The wild west warrior O#cial publication of Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01 July 9-29, 2012 C-130 Rolling Down Mass casualty exercise the Strip kicks o! CSTX p. 4
Wild, Wild West Enter at your own risk Old-school Soldier helps train ECP lane training p. 12 troops p. 6 One way to worship Going vertical Chaplains always there, even in Engineers build upward p. 17 "eld p. 10 Doin’ the dirty work A touch of culture Someone’s got to do it p. 5 Afghan role-players help train p.20 Photo by 1st Sgt. Larry Mears Spc. Je! Shackelford, 343rd MPAD takes photos of a C-130 at Base Camp Schoonover. Public Affairs Soldiers in action RQWKHEDWWOHÀHOG Photo by Spc. Je! Shackleford at CSTX 91 12-01 Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero, 302nd MPAD, focuses in on medivac helicopters during evacuation training.
The Wild West Warrior 91st Training Div. Commanding General Brig. Gen. Jon D. Lee
Command Sergeant Major
Photo by Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory S. Chatman Sta! Sgt. Jay Townsend gets a patient’s eye view for the camera during medivac training. 302nd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment Capt. Sandra Altamirano Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Williams Sta! Sgt. Stan Maszczak Sgt. Scott Akanewich Sgt. Michael Connors Sgt. Jaime Avila Spc. Jaqueline Guerrero Spc. Andrew Orillion
343rd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment Capt. Heather Roelker 1st Sgt. Larry Mears Spc. Charlotte Martinez Spc. Je! Shackelford
210th Mobile Public A!airs Detachment
Photo by Sgt. Cli!ord Coy Sgt. Peter Ross Sta! Sgt. Brian Raley, 343rd MPAD, hangs in for a shot of a C-130 taking o! despite a swirling duststorm being kicked up on the gravel airstrip. CG’s column ONE FORCE, ONE FIGHT Welcome to the home of the 91st Train- the collective task training needs of your working throughout the training period to ing Division (Operations) and Fort Hunter units. improve you technical and tactical skills. Liggett. We are proud to provide the train- We continue to learn from these exercises ing venue for CSTX 91 12-01, which is part One of our missions at the 91st Training to prepare Soldiers, leaders, and units of the Army Reserve Training Strategy. This Division (Operations) is to conduct Warrior if called upon for service as part of the training platform is designed to address Exercises and Combat Support Training National Security Strategy. Again, I want to Exercises for Combat Support and Combat send my, and the Division’s, appreciation to Service Support units on collective tasks so all for your e!orts during CSTX 91 12-01. they are trained and prepared for deploy- ment. 91st Training Division also provides Safety is always a priority. Thank you for training to joint, combined, and active the discipline to make safety part of your component forces. daily checks and training. We must always remember that safety is a combat multi- I want to thank our enablers who have plier in protecting our force and resources. supported this exercise, for without your e!orts we could not have brought togeth- Train hard and train safe. er this multi-echelon experience for the training units. It is because of your work Brig. Gen. Jon D. Lee that these operations are successful. I also want to thank our training units for your Commanding General hard work in preparing for the exercise and Wild West Division CSM corner
I would like to take this opportunity to leaders can be challenged in their welcome you to Fort Hunter Liggett and capabilities to execute missions and the 91st Training Division’s CSTX 91 12-01. METL tasks. I also want to emphasize The 91st Division is tasked by USARC to pro- safety. Our most important responsi- vide a platform for Train/Ready Year 2 and bility is to ensure safety is the number one priority when it comes to training and taking care of our Soldiers.
While here at Fort Hunter Liggett remember that we train to standard and not to time. This is one of the few collective training opportunities Soldiers and Leaders may have to get their units pro"cient and prepared for an environment in the ever changing landscape in which we "ght and win. Again I’d like to welcome you and challenge you to engage in the train- ing opportunities Soldiers of the 91st set before you.
POWER RIVER, “LET ER BUCK” 3 units in order to enhance capabilities and GREGORY S. CHATMAN be a force multiplier in today’s total Army. Division Command The Soldiers of the 91st Division will con- tinue to re"ne our training support require- Sergeant Major ments to provide an environment where C-130,” said Browne, a Smyrna, Del. native, Flight of a lifetime “There was an overwhelming response from our Soldiers.” Medics whisk away wounded “It was a lot for fun,” said Ericksen, a Denver native, “It was interesting to see everyone’s expressions during the $ight.” “The Soldiers loved $ying in the C-130,” said Mudge, a Colorado Springs native, “They felt like this was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.” “I enjoyed the C-130,” said Spc. Anna Rosa Allen, an operating room techni- cian with the 6250th USAH from Joint Base Lewis-McCord. “It was a new experience. There was some turbulence; it reminded me of a rollercoaster,” said the Gig Harbor, Wash. native. “I think this exercise gave my troops a bigger picture of working with a di!erent service that is not just Army,” said Mudge. “All the services, we work together, we are all a team.” A C-130 Hercules rests on the runway as it prepares to evacuate “casualties” during CSTX 91. “The exercise was well-planned,” said Story and photos by Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero Browne. “It was very detailed and that 302nd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment time once they get boots on the ground.” made the experience great. I became The majority of the medical personnel aware of the expectations and mindset we A loud humming is heard from afar. have never been on a C-130 and this op- should have should we be in this situation.” Growing vastly in size as it nears the portunity has given them the opportunity “It was a great exercise,” said Ericksen. airstrip, the bird begins to land. Once the to not only $y in a C-130 but to experience “The only thing I would like to see in the Multi-mission C-130P Hercules touches a theater-like simulation, said Cpt. Leslie future built on this is kind of getting more ground, dust bellows out from behind, into the theater aspect. For instance we leaving a long powder trail as it slowly “I think this exercise gave my troops a bigger picture of would have those ‘real’ injuries to work comes to a halt. working with other services and not just Army ... We work o! of and work with the teams on the The medical units here participated together and are a team.” ground, so when we land we can act as Capt. Leslie Mudge, 5502nd USAH in a medical evacuation training exer- if we are sending out those patients to cise during CSTX 91 12-01 with the use hospitals.” of a C-130, July 11, 2012. Mudge, an operating room nurse with the “The opportunity to participate in this “This particular event is the upload and 5502nd USAH, based out of Aurora, Colo. exercise was welcome and we all enjoyed download of patient litters,” said Chief War- The MC-130P is owned and operated it,” said Browne. rant O#cer 4 Jason Lonergan, a San Diego by the 130th Rescue Squadron Air National The medical units appreciated the help st native with the 91 Training Division out Guard, located at Mo!ett Field, in Moun- and hard work carried out by the 130th RQS. of Ft. Hunter Liggett, Calif. “We are simulat- tain View, Calif “They were awesome and very nice,” said ing moving patients from a cache to a rear “It was a unique experience $ying in the Mudge. “It was great to work with them.” medical