcome.

Ft. Drum and community work to provide mental health services

Joanna Richards — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 08:00:00 +0000

For the first time since Fort Drum's expansion after the terrorist attack of 9/11, all of its three brigade combat teams are back home at the post. After multiple deployments in two wars spanning 11 years, the soldiers' needs for mental health services are unprecedented, and complicated. Fort Drum and the surrounding community are cooperating to respond to those needs.

Watertown Airport recieves federal grant for improvements

Joanna Richards — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 16:15:31 +0000

The Watertown International Airport has seen huge growth in the past year, with a switch from nine-seater to 44-seater planes and direct connections to Chicago. Now the airport will be able to catch up on some overdue infrastructure, with a $2 million grant from the federal government.

Army Aims To Use Words, Not Weapons, With Afghans

Blake Farmer — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 22:26:00 +0000

The U.S. Army has been ramping up instruction in the languages of Afghanistan, even as troop levels in the country decrease in preparation for the U.S. troop withdrawal in 2014.

This year, key installations have added several hundred speakers of Pashto and Dari to their ranks, more than doubling the number of soldiers trained in the Afghan languages.

But it's not just the country's languages that are foreign to U.S.

Division-wide training exercises at Fort Drum stretch soldiers' skills

Joanna Richards — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 13:36:44 +0000

From July 23 until today, Fort Drum has been holding its biggest training exercise in a decade. WRVO Reporter Joanna Richards donned body armor and a helmet to observe the maneuvers – and find out how they prepare soldiers for war.

Family, friends remember Sgt. Daniel Rodriguez as community turns out for Carthage funeral

Joanna Richards — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 03:55:56 +0000

The remains of a Fort Drum soldier killed in Afghanistan earlier this month returned to home of the 10^th Mountain Division on Sunday, and his funeral was held yesterday in Carthage, in Jefferson County.

At 28 years old, Staff Sergeant Daniel Rodriguez had a wife and three children – and four combat tours under his belt after 10 years of service in the Army.

Those who knew him said Rodriguez will be remembered for his humor, the love he had for his family, and the commitment he had to his military career.

Fort Drum soldier becomes U.S. citizen at White House ceremony

Joanna Richards — Wed, 04 Jul 2012 03:43:48 +0000

It's a national tradition for naturalization ceremonies for new U.S. citizens to be performed on Independence Day. This year, a Fort Drum soldier participated in a ceremony at the White House on July 4.

Fort Drum eyed by House Republicans for new missile defense site

Joanna Richards — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 14:38:39 +0000

Fort Drum is being eyed as a possible location for a new East Coast missile defense site. Republicans in the House Armed Services committee called this week for a study on the issue.

Fort Drum contributes $1.6 billion to region's economy in 2011

Joanna Richards — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 16:48:00 +0000

Everyone in the north country recognizes that Fort Drum plays a huge role in the region's economy. Just how big is the subject of a report the post puts out every year, called the annual economic impact statement. This year's report says Fort Drum contributed over $1.6 billion dollars in spending in the 2011 fiscal year.

State health commissioner bans sale of synthetic marijuana

Joanna Richards — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 20:53:35 +0000

New York State has banned the sale of synthetic marijuana products. Marketed as “herbal incense” and sold under names like Spice and K2, the fake pot has been popular with people across the North Country—including Fort Drum soldiers. The post near Watertown recently announced it would ban soldiers from spending money at any businesses that sell synthetic pot. But it now seems that won’t be necessary.

Fort Drum Unit given poor review by Dept. of Defense's Inspector General

Joanna Richards — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 12:15:27 +0000

A unit at Fort Drum charged with helping wounded soldiers transition to civilian life was given a scathing review in a report by the Department of Defense Inspector General's Office. According to the report, the Warrior Transition Battalion was seen as a “dumping ground” rather than a place to help soldiers heal. Medical recommendations were ignored, and morale was low, with some soldiers saying they'd rather be in jail or being “shot at in Iraq” than in the battalion. WRVO's Joanna Richards reports.

Ft. Drum soldier receives medal for heroism after Thruway bus crash

Joanna Richards — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 12:14:51 +0000

Fort Drum soldier Sergeant Jacob Perkins was awarded the Soldier's Medal Tuesday afternoon at the installation. The medal is given to soldiers for heroism outside the battlefield. Sergeant Perkins came to the aid of a group of Canadian tourists in July, when their tour bus collided with a semi trailer on the Thruway in Waterloo, New York, between Syracuse and Rochester. WRVO's Joanna Richards was at the ceremony at Fort Drum and has this report.

Gillibrand: Defense cuts are coming

Ellen Abbott — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:02:43 +0000

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand says defense cuts are coming, and they will be big. She says at least $450 billion in cuts are expected in the next decade, and that number could go higher depending on what happens with the congressional super-committee in the coming months.

174th Fighter Wing in Syracuse to begin operating unmanned aerial vehicle out of Fort Drum

Joanna Richards — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 11:28:08 +0000

A Syracuse Air National Guard unit is about to begin operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, the MQ-9, out of Fort Drum. The 174th Fighter Wing already conducts MQ-9 flights in Afghanistan, flights which are controlled from an operations center at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse. The partnership with Fort Drum will allow the unit to train Air Force and Air National Guard troops from around the country on flying the MQ-9.

Fort Drum soldier talks about life both before and after Don't Ask Don't Tell

Joanna Richards — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 10:52:13 +0000

WRVO's Joanna Richards meets with "Ryan" and his partner, "Billy", who speak about life in the military before and after the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell