JRTC and Fort Polk Guardian Vol
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FORGING THE WARRIOR SPIRIT TheJRTC and Fort Polk Guardian Vol. 48, No. 17 Home of Heroes @ Fort Polk, LA April 30, 2021 JRTC and Fort Polk Soldiers line up for COVID-19 Vaccine By JEAN CLAVETTE GRAVES istered nurse with the 433rd BJACH public affairs officer Medical Detachment, 115th Field Hospital, 32nd HC has FORT POLK, La. — The Joint been part of the COVID-19 vac- Readiness Training Center and cine team at Fort Polk since the Fort Polk, in cooperation with Emergency Use Authorization Bayne-Jones Army Community and doses began to arrive at the Hospital, vaccinated 905 Sol- installation in December 2019. diers at the Soldier Readiness She has been on the frontlines of Processing site April 26, 27 and the vaccination efforts and said 28. Medical professionals from she was glad to see that large BJACH, 32nd Hospital Center amounts of the vaccine had fi- and combat medics from across nally arrived at Fort Polk. the installation joined forces to “The vaccine is the light at administer the vaccine to volun- the end of the tunnel,” she said. teers from every unit on post. “Getting everyone to under- Sgt Staff Brig. Gen. David Doyle, com- stand the safety and effective- manding general, JRTC and ness of the vaccine is the biggest ARMY MORRIS/U.S. M. ASHLEY Fort Polk, said vaccinations are challenge we are facing. At the available to all Soldiers assigned end of the day getting vaccinat- to Fort Polk. ed is a personal decision but I “If you are a military member want to advocate and encour- we are going to get you a vac- age everyone to get the shot. My cine,” he said. “We are working goal is to make sure every Sol- with BJACH to get as many dos- dier has the information neces- es of the vaccine for all of our sary to make an educated choice Soldiers, civilians and benefi- that is right for them.” Cpl. Mark McGahey, an infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 30th ciaries. We want to get as many Maj. Carmen Salcedo, JRTC Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, receives his first shots in arms as we can. Getting and Fort Polk command sur- dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at the Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort our community vaccinated is geon liaison officer, and a regis- our number one priority.” Polk Soldier Readiness Processing site April 28. McGahey returned from JRTC training 1st Lt. Sara Wozniak, a reg- Please see Vaccine, page 5 Rotation 21-06 the day prior to receiving his vaccine. Weekend weather Inside the Guardian 72 77 78 Norwegian foot march..........3 1 Bn, 5th Avn Reg tour.......11 Quality of Life......................7 Anacoco parade..................13 63 65 70 Rain chance Rain chance Rain chance Search for talent..................9 Walking tour......................14 100% 64% 67% Viewpoint In our view Guardian staff asked the JRTC and Fort Polk community, “What craft or skill would you like to master?” Here are their responses: Guardian Editorial Staff Brig. Gen. David S. Doyle Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk commanding general Col. Ryan K. Roseberry Garrison commander Public Affairs Office R. Kavanaugh Breazeale Kim Reischling Spc. Tiffany Andrews: “I Emily Kemnitz: “Cooking. I have Pfc. Jonathan Pina: “I would Chuck Cannon would like to master the study of a book of my mom’s recipes and like to master information tech- Angie Thorne criminal justice because I’m trying they never turn out quite like hers, nology because I love learning Keith Houin to get into forensics when I get out but I keep trying.” anything about computers.” T.C. Bradford of the Army.” Jeff England Editorial Offices Building 4919, Magnolia Street Keitra Ellis: “I would Spc. Cedric DeWalt: Fort Polk, LA 71459-5060 love to master baking. “Cooking. I lift weights Voice (337) 531-4033 I love to make banana and get tired of eating the Fax (337) 531-1401 bread and cakes. I might same thing all the time. If Email: Kimberly.K.Reischling. even try to learn to dec- you learn how to cook, it’s [email protected] Fort Polk Homepage orate them fancy, too.” healthier and you have a home.army.mil/polk/ lot more choices.” The Guardian, is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the Guardian are not necessarily official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or Fort Polk. The Guardian is published weekly by the Public Affairs Office, Joint Readiness Training Center and Fort Polk. The Guardian can be found on the JRTC and Fort Polk web site at home.army. mil.polk and the JRTC and Fort Polk Facebook page at @JRTCandFortPolk/. Guardian archives can also be found on the JRTC and Fort Polk website. Links to the Guardian are also included in all-users emails to government email users and by request to non-military units. To be included on all-users messages email kimberly.k.reischling. [email protected]. All editorial content of the Guardian is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Public Affairs Office, Ayanna Rich: “By the end of Hannah Johnson: “I like the Spc. Daryl Soriano: “Anything Joint Readiness Training Center and next year I would like to have my idea of learning old school pho- mechanical. I find it fascinating Fort Polk. general studies degree because tography with a dark room setup. I because I want to know how things For more information on Fort Polk units and happenings visit then I could concentrate on master- think that would be fun.” work and what each individual part the following Facebook pages: ing law or political science. ” does.” @JRTCOperationsGrp, @ BayneJonesACH or @fortpolkmwr. The Guardian 2/ April 30, 2021 NewScope Soldiers sign in for the Briefs 18.6-mile road march held April 21 at Fort Polk’s Warrior Hills Golf Catfish derby Course to earn their Make plans to attend Fort Polk’s Norwegian Foot March Catfish Derby May 8 from 7-11 a.m. at badge. Catfish Cove. Families can stake out their spot along the bank of Catfish Cove and fish to their heart’s delight. There will also be activities, a raffle, games, edu- cational booths, a fillet demonstration and prizes. Abandoned vehicle The Directorate of Emergency Services Traffic section releases the following vehicle to a towing compa- ny for disposal on May 31, 2021, if it remains unclaimed. Soldiers earn coveted Norwegian Foot March badge The vehicle is listed with its VIN number. By CHUCK CANNON ing what it would take to host the event on 2011 Toyota Prius 9170 Command information officer Fort Polk. “I thought this was a great opportunity If this vehicle belongs to you contact FORT POLK, La. — One hundred six- the Fort Polk Police Traffic Section at after COVID left us with few chances for ty-five Soldiers from the Joint Readiness personal growth,” he said. 531-1806/6675/2677. Training Center and Fort Polk and area Prepare for emergency Blumberg said he contacted the Norwe- National Guard units from as far away as gian Embassy in Washington, D.C., with a Disasters happen. Learn how to Houston, Texas, set off on an 18.6-mile road plan and the Norwegians approved it. “We prepare at an emergency preparedness march April 21 with one goal: Earn the Nor- began marketing it to our Soldiers and what class hosted by the Family Readiness wegian Foot March badge. an honor it is to earn the badge,” he said. Center, bldg 924, May 19 from 9-11 When the day was done, 105 Soldiers had The event kicked off at midnight on April a.m. Learn how to make a plan, build completed their goal and won the right to 20. Blumberg said there were certain stip- a kit and stay informed. Registration is wear the coveted badge on their Army ser- ulations on the foot march that led to the required. For more information, or to vice uniforms. midnight starting time. register, call 531-9743 or email cather- Participants had to complete an 18-mile “The foot march had to be completed be- [email protected]. road march with 25-pound ruck within an fore sunrise,” he said. “And the tempera- Attend breakfast allotted time period, then work a full day ture could not be greater than 77 degrees.” The Joint Readiness Training Center — not an easy task when many of the MPs Time requirements based on age and sex and Fort Polk hosts a National Day of who participated were working 12-hour ran the gamut from four hours and thirty Prayer breakfast for Soldiers, Families shifts. minutes for a male age 18-34 to six hours for and civilians. The breakfast is free and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Blumberg, 519th Military a female age 60 or older. takes place Thursday at the Main Post Police Battalion, learned of the opportuni- The course included eight laps along the Chapel at 6 a.m. ty to host the foot march on Fort Polk. As Warrior Hills Golf Course walking trail — The National Day of Prayer is an a rule, the event is typically held where a complete with its hilly terrain — that added annual observance held on the first Norwegian military member can be on- extra physical exertion to the already taxing Thursday of May, inviting people of all hand to grade the event. Due to COVID-19 event. faiths to pray for the nation. The event constraints, Blumberg said the Norwegian “Soldiers from all ranks made it,” Blum- is a vital part of America’s heritage.