facility.” “We are practicing the proper loading techniques,” said Spc. Brandon Ericksen, a "eld medic with the 5502nd U.S. Army Hos- pital. “Loading the litter patients into the C-130 and strapping them in to make sure they are secure.” The exercise is important practice for the medical troops. It assisted them to be better prepared for future situations when using a C-130 and experience the take-o! and rough landing, said Sgt. Carol Browne, a "eld medic and station administrator with the 55th Sustainment Brigade located at Ft. Belvior, Va. “This is stu! that happens on a daily basis in theater,” said Lonergan, an OH 58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter pilot. “You don’t want the Soldier to see that for the "rst A “wounded” Soldier lies on a litter waiting to be medically evacuated in a C-130 Hercules during a mass casualty exercise as part of CSTX 91. Bringing everything and the kitchen sink at their scrubbed with 170-degree soapy water, Soldiers make swift work of dirty dishes, highest then rinsed in 120-degree bleach water ϐ capacity. and "nally rinsed in 100-degree water. Story and photos by By Sgt. Michael Connors “I’m al- Nor do they go so fast that safety is com- 302nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment ways telling him you don’t have to do this, promised, they said. They stand on wood but he likes doing dishes,” said Spc. Manuel pallets to prevent slipping and wear high, A reprieve from doing dishes at home Bencosme, a fellow cook with the 448th. thick, plastic gloves to prevent water burns. may be a consolation for Army Reserve Cooks are not required to share the work of Combine "eld conditions, extremely hot Soldiers attending CSTX 91 12-01 . But for dishwashing, but Mercado’s enthusiasm for water and steam, and hot weather, and one others here — it’s their job — only within the task has even motivated Bencosme to can see how the job could quickly become a crucible of high temperatures and hot miserable without the steam. right attitude that Mercado Typically only troops on “They only see us for the hour-and-a-half has displayed. kitchen patrol wash dishes, but Both cooks acknowl- Spc. Luis Mercado, a cook work- during chow ... We do so much more.” edged other Soldiers ing on Base Camp Tusi, relishes don’t always realize how the opportunity to pull double- Spc. Manuel Bencosme, 448th Eng. Bn. long and hard they work. duty — cooking on the "rst part They’re up at 3:00 a.m. of the shift and washing dishes jump in and help out too, so the shift can to start breakfast; and while they get the on the backend among the KPs. be completed as soon as possible. middle of the day o!, they’re back again “It’s a dirty job, so we have to use team- This is not to say Mercado and the in the early afternoon through the early work to get out of here on time,” said Mer- others cut corners in the name of speed. evening for dinner. cado, who serves with the 448th Engineer He and Bencosme explained the rigorous “They only see us for the hour-and-a-half Battalion, an Army Reserve unit from Fort standards they enforce and maintain in during chow,” said Bencosme. “We do so Buchanan, Puerto Rico. He is known as the the three-step process. First, dishes are much more.” fastest dishwasher on Tusi, a skill he uses to motivate the others. Since early June, Mercado has been sup- porting exercises here on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., including CSTX. The 91st Training Divi- sion (Operations) based on Liggett is leading CSTX, which is being supported throughout July. The Tusi chow tent serves approximately 200 Soldiers per meal. Dishwashing per meal can take up to two hours, Mercado said, but on his shift he’s cut the time down to between 45 minutes and an hour. It’s easy to imagine the drudgery dishwash- ing could become and how some could begin to drag their feet on the task, but with Mercado taking the lead he’s a whirlwind of activity, Evening chow’s sticky mess of chicken alfredo is no match for Spc. Luis Mercado, as he scrubs a serving con- motivating the other tainer at Base Camp Tusi during Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01 July 13, 2012. Mercado serves with th dishwashers to work the 448 Engineer Battalion, an Army Reserve unit based at Fort Buchanan, Puerto Rico. old school Soldier-cowboy passes on wisdom Story and photos by Spc. Andrew Orillion of his military career, even when he was in the Ma- 302nd Public A!airs Detachment rine Reserve. While in the National Guard, he was a His hat reads, “Authentic Original Cowboy.” For full-time OPFOR cavalry scout, using Soviet anti-tank Army Reserve Staff Sgt. Gary Bruce, a Chemical, Bio- tactics. logical, Explosives, Radiological and Nuclear Special- Being OPFOR has changed since those early days, ist with 592nd Ordinance Company, Detachment 1 out Bruce said. The training and various lanes have gotten of Butte, Montana, it’s just one of many hats he’s worn much better and the enemy itself has changed, too. in a military career that has spanned almost four “Before, I was doing it against tanks and decades. ground units. Now, I’m doing it against all types of Dz ǯϐ units,” said Bruce. “Today, you don’t know who the ǡǮ ǡϐǡǯdz Ǥ ϐǤdz Bruce’s career began in 1973 when he enlisted in Bruce loves the chal- the Marine Corps shortly after his 18th birthday. lenge of OPFOR, but he He worked in Marine Recon and in also sees a deeper mis- the legal department, among oth- sion. For him, it’s about ers, before switching to the Army saving the lives of the Sol- National Guard. He served in the DzϐdzǤ National Guard from 1982 until He uses his extensive 1992. After a four-year stint as OPFOR background to put a civilian, Bruce entered the the deploying Soldiers Army Reserve and has been through the paces and there ever since. give them the best training Over the course of his possible. If his OPFOR team career, Bruce has served does its best, the troops under eight U.S. Presi- preparing for deployment dents and has had 11 will make their mistakes different Military Oc- here, instead of downrange. cupational Specialties. “We’re not trying to In one form or an- ϐ Ǥ other, he has served We’re trying to make it realis- in all four branches tic,” said Bruce. “The better we and even worked in the are, the more professional we Coast Guard doing drug are, gives their knife a sharper interdiction. He is currently edge to survive.” both a CEBRN and a Chemical and Radiation Safety For Bruce, it’s a simple philosophy -- training, prac- ϐ ͷͻʹnd. tice and reality. “He’s got knowledge for days, it’s amazing,” said “You can go out and train against dummies that Sgt. Cecil Pugh, 647th Transportation Company. “He’s shoot,” said Bruce. “It doesn’t do a thing until you’ve too squared away. He’s always going. He’s one of those got that other opposition with the thought mind to one who will come to you before you get a chance to attack you.” come to him.” When he isn’t helping train Soldiers or any number Pugh, an Observer-Controller for CSTX 91 12-01, of other military jobs, Bruce makes his home in the works with Bruce, who currently leads one of the small town of Ledger, Montana, population of about largest OPFOR cells for CSTX. ϐǡǡ Ǥ Bruce has been doing OPFOR missions for most The nearest town is 20 miles away. It has one stop- light, one restaurant, one gas station and one ´:H·UHQRWWU\LQJWRPDNHLWGLIÀFXOWIRUWKHP grocery store. Anything else, and you have to We’re trying to make it realistic,” said Bruce. travel 90 miles to Great “The better we are, the more professional we Falls, Bruce said. As might be expected, are, gives their knife a sharper edge to survive.” Bruce is a farmer, ranch- er and self-described Staff Sgt. Gary Bruce fair-weather cowboy. Ac- nd cording to Bruce, being a 592 Ordinance Company cowboy in Montana can be like