Military Matters

Army Reserve Spec. Tiffany L. Dydak has been mobilized and activated for a future deployment to an undisclosed overseas location in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Operation Iraqi Freedom is the official name given to military operations involving members of the U.S. armed forces and coalition forces participating in efforts to free and secure Iraq. Mission objectives focus on force protection, peacekeeping, stabilization, security and counter-insurgency operations as the Iraqi transitional governing bodies assume full sovereign powers to govern the peoples of Iraq.
Members from all branches of the U.S. military and multinational forces are also assisting in rebuilding Iraq’s economic and governmental infrastructure, and training and preparing Iraqi military and security forces to assume full authority and responsibility in defending and preserving Iraq’s sovereignty and independence as a democracy.
Dydak, a military police specialist with three years of military service, is regularly assigned to the 812th Military Police Company, Orangeburg, N.Y.
She is the daughter of Steven E. Dydak of Philadelphia, and Lorraine A. Fletcher of Levittown, Pa.
The specialist is a 2003 graduate of Nazareth Academy.

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Army Pvt. Edward J. Kline has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.
He is the brother of Matt Kline of Philadelphia.

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Army Pfc. Albert S. Almas has graduated from Basic Combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.
During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation, foot marches, armed and unarmed combat, and field maneuvers and tactics.
Almas is the son of Naziar Almas and the brother of Shabila Khokhar, both of Philadelphia.

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Air Force Senior Airman Roger W. Engle III has been decorated with the Air Medal, which is awarded to any person who, while serving in any capacity in or with the armed forces of the United States, has distinguished himself or herself by meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.
The medal is primarily intended to recognize those individuals who are on current crew member or non-crew member flying status that requires them to participate in aerial flight on a regular and frequent basis in the performance of their primary duties. Awards may be made to recognize single acts of merit or heroism or for meritorious service.
The airman participated in combat operations over Afghanistan and Iraq in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, respectively. The medal recipient flew combat battlespace control missions aboard the E-3 Airborne Warning and Control Systems aircraft while assigned to the 963rd Airborne Expeditionary Air Control Squadron in Southwest Asia, Persian Gulf region.
Engle is a senior director regularly assigned to the 963rd Airborne Air Control Squadron at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, Okla. The captain has served in the military for 19 years.
His wife Suzanne is the daughter of Thomas V. and Priscilla Zieminski of Philadelphia.
In 1988, Engle graduated from Cloverleaf High School, Lodi, Ohio, and received a bachelor’s degree in 1999 from Colorado State University, Pueblo. He earned a master’s degree in 2005 from Columbia Southern University through the military extension program.

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Navy Seaman Kenneth A. Nosik, son of Yelena Nosik and Daniel Apokorin, both of Philadelphia, recently completed U.S. Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.
During the eight-week program, Nosik completed a variety of training which included classroom study and practical instruction on naval customs, first aid, firefighting, water safety and survival, and shipboard and aircraft safety. An emphasis was also placed on physical fitness.
The capstone event of boot camp is "Battle Stations."
This exercise gives recruits the skills and confidence they need to succeed in the fleet. Battle Stations is designed to galvanize the basic warrior attributes of sacrifice, dedication, teamwork and endurance in each recruit through the practical application of basic Navy skills and the core values of Honor, Courage and Commitment. Its distinctly "Navy" flavor was designed to take into account what it means to be a sailor. ••