DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(U) SID Deployment Coins Awarded
FROM: SIGINT Communications
Unknown
Run Date: 08/02/2004
(U//FOUO) On Tuesday, July 27, at a ceremony in the Friedman Auditorium, MG Quirk thanked
SIGINTers who returned from deployment to hostile areas between 1 Jan 04 and 31 May 04.
(U) We asked a few of those who received this recognition to tell us where they went, what they
did and to give us their impression of the event. Here is what they had to say:
(U) "I was very impressed with the fact that MG Quirk took the time to speak at the ceremony
personally. That shows how much SID has valued and supported these deployments."
(U) "I was particularly glad that the ceremony combined agency civilian and military employees
who had deployed together with the same mission and goals. The ceremony was a great
opportunity to see fellow OIF/OEF "alumni" and celebrate the fact that we have all returned
safely. It's obvious that a lot of time and care were taken to prepare unique certificates and
coins rather than the standard SID coins. This certificate will hang on my office wall for the next
fifty years until I retire, when I will still be telling stories about the best experience of my
career."
(U) "I was a civilian Intelligence Analyst deployed to CSG Baghdad from October 2003 through
February 2004."
(U//FOUO) "I thought the ceremony was nice, short and very personal. Starting out with the
national anthem was very moving as we all strive to keep our nation safe. MG Quirk's opening
remarks made me proud of what I do and of my most recent deployment. When my turn to walk
across the stage came, I felt a bit nervous since this was the first time I had met MG Quirk.
When I shook his hand, received the certificate and coin, and heard him thanking me for my
sacrifice, I felt so proud. The certificate is a real nice one and yes I have already put it on my
desk. Also,
and
were recognized for their support in the travel office
... that was well deserved!
(U) "My most recent deployment was from March-May 2004 into Iraq as a signals expert,
conducting surveys."
(U//FOUO) "With folks being deployed from all parts of the Enterprise it was really great to see
many who were in Iraq at the same time I was. SID really went the distance to make it a quality
ceremony. The slide show presented prior to the formal ceremony was a collection of shots of
the places and surroundings where folks had been deployed. That combined with seeing people I
was deployed with really brought back the experience. The certificate is a keeper because it's
not one of those black-lettered-on-white-background-check-the-block-certificates. Someone
spent some time putting a nice statement of thanks and recognition from MG Quirk over a photo
of gun waving, RPG toting radicals. It's up on my office wall already. What really made it
outstanding was when MG Quirk recognized
and
in SID Travel. They
certainly deserve recognition for the quality support they provided to us while we were
deployed."
(U) "I was the Chief of the CSG in Baghdad from January into May."
(U) "I thought it was a nice ceremony and a great opportunity for folks who had a tough job in a
difficult environment to get recognized. I was thoroughly impressed with all the NSAers I worked
with in Iraq and was glad to see them receive a coin from MG Quirk. It was like a mini Iraq
reunion in the Friedman yesterday."
(TS//SI) "I spent 2-1/2 months in Baghdad (that was my 3rd trip to Iraq in the last year) as OIC
of the Office of Target & Reconnaissance (OTRS) Forward Operating Base (FOB). We had a seven
member team stationed out of the VVIP terminal at Baghdad International Airport and were
heavily involved with exploiting the emerging Iraqna GSM network, Wireless LAN, GOSSAMER
Operations and Syrian GSM bleed-over surveys."
(U) As noted in the announcement of the ceremony on SIDtoday , additional ceremonies will be
held quarterly.
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108