stepping back in the Marine Corps Equestrian Team, which specializes time. in drill and ceremony on horseback. “Some of the ranges I’ve worked with, I put on my “I love to see that rider become tuned to the horse,” boots, my spurs and chaps. Take my gun belt off the said Bruce. “A horse and rider are a team, just like an peg, strap it on and take it off at the end of the night,” ammo-gunner and a machine-gunner are a team.” said Bruce. With nearly 40 years of service to his country Before his last deployment to Afghanistan, Bruce under his belt and cowboy buckle, Bruce had some worked a ranch where he covered over 1,500 miles on advice for the next generation of servicemembers. horseback and watched 15,000 head of cattle. Most Dzϐǡdz Ǥ of the time there is no Internet, no cell phones or any “Take pride in your work. Be patient. Don’t let those communication at all in the rural landscape of north- beneath you, that want to go the wrong path lead you ern Montana. astray,” said Bruce. “Be a mentor.” As with his military career, Bruce isn’t just a cow- boy in his civilian life. He also works as a private investigator. Bruce said most of the work involves in- vestigating workers compensation claims for the state of Montana and insurance companies. Ever once in a while, a job will come along that harkens back to Bruce’s cowboy roots; tracking down cattle rustlers. With the price of meat, especially beef, going up, cattle rustling can be a serious problem, said Bruce. “I have seen where a group of individuals will come in with three semis, set up on a herd of cattle, round them up, shoot them, then use chainsaws to tress them, hang them up and they’re gone. 100 head just gone,” said Bruce. “One of my neighbors lost 100 head of pigs that way.” His years of service have helped him in the world of private investigations, Bruce said. A lot of times I have to use the experience I have in the military to go in to an urban environment to vid- eotape without being seen. Stealth and concealment, blend in,” said Bruce. “If I have to pick up a hunter who’s out hunting, I have to be able to get up the hill side and take photographs with a telephoto lens or get up close.” Being a rancher and farmer, Bruce has a lot of experience with horses. In his career, he has trained Sta! Sgt. Gary Bruce, 592nd Ordinance Company, gives Green Berets to ride and was a member a member of advice to Soldiers in the "eld during CSTX. Getting the hook-up &RPPR6ROGLHUVUXQWKHVKRZVXSSO\LQJSRZHUFRPPXQLFDWLRQV
Story and photo by Sgt. Scott Akanewich $FFRUGLQJWR+XPPHUDQRWKHU +RZHYHUFKHFNLQJDJHQHUDWRULQYROYHV nd 302 Mobile Public A!airs Detachment SRVLWLYHJOHDQHGIURP&67;LVWKDW PXFKPRUHWKDQMXVWHQVXULQJWKHXQLWLV Soldiers who normally only train on IXQFWLRQLQJKHVDLG Combat operations in a theater of opera- DRQHZHHNHQGSHUPRQWKEDVLVKDYHWKH ³:HFKHFNWRPDNHVXUHWKHORDGLVDWWKH tions require many things from Soldiers. RSSRUWXQLW\WRLPPHUVHWKHPVHOYHVLQWKHLU FRUUHFWOHYHOLW¶VDWWKHFRUUHFWIUHTXHQF\ &RXUDJHVHOÀHVVVHUYLFHDQGGHGLFDWLRQ UHVSHFWLYHUROHVIXOOWLPH DQGKDVHQRXJKIXHO´VDLG0DJDQD WRGXW\RQO\EHJLQWRVFUDWFKWKHVXUIDFHRI ³$FWLYHGXW\6ROGLHUVGRWKLVHYHU\GD\´ 7KH³ORDG´LVWKHSURSRUWLRQRIHQHUJ\ ZKDWLVUHTXLUHGWR¿JKWDQGZLQ$PHULFD¶V KHVDLG³%XWWKHVHDUHSHULVKDEOHVNLOOVWKH\ EHLQJJHQHUDWHGE\DSDUWLFXODUXQLWWRKRZ wars. QHHGWRVWD\NQRZOHGJHDEOHDERXW´ PXFKLVDFWXDOO\EHLQJXVHGVDLG5LFH +RZHYHUQRQHRIWKHVHFKDUDFWHUWUDLWV 2QHRIWKH6ROGLHUVFKDUJHGZLWKUXQQLQJ ³7RRPXFKYROWDJHVWRUHGXSLQDJHQ- FDQEHIXOO\RSHUDWLRQDOZLWKRXWDVLPSOH WKHORJLVWLFVVLGHRIWKHRSHUDWLRQLV6SF HUDWRULVDVEDGIRUWKHXQLWDVQRWKDYLQJ UHVRXUFHZHRIWHQWDNHIRU enough,” he said. JUDQWHG±SRZHUDVLQHOHF- “I’ve never seen a better training environment ³,IWKHORDGGURSV WULFLW\,IWKHOLJKWVJRRXWLQ EHORZDFHUWDLQ DWDFWLFDORSHUDWLRQVFHQWHUD ... Especially for the junior Soldiers who haven’t UDQJHLW¶VQRW PRELOHNLWFKHQWUDLOHURUHYHQ good.” DVKRZHUWUDLOHULW¶VMXVWDQ been deployed. Going through this training is ,QRWKHU DGGLWLRQDOREVWDFOH6ROGLHUV great for them because it gives our future lead- words, if a gen- LQWKH¿HOGPXVWRYHUFRPHWR HUDWRULVDW DFFRPSOLVKWKHLUUHVSHFWLYH ers a chance to step up.” SURGXFWLRQEXW missions. st nd RQO\LVDFWX- $W&RPEDW6XSSRUW7UDLQ- Sgt. 1 Class James Hummer, B Co., 392 ESB ally being used at LQJ([HUFLVH WKLVGDXQWLQJ DJLYHQPRPHQW WDVNIDOOVRQWKHWURRSHUVRI% $OH[DQGUR0DJDQD%&R nd(6%FDEOH SUREOHPVVXFKDVHTXLSPHQWDQGV\VWHPV nd &R ([SHGLWLRQDU\6LJQDO%DWWDOLRQ system installer and maintainer. PDOIXQFWLRQVFDQRFFXU ³:H¶UHUHVSRQVLEOHIRUVHWWLQJXSDQG ³0\MRELVWRPDNHVXUHHYHU\WKLQJUXQV :KHQDOOLVVDLGDQGGRQHWKRXJKLW¶V maintaining for all the trainers and trainees,” VPRRWKO\IURPSDSHUZRUNWRPDNLQJVXUH DOODERXWPDNLQJWKHFRQVXPHUVKDSS\VDLG nd VDLG6JW7UR\5LFH%&R Expedi- the generators are up and running,” said 5LFH WLRQDU\6LJQDO%DWWDOLRQQRGDOQHWZRUN 0DJDQDRI5HDGLQJ3D³:HFKHFNWKRVH ³7KHIHZHUFRPSODLQWVZHKDYHWKHKDS- RSHUDWRUPDLQWDLQHU³:HRSHUDWHWKHYRLFH HYHU\IRXUKRXUVDURXQGWKHFORFN´ SLHURXUFXVWRPHUVDUH´KHVDLG DQGLQWHUQHWFRPPXQLFDWLRQV´ &RQGXFWLQJWUDLQLQJDW)RUW+XQWHU /LJJHWWSURYLGHVWKHSHUIHFWHQYLURQPHQW for these signal Soldiers to prepare for GHSOR\PHQWVDLG5LFHDQ$XJXVWD0DLQH QDWLYHDQG\HDUYHWHUDQZLWKWZRFRPEDW deployments under his belt. ³,QDSODFHOLNHWKLVZHKDYHWKHRSSRU- WXQLW\WRFRRUGLQDWHFRPPDQGDQGFRQWURO RYHUORQJGLVWDQFHVDQGKDYHWKHFDSDELOLW\ WRSURYLGHEDWWOH¿HOGXSGDWHV´KHVDLG³:H KDYHDWRWDORI6ROGLHUVFRYHULQJDOOWKH EDVHFDPSVDQGWKH\¶YHDOOKDGYLJRURXV WDVNV´ 6JWst&ODVV-DPHV+XPPHU%&R nd(6%ZDVDOVRGXO\LPSUHVVHGZLWKWKH DWPRVSKHUHSURYLGHGE\WKHUROOLQJKLOOVDQG dry grasslands of Central California, he said. ³,¶YHQHYHUVHHQDEHWWHUWUDLQLQJHQYL- URQPHQW´VDLG+XPPHUDSROLFHRI¿FHU from Phillipsburg, N.J., who has also been GHSOR\HGWR,UDTWZLFHLQKLVFDUHHU³(VSH- FLDOO\IRUWKHMXQLRU6ROGLHUVZKRKDYHQ¶W been deployed. Going through this training LVJUHDWIRUWKHPEHFDXVHLWJLYHVRXUIXWXUH OHDGHUVDFKDQFHWRVWHSXS´ Sgt. Robert Flowers, B Co., 392nd ESB, checks the readings on a generator on Base Camp Tusi. 91st Division CG puts boots-on-ground of June. As the new commander, he /HHYLVLWV&DPS5REHUWVGXULQJ&67; wanted to observe the in-processing "rst hand. He met with many of the Story and photos by 1st Lt. Fernando Ochoa troops and sat in on a policy brie"ng. The general also ad- dressed the group being briefed and made his policies clear. &$0352%(576&DOLI±Now that CSTX 91 12-01 has “I will not tolerate the consumption of alcohol or sexual begun, Soldiers from around the U.S are beginning to in-pro- harassment, but more than anything else, I want everyone to cess through the Reception Staging Onward-Movement and be a safety o#cer and make that is your number one priority,” Integration cell here July 9, 2012. said Lee. Brig. Gen. Jon D. Lee visited the troops at Camp Roberts, The RSOI is a very important function of exercise. Before where he thanked 2nd troops can enter Lt. Christopher Jones “I will not tolerate the consumption of al- the cantonment and Sgt. 1st Class Linda zone, they must Jones-Pierce of the 90th cohol or sexual harassment, but more than be processed for Sustainment Brigade, accountability. Little Rock, Ark., for anything else, I want everyone to be a safety More than 2,000 their hard work of in- Soldiers from processing hundreds o#cer and make that is your number one across the coun- of troops to the CSTX try will eventu- at Ft. Hunter Liggett. priority.” ally begin and “I wanted to recog- end their training nize the young lieu- Brig. Gen. Jon D. Lee at Camp Roberts. tenant who has been Camp Roberts doing such a great is a California job,” said Lee. National Guard Jones, a former infantryman and truck driver, was com- post. It is named after Harold W. Roberts, a World War I Medal of missioned in May 2011 as an Army medical corps o#cer and Honor recipient. also serves as the duty safety o#cer for this exercise. “I will always remem- ber this experience,” said Jones. “I learned a lot about operations, planning and how to ex- ecute operation orders.” Jones-Pierce, who is both a human resource specialist and "nance technician, was recog- nized for her dedication to the enormous job of processing hundreds of Soldiers in and out of Camp Roberts. With 23 years of experience, she enjoyed the hard work, she said. “I loved my time here,” said Jones-Pierce. “You never stop learning and I have met a lot of interesting people.” Lee took command st of the 91 Training Divi- Addressing incoming troops at Camp Roberts, Brig. Gen. Jon D. Lee emphasized his policy of no alcohol consumption, zero toler- sion, which organizes ance of sexual harassment, and most of all his number one policy of safety. the exercise, at the end A place to worship
