THE SUN NEVER SETS on the 10TH MOUNTAIN PATCH Winter 2019/2020
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A Fort Drum & 10th Mountain Division Publication THE SUN NEVER SETS ON THE 10TH MOUNTAIN PATCH Winter 2019/2020 The Color Guard marches away at the conclusion of the Veterans Day ceremony, at Memorial Park on Fort Drum, N.Y, Nov. 7, 2019. OUR LEGACY JRTC ROTATION 20-01 Maj. Gen. Brian J. Mennes, 10th Mountain Division (LI) commander, served as the guest speaker at the Fort Drum As- sociation of the United States Army Veterans Day Celebration breakfast Nov. 12, 2019, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Water- town, N.Y. Mennes was invited to address the audience at the event, which was held to honor and recognize all those who have served, and continue to serve. “We celebrate Veterans Day and recognize all who have served, and continue to serve, our nation with honor and distinction,” said Mennes. “The Army’s people are its greatest strength, and taking care of them and ensuring they are ready to fight and win our nation’s wars is our top priority.” The 10th Mountain Division has a very rich history, playing a significant role in WWII in the Italian Alps. While de- ployed to Italy, 10th Mountain Soldiers seized German positions on Riva Ridge and Mt. Belvedere, breaking through the German mountain defenses into the Po River Valley and reaching the northern end of Lake Garda by the war’s end. During nearly five months of intense ground combat in Italy, the division was opposed by nearly 10,000 German troops, yet effectively destroyed five German divisions, unhinging the German defense in Italy and drawing German forces away from other theaters. The division sustained nearly 5,000 casualties during World War II, with 1,000 Soldiers killed in action. The Association of the United States Army is a nonprofit educational and professional development organization serving America’s Army. AUSA provides a voice for the Army, supports Soldiers, and honors those who have served. Michelle Capone, President of the Northern New York, Fort Drum Chapter of the AUSA, said it’s an honor to hold such an event. “AUSA is a very service-oriented organization, and we feel it’s very important, especially on Veterans Day, to be able to recognize all of those people who have historically served our nation through all service branches.” Capone also reflected upon the important role veterans play in the North Country communities. “Being an Army community, we recognize the importance of service members even more,” said Capone. “In our back- yard, we have Fort Drum, and we know on a daily basis they are protecting our freedom. We recognize the importance of their service.” 1 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY JRTC ROTATION 20-01 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 2 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY JRTC ROTATION 20-01 3 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY JRTC ROTATION 20-01 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 4 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY JRTC ROTATION 20-01 5 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY XVIII AIRBORNE CORPS VISIT XVIII Airborne Corps staff joined the 10th Mountain Division command team for a 3-mile Snow Shoe March and Ahkio Sled Drag Relay, Dec. 3, 2019, at the Light Fight- er’s School on Fort Drum, N.Y. READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 6 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Spc. Nathan Anguiana, a Soldier with A Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, acquires a target during simulated, ad- vanced, marksmanship training, Dec. 3, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. (left) Ice Company, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Bri- gade Combat Team, was awarded Army Maintenance Excellence Awards, Nov. 25, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. (right) 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Reg- iment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, spent PT doing performance testing with fitness coaches, Nov. 26, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. The test will give the coaches, Sol- diers, and leadership a baseline of Soldier fitness levels and allows for individual growth focus, versus group growth focus. 7 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Spc. Dany Briceno (left) and Spc. Sean Ragan (right), from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, fire a mortar round during a live mortar fire, Oct. 23, (below) Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. 