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1A HOME OF THE BIG RED ONE THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION POST www.riley.army.mil FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2016 Vol. 8, No. 35 FORT RILEY, KANSAS Surgeon General of the Army visits Fort Riley, tours facilities Story and photo by Season Osterfeld Hospital that will open for its Soldiers while she asked about their 1ST INF. DIV. POST first patients Oct. 16. goals. “What a gorgeous, beautiful She said the number one Soldiers and staff of Army facility,” West said. “I think priority of Soldiers in Army medicine from across Fort Riley anyone who works in or has to medicine is assisting warfighters met with Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, be a patient, either outpatient or in their deployment readiness. surgeon general and commanding inpatient, will really have a great However, they face a number of general U.S. Army Medical experience because they took a lot challenges as Soldiers transition Command, during her visit here of care into making sure (it is a between garrison and operational Sept. 14 to observe training, tour good environment), because again, roles. West said the last 15 years facilities, answer questions and it’s about the patient. We want to have changed the way they train provide feedback. make sure they’re taken care of in a and prepare for deployments. West’s first stop was to observe soothing, healing environment and Instead of preparing separate tents Soldiers training at the Medical then we also want to make sure it’s on a large scale, they make use of Simulation Training Center. a great place for personnel to work.” pre-existing structures to convert Prior to leaving the MSTC, West also met with Soldiers for into medical facilities during West and her command team lunch in the dining facility of the combined operations. saw simulation training as medics current Irwin Army Community “Some of the challenges I see in worked to rescue injured Soldiers building where she answered their getting ready for deployments are in a combat zone. Just before and questions and concerns during an ensuring that we have individual during the training simulation, open forum about Army medicine. opportunities to train on the full she inspected the equipment and Questions included topics like spectrum of what we’re required Staff Sgt. Kevin Tonak, left, Medical Department Activity, shows the capabilities of one mannequins used by the Soldiers, promotions, the future of veterinary to so,” West said. “For example, of the mannequins used by Soldiers at Fort Riley to train to Lt. Gen. Nadja Y. West, center, as well as received and provided medicine in the Army and general in the last 15 years, the way we surgeon general and commanding general U.S. Army Medical Command, and Command feedback. fiscal concerns. employ our medical formations is a Sgt. Maj. Gerald C. Ecker, right, U.S. Army Medical Command, Sept. 14 at the Medical She also toured the new West also took time to interact Simulation Training Center. West and Ecker visited Fort Riley to tour the new Irwin Army Irwin Army Community with and pose for a few selfies with See VISIT, page 10 Community Hospital and observe training of medics. Veteran ‘Iron Recycling Rangers’ reunite Center reopens BEST MEDIC with new at Fort Riley sorting system By Spc. Elizabeth Payne 1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS By Maria Childs 1ST INF. DIV. POST More than 20 Vietnam veterans from Company D, 2nd Battalion, After the completion of 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry a $3.8 million project, the Division, visited Fort Riley, Kansas, recycling center at Fort Riley Sept. 9 for their annual reunion. has a new sorting system. To The veterans have been meeting for the staff it’s not just a sorting the past 27 years, and they designate system. It has the ability to a special location for the reunion each increase the productivity year. During their visit, the veterans met eight-fold from what it once with Soldiers of 1st Bn. 16th Inf. Regt., was. 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st “Where before we could Inf. Div., while exploring various points process 100 pounds, now of interest on Fort Riley. we can process 800 pounds The group toured the 1st Infantry in that same amount of Division Museum, where they viewed time using the same amount exhibits and reminisced about their of labor we used before,” experiences. The museum collection said Herb Abel, Fort Riley’s contains displays that show the environmental chief, involvement of the “Big Red One” in Directorate of Public Works. Spc. Daniel Martin, left front, and Sgt. Joseph Meadows, right front, medics with 1st conflicts from World War I in 1917 Abel said the system Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry through Operation Enduring Freedom dramatically improves their Division, move a simulated casualty through an obstacle during Fort Riley’s Best