&KDSODLQVSURYLGH6ROGLHUVUHOLJLRXV D&DWKROLFZKRVHUYHGDVDQDOWDU ER\IRU\HDUVZKLOHJURZLQJXS SHDFHRIPLQGHYHQLQ¿HOG DQGLVQRZD(XFKDULVWLFPLQLVWHU 6WRU\DQGSKRWRVE\6JW6FRWW$NDQHZLFK GH¿QLWHO\NQRZZKDWWKLVLV± ZKLFKPHDQVKHKDVWKHDELOLW\ nd0RELOH3XEOLF$IIDLUV'HWDFKPHQW ZKLFKLVDSODFHWKH\FDQZRU- WRJLYH+RO\&RPPXQLRQGXULQJ 6ROGLHUVOHDYHPDQ\WKLQJV VKLS´VDLG &+ st Lt. Julio 0DVV³0\EURWKHULVVWXG\LQJWR EHKLQGZKHQWKH\OHDYHKRPH± 9DUJDV st&KDSODLQ'HWDFKPHQW EHFRPHDSULHVWDQGP\HQWLUHIDP- IDPLO\IULHQGVWKHLUHYHU\GD\ZD\ EDVHGDW)RUW%XFKDQDQ3XHUWR LO\LVYHU\UHOLJLRXV´ RIOLIH+RZHYHURQHFUXFLDODVSHFW 5LFR³7KLVLVVRWKH\UHDOL]HWKHUH Vargas, 43, is brand new to RIWKHLUH[LVWHQFHZLOODOZD\VEH LVDOZD\VDSODFHIRUWKHPWRFRQ- PLOLWDU\PLQLVWU\KDYLQJRQO\EHHQ DYDLODEOHWRWKHPUHJDUGOHVVRI QHFWZLWK*RG´ DFKDSODLQQRZIRUVHYHQPRQWKV ORFDWLRQ±DSODFHWRZRUVKLS +RZHYHUDSK\VLFDOEXLOGLQJLV +RZKHHQWHUHGWKHVHUYLFHLVD +HUHDW&67; LVQR not a requirement for Soldiers to story unto itself, he said. H[FHSWLRQ JLYHJORU\WRWKH/RUGVDLG9DUJDV ³,EHORQJHGWRWKH)UHHPDVRQV (QWHUWKH0D\RU¶V&HOORQ%DVH RI$JXDGLOOD35 EDFNKRPH´VDLG9DUJDVRIWKH &DPS7XVLDQGRQHZLOO¿QGWXFNHG ³$Q\SODFH\RXJDWKHUFDQEH ZRUOGZLGHIUDWHUQDORUJDQL]DWLRQ DZD\LQDFRUQHUDKXPEOHFROOHF- DSODFHRIZRUVKLSEHLWDQRSHQ NQRZQIRUWKHLUFKDULWDEOHHI- WLRQRIFKDLUVEHKLQGRQHRIWKH ¿HOG´KHVDLG³$FKXUFKLVMXVWD IRUWVEDVHGRQFRPPRQEHOLHILQD PDQ\RUDQJHFXUWDLQVWKDWVHSDUDWH SODFHWRPHHWEXWIHOORZVKLSFDQ ³6XSUHPH%HLQJ´UHJDUGOHVVRIDQ WKHGLIIHUHQWVHFWLRQV$WWKHIURQW EHKDGDQ\SODFHDQ\WLPH´ LQGLYLGXDO¶VUHOLJLRQ³,URQLFDOO\ VWDQGVDWDEOH¿OOHGZLWKVSLULWXDO $FFRUGLQJWR9DUJDVWKHRS- ,¶GVSHQGWLPHWKHUHZLWKDJURXS OLWHUDWXUH±WKH+RO\%LEOHDQG SRUWXQLW\IRU6ROGLHUVWREUHDN RI$UP\ODZ\HUVDQGRQHGD\RQH RWKHUERRNVRIUHOLJLRXVLQVSLUDWLRQ DZD\IURPWUDLQLQJHYHQIRUDEULHI RIWKHPVDLGWRPHµ D1D]DULQHPLQLVWU\LQ$XEUH\7H[- DV³:KHQWKH\HQWHUMXVWWKHVLJKW RIDFURVVRUVFULSWXUHSXWVWKHP more at ease with their faith.” %HFKWROGUHFRXQWHGDQDQHFGRWH KHZLWQHVVHGZKLOHKHUHRQ%DVH &DPS7XVLZKHQDVROLWDU\6ROGLHU HQWHUHGWKHPDNHVKLIWFKDSHOEHIRUH DUHFHQWVHUYLFH ³+HZDONHGLQDQLPPHGLDWHO\ GURSSHGWRKLVNQHHVDQGEHJDQWR pray,” he said. “Just by doing that PDGHLWDKRO\SODFHIRUKLP´ %HFKWROGZDVWKDQNIXOWRKDYH Vargas and Oquendo, as well as RWKHUFOHUJ\RQKDQGIRU&67;KH said. ³:HDUHEOHVVHGWRKDYHWKHFRQ- WLQJHQWIURP3XHUWR5LFRWRFRQ- GXFWVHUYLFHVLQ6SDQLVKDVZHOO DVD&DWKROLFSULHVWDQGDUDEEL´ VDLG%HFKWROG³7KLVH[HUFLVHKDV EHHQXQLTXHLQZH¶YHKDGDFFHVVWR FKDSODLQVIURPDYDULHW\RIIDLWKV´ +HDOVRVSRNHRIZKDWKHUH- ferred to as establishing a “ministry RISUHVHQFH´DPRQJVWWKHWURRSV ³3DUWRIRXUMREDVFKDSODLQVLV WRJRRXWDQGYLVLWZLWKWKHWURRSV´ VDLG%HFKWROGZKRUHFDOOHGKRZKH was out running one day and hap- SHQHGDFURVVVRPHRQGXW\PLOLWDU\ (CH) 1st Lt. Julio Vargas (left) and Spc. Justinet Oquendo, 91st Chaplain Det. stand before a cross in the SROLFH³2QFH6ROGLHUVUHFRJQL]H chapel set up in the tactical operations center during CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort. Hunter Liggett, Calif. \RX¶UHDFKDSODLQWKH\WHQGWRRSHQ XSDELWPRUH7KH\GRQ¶WQHFHVVDU- rade. training with the troops, they real- LO\KDYHWRFRPHWRXVLQGLYLGXDOO\ ³7KHDSSURDFK\RXWDNHZLWK L]HHYHQWKRXJK\RX¶UHDFKDSODLQ RUWRFKDSHOVHUYLFHIRUUHOLJLRXV Soldiers and their impression of \RXFDQVWLOOEHRXWWKHUHSOD\LQJ JXLGDQFHRUDGYLFH´ \RXLVYHU\LPSRUWDQW´KHVDLG VRFFHUDQGMRNLQJDURXQGOLNHDQ\ 9DUJDVFRQFXUUHGZLWKKLVFRP- ³:KHQ\RX¶UHRXWGRLQJSK\VLFDO other Soldier does.” “When Soldiers walk in and see that cross, they feel at home DQGGHÀQLWHO\NQRZZKDWWKLVLV²ZKLFKLVDSODFHWKH\FDQ worship. This is so they realize there is always a place for them to connect with God.” &+ st/W-XOLR9DUJDV st&KDSODLQ'HWDFKPHQW Running the gauntlet ECP training provides real-world reaction simulation Story and photos by Spc. Charlotte Martinez disperse the crowd in the safest way possible. 345th Public A!airs Detachment “We learned how to sustain the area,” said Spc. Arturo Ramirez, a water treatment specialist with Located on military bases worldwide, entry con- the 288th QM Co. and Corpus Christi, Texas native. trol points play a vital role in ensuring the safety of “We had to regulate who came in and who went out our Soldiers and the people both inside and outside and identify if they were hostile or friendly.” of that point. During the second scenario, the Soldiers faced ECP operations are just one of the many train- simulated mortar rounds along with local civilians ing lanes the Soldiers of the 288th Quartermaster trying to enter the base for work. One of the role Company, based out of Victoria, Texas, are going players pretended to receive an injury from the in- through at CSTX 91 12-01 this month. The Soldiers coming mortar and the 288th had to react with com- reacted to three different scenarios when they went bat life-saving and casualty-evacuation procedures. through the ECP lane at Base Camp Milpitas, lo- The third portion of the training, the Soldiers had cated within Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. The training to search a vehicle and upon doing so, they found a “Even if we go (overseas) to purify water, we will have to go from point A to point B. We need to be able to defend our own assets as we move through there. “In addition to that, when you get over there, you wind up doing some additional (Forward Operating Base) support and this is exactly the type of mis- sion you wind up with.” Capt. Duane Fousie 288th Quartermaster Company ϐ Ǧ- ǡ ϐ interacting with role-playing Afghan citizens. “Even if we go (overseas) to purify water, we will have to go from point A to point B. We need to be able to defend our own assets as we move through there,” said Capt. Duane Fousie, a San Antonio, Texas native and commander of the 288th. “In addi- tion to that, when you get over there, you wind up doing some additional (Forward Operating Base) support and this is exactly the type of mission you wind up with; guard the east end of the gate, guard both gates; we actually guarded the entire Kuwaiti Naval Base when I was there.” ϐ - tered during their training included hostile locals Soldiers of the 288th Quartermaster Company, based in Victoria, Texas, participat- ed in entry control point training during Combat Support Training Exercise 91. coming up to the gate. The Soldiers then had to During Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01, while participating in one of their training scenarios for entry control point operations, the Soldiers of the 288th Quartermaster Company, based out of Victoria, Texas, had to face simulated hostile local nationals while providing security for the base camp. simulated VBIED and reacted to done this training and I learn CSTX is a sustainment-focused more incoming rounds. something new all the time,” training exercise developed for “We are water support; we are Ramirez said. “This is a really units in Train/Ready year-3 of water treatment specialists,” said good experience for everyone. the 5-year Army Forces Genera- Spc. Aaron Gonzalez, a Benbolt, Everyone should have this train- tion model. Texas native and water treatment ing.” With many of the units par- “This training is a good heads-up for us because when we get overseas we don’t know what to expect.” Spc. Aaron