89th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Bri- gade Combat Team, participate in a test of endurance to earn their silver spurs, during a squadron Spur Ride, Nov. 20-21 at Fort Drum, N.Y. The Spur Ride is a time-honored tra- dition for cavalry troopers to join the Order of the Spur, aside from a wartime induction. (below) Sgt. Benjamin Freitag (left) and Cpl. Damien King (right), from 2nd Battalion, 14th Infantry Regi- ment and 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, observe an objective during sniper training, Nov. 19, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. (left) Staff Sgt. Justin Daniels, from H Company, 4th Battalion, 31st Infan- try Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, takes a kneeling position to aim downrange during an M4 car- bine qualification, Nov. 14, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 8 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, prepare to conduct a deliberate assault during a platoon live-fire training exercise, Nov. 14, 2019, at Fort Drum, N.Y. Mountain Sappers with the 41st Engineer Battalion breached a wire ob- stacle as Catamount Soldiers provided support by fire during the scenario. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, attach an M119A3 howitzer to a CH-47 Chinook heli- copter while incorporating air assault sling load operations into battery level gunnery certification, Nov. 19, 2019, at Fort Drum, N.Y. Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 87th Infan- try Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, provide support by fire during a platoon live-fire training exercise, Nov. 14, 2019, at Fort Drum, N.Y. During the scenario, Catamount Soldiers en- gaged targets simulating enemy forces with direct fire, while Mountain Sap- pers with the 41st Engineer Battalion breached a wire obstacle between the platoon and its objective. 9 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY A Soldier assigned to 2nd Battalion, 15th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, keeps an eye out for simulated enemy forces during battery level gunnery certification, Nov. 19, 2019, at Fort Drum, N.Y. Allons Soldiers incorporated air assault sling load operations and simulated chem- ical attacks into the gunnery certifica- tion training, which will lead to battal- ion and brigade certification. Soldiers assigned to the 41st Engineer Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, emplace a brazier charge while clear- ing a wire obstacle during a platoon live-fire training exercise, Nov. 14, 2019 at Fort Drum, N.Y. During the scenario, Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, en- gaged targets simulating enemy forces with direct fire, while Mountain Sap- pers breached a wire obstacle between the infantry platoon and its objective. Soldiers assigned to 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, treat a simulated casu- alty during a platoon live-fire training exercise, Nov. 14, 2019, at Fort Drum, N.Y. During the scenario, Catamount Soldiers engaged targets simulating enemy forces with direct fire, while Mountain Sappers with the 41st Engi- neer Battalion breached a wire obstacle between the platoon and its objective. 10 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Command Sgt. Maj. Sean D. O’Brien assumes responsibility of the 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artil- lery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, from Command Sgt. Maj. Patrick B. Whitetree, Nov. 7, 2019, at Fort Polk, La. 5th Battalion, 25th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, won the Patriot Brigade turkey bowl, Nov. 25, 2019, at Fort Polk, La. Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Com- bat Team were welcomed home with a ceremony, Nov. 20, 2019, at the 1st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Gym on Fort Polk, La. The Soldiers were returning home from a four-month operational deploy- ment. 11 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY Chief Warrant Officer 4 David Pratt assess- es targets during a Leadership Professional Development session on targeting, Dec. 4, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. “There’s a series of leader professional development class- es that cover things such as fire support, targeting, and conducting rehearsals. We’re going to do this for each brigade combat team, prior to them going to their combat training center rotation,” he said. Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division Artillery present the Capt. Travis Shaw, commanding officer of Headquarters colors at the Saint Barbara Military Ball, Dec. 7, 2019, at The Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Bat- Commons on Fort Drum, N.Y. The ball honors awardees talion, observes his Soldiers during a situational tactical with the Order of Saint Barbara and The Honorable Order exercise, Nov. 5, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. of Molly Pitcher. Pfc. Kevin Beeler, Spc. Aaron Drisdom, and Pfc. Kendall Richardson use a skedco to transport a casualty, Nov. 18, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. HHBN conducted bun- ker live fires and response to casualties Nov. 18-19. READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 12 READY NOW, CLIMB TO GLORY 10th Combat Aviation Bri- gade Soldiers received awards for their outstanding support during the initial pushout of the CAB’s deployment, Nov. 26, 2019, on Fort Drum, N.Y. On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, 2019, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers joined the ranks of all deployed 10th Mountain Division Soldiers who proudly wear their combat patches beneath their stars and stripes. It is no acci- dent that the 10th Mountain Division is the most deployed division in the Army.