Medic in Afghanistan from 2001-2014. capability. It allows the competition held Sept. 14 to 15, 2016 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The winners of the event will Soldiers had lunch with the veterans staff to be more aggressive represent the 1st Infantry Division at the 2016 Army Best Medic Competition scheduled at the Devil’s Den Dining Facility and about what they take in October 25 to 28 at Fort Sam Houston and Camp Bullis in San Antonio, Texas. shared stories of training, work and as well as the possibility service. for partnerships with Pfc. Rollen Copeland, an infantryman surrounding communities. assigned to 1st Bn. 16th Inf. Regt, 1st 1st Infantry Division medics show “Before the renovation, ABCT, said he thought it was great of the each and every item that veterans to fight for not only American was recycled was touched freedoms, but also the freedoms of their skills during competition by a person working at another country. the recycling center,” he “They did what they had to do,” Story and photo by Sgt. Dana said. “We had to hand sort Copeland said. “I am very grateful for Moen “It’s extremely important to have everything – each piece of the sacrifice they made, and I am proud 1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS paper, each can, each piece to serve in the Army 50 years later.” a medic competition. Having of cardboard, everything … After lunch, the veterans completed Nine 1st Infantry Division competitions like this really enhances there is still some touching, their visit by touring the regimental medics competed in the Best but a lot of it is automated.” room at the “Iron Ranger” headquarters. Medic competition Sept. 14 and the readiness of our Soldiers.” The project was contracted The veterans observed the display cases 15 at Fort Riley, Kansas. The LT. GEN. NADJA Y. WEST through the Army Corps of filled with uniforms, weaponry and competitors endured several Engineers. The contracted SURGEON GENERAL OF THE ARMY artifacts collected from all wars that the challenges, including a grueling company was Zieson Big Red One fought in. While there, water rescue scenario. Construction Co. from Lt. Col. Jon Meredith, 1st Bn. 16th Inf. Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, Head- ic Competition Oct. 25 through challenging than I antici- Junction City, Kansas. It was Regt., commander, briefed the veterans quarters and Headquarters 28 at Fort Sam Houston and pated,” Thomson said. “You originally estimated to take a on the present state of the battalion and Company, 1st Battalion, 63rd Camp Bullis in San Antonio, don’t realize how difficult it is year, but was completed in a expressed how the veterans past work Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored Texas. to drag somebody through the matter of months. impacts today’s troops. Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Runners up were Staff Sgt. water when you are in jacket “During the interim, “We are keepers of all the history (of Div., and Sgt. Pedro Torres, a Douglas Mitchell, a medic with and pants.” we were slowed down even the 1st Bn. 16th Inf. Regt.), and we take medic with Company C, 299th 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Participation in the event more and we were not able that very seriously,” Meredith said. “Our Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Regiment, 2nd ABCT, 1st Inf. requires a medic to have earned to process as much material history makes us who we are, and I use ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., won the Div., and Pfc. Ian Thomson, an Expert Field Medic Badge as we had processed before,” that on them (his Soldiers).” competition. The pair will rep- Co. C, 299th BSB, 2nd ABCT, or a Combat Medic Badge, ac- Abel said. Meredith emphasized the importance resent the “Big Red One” at the 1st Inf. Div. cording to Thomson. A native Matt Acosta, material of how troops must understand their Army’s 2016 Command Sgt. “The water rescue event handler at the recycling service lineage and incorporate that Maj. Jack L. Clark Jr. Best Med- was certainly a little more See MEDICS, page 10 center, said operations were knowledge into the present mission. temporarily in building 1630 “We talk about the heroes of the 16th during the renovations. so young Soldiers remember who they are,” Meredith said. See RECYCLING, page 4 FORT RILEY VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Cpl. Corey Drennen, 97th Military Police FORT RILEY HUNTING SEASON Battalion, volunteers in multiple areas including SOLDIERS BEGAN SEPT. 1 AND the Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare COMPETE IN HUNTERS TOOK THE and Recreation and Army Community Service’s ALPHA WARRIOR FIRST SHOT AT ELK Dad’s Make a Difference Fishing Day and helping COMPETITION ON FORT RILEY, SEE veterans clean up their yards. He demonstrates WITH GUESTS PAGE 15. a passion to ensure that others are treated with FROM AMERICAN respect and live in a safe and clean community.