Gonzalez 288th QM Co. specialist with the 288th. “This Fousie commented that his ticipating in CSTX 91 becoming training is a good heads-up for us Soldiers do not receive entry con- available for deployment next because when we get overseas trol point training during their year, the remote training envi- we don’t know what to expect.” weekend battle assemblies in ronment Fort Hunter Liggett Focusing training on the latest Texas. He added the type of train- provides offers rugged terrain, enemy techniques, tactics and ing offered at CSTX is what his realistic training opportunities procedures is crucial. unit needs to focus on when pre- and living conditions Soldiers “This is the second time I have paring for future deployments. may face while deployed. ments to remove any contaminants and impurities. Chemicals are injected into Lake to cup the water before it is safe for use and consumption. The water is tested hourly Soldiers purify water to ensure the pH balance and tempera- tures are in acceptable ranges. The TWPS 6WRU\DQGSKRWRE\6JW3HWHU%5RVV distributed 58,000 gallons.” is also capable of "ltering salt water for th0RELOH3XEOLF$IIDLUV'HWDFKPHQW Each TWPS is capable of pro- use by Soldiers. ducing 30,000 gallons of water Experience gained at CSTX keeps FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, per day, a quantity capable of Soldiers trained and ready for missions Calif. — Soldiers of the 288th Quarter- sustaining operations for extended peri- anywhere they are needed. Soldiers gain master Detachment, located in Victory, ods on the battle"eld. "rsthand knowledge while doing their Texas, honed their skills while providing The water produced by the TWPS has jobs in preparation for deployments. clean water in support of the CSTX 91 allowed the Soldiers using the Laundry “We do not get to this on our weekend 12-01. Advanced System to utilize more than battle assembles. We are sometimes in The 288th utilizes the Army’s Tacti- 2500 gallons of water daily to wash and cities, we may go to a range but it is right cal Water Puri"cation System (TWPS) to process loads of laundry. on the edge of a town,” said Fousie. “This provide more than 680 Soldiers at Base The "eld showers are accommodat- is where they get out, live in the tents, Camp Milpitas with puri- work with the other units, purify "ed lake water for drink- “This is where they get out, live in the tents, the water. This is as real as it ing, bathing, cooking and gets without being deployed.” laundry. work with the other units, purify the water. This CSTX is a sustainment-fo- “The 288th is a water is as real as it gets without being deployed.” cused training exercise devel- puri"cation unit. We have Capt. Duane Fousie, 288th Quartermaster Co. oped for units in Train/Ready four pieces of equipment year-3 of the 5-year Army Forces to purify 1,500 gallons an Generation model. hour,” said Capt. Duane Fousie, a native of With many of the units participating in San Antonio, Texas, and 288th company ing more than 600 Soldiers nightly and CSTX becoming available for deployment commander, “If we run all our equipment about 125 in the morning. The kitchen next year, the remote training environ- in one 24-hour period we can purify and the four water bu!alos would not ment Fort Hunter Liggett provides o!ers 200,000 gallons that can be used for have clean water to be mission ready. rugged terrain, realistic training opportu- laundry, showers, cooking, by the engi- The water is drawn from di!erent nities and living conditions Soldiers may neers as well as the civilian population.” sources through a "lter into the TWPS face while deployed. “This is a company-level exercise that then through a micro-"ltration process lets us run the equipment and purify that also uses reverse-osmosis ele tens-of-thousands if not hundreds-of- thousands of gallons of water. This is the time when we run raw lake water into our system and produce drinkable water,” said Fousie. Fousie said he had the highest unit attendance to date for this extended combat training. “We have had "ve years together and we just keep trying to break our own record everyone wants to be part of it,” Fousie added. CSTX o!ered realistic training for the 288th while they provided a necessary service for other units attending. “This water supports the laundry and baths here for the Soldiers and also for drinking. It is used by the cooks at the (mobile kitchen trailer) for cooking and cleaning and for dust control,” said Sta! Sgt. Malcolm Littles of Austin, Texas, a water treatment Spc. Reynaldo Canalas, checks the chlorine mixture of the Tactical Water Puri"cation System) as part of the th specialist with the 288 , “This system required hourly tests he performs as the 288th Quartermaster Detachment provides clean water in support of the is very vital to the mission. So far we Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01. have produced 75,000 gallons and Quartermasters on the Move *LYHPHIXHOJLYHPH¿UH 6WRU\DQGSKRWRE\6JW3HWHU5RVV WK0RELOH3XEOLF$IIDLUV'HWDFKPHQW An army preparing for war can’t stand still. It needs fuel, water and supplies to keep moving and that’s why the Combat Support Training Exercise-91 is important to sharpen battle readiness skills. The 849th Quartermaster Detachment is one of about 50 other quartermaster, transportation, engineering and supporting companies participating in CSTX 91 12-01. The 849th, located in Rocky Mount N.C., is here to help move “I am the power man and if you need power, I run the power, without power you can’t do anything.” Pfc. Jasper Ayars, 849th Quartermaster Detachment supplies from base camp to base camp. “Our mission here is to run a warehouse at Camp Roberts. We have about 27 Soldiers on the ground at (Base Camp) Pfc. Jasper Ayars power generator equipment repairer with the 849th Quar- Schoonover and more than 30 at Camp Roberts,” said Sta! termaster Detachment, performs maintenance on a diesel generator engine Sgt. Savannah Barrett a native of Greenville N.C. and supply during operation CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. specialist with the 849th Tactical Operation Center, “The troops are transporting (Meals Ready to Eat), ice and other supplies responsibilities include operating the 6000-pound-capable from Camp Roberts to (Base Camp) Schoonover and (Base forklift and maintaining their electric generators. Camp) Milpitas.” Spc. John Anthony, a native of Andrew, N.C., uses these Amidst the heat and dust, the unit prepares to relocate forklifts to move supplies from the warehouse on to trucks for to Camp Roberts from Schoonover to better facilitate their transport to the di!erent base camps. mission. Supply isn’t the only job for the 849th. Other major “I was deployed to Afghanistan. I did the same jobs there,” said Anthony, a Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic with the 849th. “The living conditions and the weather are similar to Afghanistan. There is one shower house, no sinks, no bathrooms, living in a tent and sleeping on cots. It feels like Afghanistan.” This mission helps them conduct operations in similar conditions they may experience if they were deployed. This might be as close to the real thing as many Soldiers here may face. They must always be prepared to maintain their own equipment. “I set up generators, keep them fueled and run diagnostics and make sure they don’t break down,” said Pfc. Jasper Ayars, of Chocowinity, N.C., a power generator equipment repairer. “I am the power man and if you need power, I run the power, without power you can’t do anything.” CSTX tests unit’s mission readiness. With the majority of quartermaster and support units belonging to the Army Reserve, this is a vital step in preparing for deployment. Many of the units are in the second phase of the Army Forces Generation (ARFORGEN) model. Spc. John Anthony, wheeled vehicle mechanic with 849th Quartermaster Detachment operates Units must complete this three-phase process a 6000-pound-capable-forklift while assisting Sta! Sgt. Savannah Barrett and Pfc. Jasper Ayars in loading a container during CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. before they are ready for deployment. Squad Leader for a day Learning leadership one Soldier at a time WKH\DUHVTXDGOHDGHUEXW,ZDQWWKHPWRPDNHWKH ¿UVWGHFLVLRQDQGWDNHUHVSRQVLELOLW\IRUWKHLUGHFL- Story and photo by Spc. Jeff Shackelford 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment sions.” 1DXOWVDLGWKDWLWZDVFKDOOHQJLQJWRLPSOHPHQWEXWWKDWWKH )RUPRUHWKDQD\HDUVTXDGOHDGHU6JW-HIIUH\ 6ROGLHUVDGDSWHGTXLFNO\ 1DXOWDVVLJQHGWRWKH th Engineer &RPSDQ\ORFDWHGLQ%DUULJDGD Guam, has been mentoring his Soldiers to be professional, GLVFLSOLQHGDQGWUDLQHDFK other in a unique way. 7KHYHUWLFDOHQJL- QHHUFDOOVWKHFRQFHSW “Squad Leader for D'D\´+HVDLG WKHLGHDFDPHWR him during his XQLW¶VODVWFRPEDW support training H[HUFLVH ³,FDPH up with the LGHDEHFDXVH my guys are DOZD\VDVNLQJ me questions and wanting Spc. Paul Anthony Atalig, a vertical engineer, assigned to the 797th Engineer WRNQRZZK\ Company and squad leader for a day trainee, observes his team discussing how things had to to build plywood tables at Base Camp Schoonover during Combat Support WDNHVRORQJ Training Exercise 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. or be done DFHUWDLQ ³,QWKHEHJLQQLQJLWZDVGLI¿FXOW7KH\KDGDORWRITXHVWLRQV way,” said EXWDIWHUWKH\VDWWKURXJKVRPHEULH¿QJVDQGWKH\GLGLWLWZDV 1DXOW³, HDVLHUIRUWKHP´VDLG1DXOW³1RZZKHQ,DVVLJQWKHPDWDVN thought WKH\MXVWGRLW´ the best way 1DXOW¶VQHZGHYHORSPHQWDOWUDLQLQJKDVSURGXFHGUHVXOWV+H to show them VDLGWKH6ROGLHUVDUHERQGLQJDQGDVVXPLQJPRUHUHVSHFWDELOLW\ ZRXOGEHWRJLYH IRUWKHPVHOYHVDIWHUEHLQJLQWKHVTXDGOHDGHU¶VERRWV them a sense of re- ³7KH6ROGLHUVOLNHWKHOHDGHUVKLSSRVLWLRQDQGDUHGHPRQVWUDW- sponsibility. LQJYDOXHVQHHGHGIRUWUDLQLQJDQGIRUZDUGGHSOR\PHQW´VDLG Nault said putting a Nault. 3IFLQDQDFWLQJVTXDGOHDGHU¶V 6SF3DXO$QWKRQ\$WDOLJDYHUWLFDOHQJLQHHUZLWKWKH WK SRVLWLRQLVDJUHDWZD\WRGHYHORSWKHLU said that this is a good tool for Soldiers and should help with FRQ¿GHQFHDQGRWKHUOHDGHUVKLSVNLOOVQHHGHGWR CSTX 91 12-01. be mission ready. DzϐǤ - ³,QRUPDOO\ZRUNP\ZD\XSIURPWKHORZHVWWRP\DVVLVWDQW rience,” said Atalig. “I think this is a great way for the lower VTXDGOHDGHUDQGFRQWLQXHWKHF\FOHHYHU\GD\´VDLG1DXOWDQD- enlisted to gain experience as a leader.” WLYHRI6LQDMDQD*XDP &67;LVDVXVWDLQPHQWIRFXVHGWUDLQLQJH[HUFLVHGHYHORSHG 1DXOWVDLGWKHDVVLJQHGVTXDGOHDGHU¶VUHVSRQVLELOLWLHVFRQ- IRUXQLWVLQ7UDLQ5HDG\\HDURIWKH\HDU$UP\)RUFHV*HQ- WLQXHWKURXJKRXWWKHGD\DQGLQFOXGLQJVHQVLWLYHLWHPVDFFRXQW- eration model. DELOLW\ZHDSRQVPDLQWHQDQFHDQGHQVXULQJDOODVVLJQHGWDVNVDUH :LWKPDQ\RIWKHXQLWVSDUWLFLSDWLQJLQ&67;EHFRPLQJDYDLO- FRPSOHWHG DEOHIRUGHSOR\PHQWQH[W\HDUWKHUHPRWHWUDLQLQJHQYLURQPHQW ³7KLVJLYHVWKHPDEHWWHULGHDRIZKDWLW¶VOLNHWREHLQDOHDG- )RUW+XQWHU/LJJHWWSURYLGHVRIIHUVUXJJHGWHUUDLQUHDOLVWLFWUDLQ- HUVKLSSRVLWLRQ´VDLG1DXOW³7KH\OHDUQFRPPXQLFDWLRQVNLOOV LQJRSSRUWXQLWLHVDQGOLYLQJFRQGLWLRQV6ROGLHUVPD\IDFHZKLOH DQGKRZWRSURFHVVLQIRUPDWLRQ,¶PWKHUHWREDFNWKHPXSZKLOH deployed. From the ground up Vertical engineers make something from nothing Story and photo by Spc. Jeff Shackelford 343rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Soldiers from the 372nd Engineer Company, located in Pewaukee, Wis., conducted training and improvements to Base Camp Milpitas during CSTX 91 12-01 July 14. Despite the heat and supply issues, Soldiers from the 372nd stay sharp and motivated while building o#ces and sleeping quarters, helping the unit gain experience and stay busy until the CSTX training lanes open. “We are doing some training and we are letting some of the lower leaders lead these projects to get leadership experi- ence,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Lindenberg, a Vertical Engineer Project Manager as- signed to the 372nd. Lindenberg, a native of West Bend, Wis., said the new huts are out"tted with Pvt. Jordan Rowe, 372nd Engineer Company, cuts joints that will be used to make trusses at Base Camp Milpitas during Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01, July 15, 2012. electricity and air conditioning, with the construction providing training oppor- out of tents so they can be a little cooler,” tunities for carpenters and plumbers as said Lindenberg. “We will out"t them “The buildings will well. with electrical outlets and air. It will be With temperatures regularly reaching a much nicer place to live for future help get Soldiers out above 100 F, these improvements not Soldiers.” only provide training for the engineers Lindenberg said that one of the most of tents so they can be but comfort for the Soldiers. important aspects of building is a good “The buildings will help get Soldiers foundation. a little cooler.” Sgt. 1st Class Kurt Lindenberg 372nd Engineer Company “We worked with another unit to have the ground rolled and compacted, so as time goes on the building does not settle and start falling apart,” said Lindberg. “You have to have a strong foundation.” Even though there have been some challenges, the 372nd builds on. “There have been some tool issues,” said Lindenberg, “not all of our equip- ment is here yet.” CSTX is a sustainment-focused train- ing exercise developed for units in Train/ Ready year-3 of the 5-year Army Forces Generation model. With many of the units participating in CSTX becoming available for deployment next year, the remote training environ- ment Fort Hunter Liggett provides o!ers rugged terrain, realistic training opportu- Soldiers from the 372nd Engineer Company build huts that will be equipped with electricity and air-condi- nities and living conditions Soldiers may tioning at Base Camp Milpitas during CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. face while deployed. What are you seeking from God? By (CH) Lt. Col. Kimon Nicolaides God just to enjoy the privilege of 9th MSC Command Chaplain His gracious company. This is a very easy A while back my wife asked me what thing to do in the busyness of today’s life, es- kind of relationship we are seeking with pecially for Soldiers who are in the combat God. She was reading a book by Anne zone, facing dangers every day on the Graham Lotz and was convicted by battle"eld and also having to deal with what Ms. Lotz had written about people family issues back home. We can only seeking God cope with so much. because they ϔ want Him to when you seek me with all your give them what heart (Jeremiah 29:13). they desire. Most of us do not knowingly or Like, getting intentionally only want a relationship with them a better- God so He can ful"ll our desires, but some- paying job, a how we may have stumbled into that kind of bigger house, a relationship because it is so easy to do so. It is so girlfriend, or in convenient to just take God for granted – call to my wife’s case, Him when we need Him and put Him back on the completing her shelf when we don’t need Him so much, so we can class assignments quickly so she could get on with our daily routine. We are all burdened enjoy her favorite TV show (and mine and distracted by the cares of the world, when we too)- 24, and yes, moving to warmer need not be, for the Lord is ever so willing to lift climes. Nothing wrong with those things, them from us. but what about God Himself? Let us consciously take stock of where we stand What are you seeking from God? Most with God. Let us make a decision to get to know of our prayers are "lled with our needs Him better, to grow closer to Him, to grow in the in the immediate or foreseeable future. knowledge of Him, and guess what? Your desires Praying for our health, strength, for good will be in line with His will. Delight yourself in the relationships with our fellow Soldiers, for Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart quick resolution to any problems, etc. Are (Psalm 37:4). He knows all our needs even before we such sel"sh creatures? No, we are not we know them, certainly before we articulate always self-centered. We do pray for the them before Him. Let us all seek Him because He needs of others as well, for their healing, is most worthy. He will refresh us with the living for their children to get into good col- waters as we seek Him. Let us get our priorities leges, and so on, even for the salvation of right when we worship God. Let us truly seek Him others. and pray for our relationship But we may have forgotten to seek with Him...and everything will fall into its rightful place, because we will be in His will. Let us consciously take stock of where we stand with God. Let us make a decision to get to know Him better, to grow closer to Him, to grow in the knowledge of Him, and guess what? Your desires will be in line with His will. Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4) Former Special Forces engineer helps keep Tusi troops on track *UHHQ%HUHWQRZDVPDOODUPVWUDLQHUDQGEDWWOHWUDFNHU Story and photos by Spc. Andrew Orillion train them for,” said Garza. “Like Army and police force. Dz ϐ 302nd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment a lot of the other guys inside of our unit, they have so much language barrier. But, we got there and Sometimes life takes Soldiers down combat experience that it’s hard trained them up as best we could,” said unusual paths. For Staff Sgt. Nicholas not to bring personal things into it.” Garza. “We’ve got a lot of good people Garza of the C Company, 2nd Battalion, Personal choices when it comes doing a lot of good things out there.” 91st Training Division, the road to CSTX to shooting include different ways of When not training troops on weapons 91 12-01 has been very winding. holding a weapon and different ways of systems, Garza works as a battle-tracker It began six years ago, when Garza placing your body, said Garza. and command post Non-Commissioned started training to become a Special “You’re normally taught to hold the ϐ Forces demolition expert. The training weapon with the palm of your hand on Exercise Command Cell. This is Garza’s took two years, but Garza passed the the heat shields,” he said. “Another way ϐ course and became a Special Forces you can do it that we were shown, is to he’s transitioned well according to Mas- engineer. ter Sgt. Ryan Randall, Garza said a Special ´,WZDVGLIÀFXOWEHFDXVHRIWKHODQJXDJHEDUULHU%XWZHJRW Master Instructor Forces engineer functions as there and trained them up as best we could. We’ve got a lot with the 91st Train- the team’s supply sergeant, of good people doing a lot of good things out there. ing Division, Charlie as well as its demolition Company, 2nd Bat- Staff Sgt. Nicholas Garza, Small Arms Readiness Group C Com- expert. After leaving active talion, Small Arms pany, , 91st Training Division, of his experience training the Afghan duty, Garza worked in the Readiness Group National Army private sector for a year “When I came into before returning to the Army the unit, he’d been via the Reserve. use a c-grip, really close to the maga- here before me and he’s kind of gotten He came back because he just en- zine. With this, you can control the rise me up to speed on what our role is with joyed being around military weapons of the barrel easier. This is especially the SARG unit,” said Randall. “I use him and teaching people how to use them good for the kneeling position.” frequently for questions asked of me properly, said Garza. ǯϐ and I depend on him when missions For the past six months, Garza has troops Garza trained. In 2008, he helped come out to get it done and he’s always been part of a Small Arms Readiness to train members of the Afghan National ready and available.” Team, currently de- ployed to Fort Hunter Liggett’s Base Camp Tusi. “What we do is, we train other units on using different weapon systems,” said Garza. Dz ϐ ǡ- ons systems that are organic to them when they actually do deploy.” The training is not standard to every unit, Garza said. It varies ac- cording to the mission the unit is deploying for and what the unit does. “It also depends on what the unit actually wants. If the want guys Sta! Sgt. Nicholas Garza (left), a Special Forces demolition expert with Small Arms Readiness Group, C Co., 91st Training to zero and qualify, then Div. (Operations), Small Arms Readiness Team, shows Capt. Bob Irizarry, a general logistician with 10th Bn., 1st Bde, 91st that’s what we try to Training Div., the latest information on troops training at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. for Combat Support Training Exercise )TQ\\TM)NOPIVÆI^WZ Cultural training gives Soldiers an oversea preview Story and photos by Spc. Charlotte Martinez 345th Public A!airs Detachment Training exercises, such as CSTX 91 12- you as well’ said Sadozai, who has also local Afghans could tell she was Ameri- 01, are set up to enhance and train Sol- worked with and provided the United can, even when she wore the traditional diers on a variety of tactics, techniques States Marine Corps with cultural clothing. and procedures. Currently, this includes awareness training. “I feel like (cultural awareness train- hiring personnel of Afghan descent to “It helps (servicemembers) a great ing) bene"ts Soldiers by teaching them role-play and teach Soldiers the cultural deal,” Sadozai said, “especially the the culture and giving them a heads-up di!erences between the Afghan world young ones who have never been over about what to expect,” said Amin, anoth- and ours. there before.” er role-player with Valbin Corporation. “It “It is the small things that make a Sadozai said he has lived in the shows them the dos and don’ts.” big di!erence,” said Khalid Sadozai, an United States o! and on since he was Amin said Soldiers should take in the Afghan-born United States citizen and four-years-old and even enlisted in culture and the training they receive and role-player for Valbin Corporation. In the United States Navy when he was make the most of it, no matter where addition to not wearing gloves for a younger. About four years ago when they are sent. handshake, you should never wear shoes Sadozai heard about the role-playing “My main advice would be to observe “It is the small things that make a big difference. For example, when you want to shake hands, you should al- ways remove your gloves; otherwise, the Afghan may take offense.” Khalid Sadozai, an Afghan-born United States citizen and role player in a mosque or give an Afghan a ‘thumbs and cultural programs the military was before you take action,” Amin said. up,’ Sadozai stated. In the Afghan providing to its servicemembers, he in- “Come in with a neutral attitude and culture, a thumbs up is a derogatory stantly felt the need to participate and keep an open mind. Most people come symbol while in the American culture, saw it as a ‘great program and a great in with a somewhat defensive attitude the thumbs up is a symbol of a good job way to serve my country.’ and it would bene"t them to have a neu- with a positive connotation, so it is vital “I went to Afghanistan for the "rst tral attitude instead.” for Soldiers to know the di!erence. A time four years ago,” said Shela Amin, The Afghan role-players are given mosque is equal to a church or temple who is a Hayward, Calif. native and di!erent missions and scenarios during for the Muslim religion. United States citizen of Afghan descent. CSTX to ensure the Soldiers gain a variety Sadozai said every Soldier should “I grew up in an Afghan household, of experience and get a full idea of some have basic cultural awareness and they where my parents maintained customs of the cultural di!erences they could should learn Afghan greetings and what and taught me the language, but going expect while deployed. they mean. He said it can be a huge back was a culture shock.” “Something that might be acceptable ice breaker and make a di!erence when Amin continued to state that her (in the United States), might not be (in interacting with the local people if you parents lived in Kabul more than 32 Afghanistan),” she said. show them cultural respect. years ago, before the Russians invaded, “We want our military to be safe and Asalamu ‘alaykum means ‘may peace and the way they described the people most importantly, we want them to be with you’ and is a greeting in Afghani- and atmosphere turned out to be com- come back home.” stan and the proper response is waalai- pletely di!erent than what she experi- kum as-salaam, which means ‘peace to enced when she visited. She said the “It helps (servicemembers) a great deal. Especially the young ones who have never been over there before ...“For example, when you want to shake hands, you should always remove your gloves; otherwise, the Afghan may take offense.” Khalid Sadozai, an Afghan-born United States citizen and role-player “My main advice would be to observe before you take action. Come in with a neutral attitude and keep an open mind ... Something that might be acceptable (in the United States), might not be (in Afghani- stan). We want our military to be safe and most importantly, we want them to come back home.” Shela Amin, Hayward, Calif. native and United States citizen of Afghan descent Get to the chopper Medics get high-speed training on handling casualties from helicopters Story and Photos by Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero from a helicopter,” said with an additional identi"er as a LPN 302nd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment Sta! Sgt. Zachary Benton, attached to the 6250th USAH located at a Denver, Colo. native Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash. “If the Training in a mock medical evacuation with the 5502nd U.S. Army medic is not safe no one is safe.” with a helicopter can be dangerous. This Hospital, located in the same city. “We The medics also hold a safety brief- is why the medical group at the acute are also ensuring our Soldiers keep their ing when dealing with any aircraft, said care clinic on Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. head low and are aware of the rotary Benton. takes extra precautions to guarantee the wings.” “The importance of the exercise is safety of its Soldiers and patients. “This is a very dangerous exercise,” “This is a very dangerous exercise. Anytime you said Sgt. 1st Class Roderick Brown, a "eld medic with an additional identi"er as a approach a bird and the rotors are still running it Licensed Practical Nurse with the 55th Sustainment Brigade located at Fort. is important to be aware of your surroundings.” Belvoir, Va. “Anytime you approach a Sgt. 1st Class Roderick Brown bird and the rotors are still running it is 55th Sustainment Brigade important to be aware of your surround- ings.” The signi"cance of this mock train- ing is to provide their Soldiers the The medical group ensures every one to have our Soldiers familiar with the knowledge and hands-on experience of of their Soldiers receives a safety brief aircraft,” he said. “So if they do end up dealing with a helicopter, said Brown, a and are aware of the dangers surround- getting deployed they know how to Charlottesville Va. native. ing this exercise, said Brown. approach an aircraft. They know how “Our mission for this exercise is train- “Safety is the number-one priority,” to load and unload a patient from the ing the medics how to load and unload said Spc. Liaini Vasquez, a "eld medic helicopter, ensuring a safe environment for the patient and the medic.” With an important caveat, Benton’s comrade, Brown clari"es on why they train on any and every aircraft. “It is very important to train on diverse types of aircraft because each aircraft is di!erent,” he said. “There are particular standard operating procedures for each aircraft. The medics need to be aware of how to approach the bird to avoid losing a life or a limb.” The medics also perform a police call to retrieve any debris before the helicop- ter makes it’s way to their facility. “The police calls ensure the debris on the ground is picked up so it won’t dam- age the bird as well as the medics,” said Brown. The goal for the medics is to get their patients unloaded from the aircraft, into acute care and begin treatment as soon as possible, said Vasquez, a Tempe, Ariz. native. “The optimal time to get the patient into the clinic and beginning treatment from when the bird lands is under "ve minutes,” said Benton. A Mercy Air employee briefs the medical units here during a medical evacuation exercise during training The medical group’s main mission here exercise Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. The purpose of this exer- cise is to familiarize the medics with the loading and unloading techniques when using a helicopter. at CSTX 91 12-01 is to address sick call patients and any emergency injuries, said Vasquez. “Our mission here is to provide medi- cal safety for the Soldiers participating in CSTX,” she said. “Whether they are here for deployment readiness or just to keep up their combat skills, we are here in support.” “If the Soldiers out in the "eld get injured, we are here to get them to return to duty as soon as possible,” said Benton. The key to being a medic it to continu- ally train, said Vasquez. “You can never get too much training when it comes to the medical "eld,” she said. The leadership tries to keep their sol- diers psyched about the training. “It is always about trying to keep them excited and motivated,” said Benton. “This way they are more receptive to The medical group loads a patient on to a gurney during a medical evacuation exercise during training ex- what we are teaching.” ercise Combat Support Training Exercise 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. The purpose of this exercise Repetition comes hand-in-hand with is to familiarize the medics with the loading and unloading techniques when using a helicopter. training as well, said Benton. we can, we always try to keep ourselves said Vasquez. “A gunshot wound to the chest is dif- trained on di!erent injuries.” “Stay alert, stay alive and if you do ferent than a gunshot wound to the leg,” There is one golden rule every Soldier those two things you wont "nd yourself he said. “We try to work on everything should remember while out in the "eld, in my care,” she said. “A gunshot wound to the chest is different than a gunshot wound to the leg,” he said. “We try to work on everything we can, we always try to keep ourselves trained on different injuries.” Spc. Liaini Vasquez 6250th USAH Soldiers can wear that tab for the rest of their military career, he said. Bearnson obtained the tab for the "rst time back in 1989. Biting the bullet “I ended up 10th place over all, out of Marksmanship competition a little over 1,500 people "ring in the competition,” he said. “That is the highest brings out best in shooters as well as the top I "nished in the President’s match.” By Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero military teams from It seems like the only two people who 302nd Mobile Public A!airs Detachment both active and reserve compo- are remembered from the President’s nents "re in this competition, he match each year, is the person who wins Most people’s curiosity runs rampant said. it and the person who places 100th, said when they see the President’s Hundred “Depending on the year, there will be Bearnson.“I have had the distinction of tab. The two most common guesses anywhere from 1,200 to 1,500 people not winning the President’s match but I about this rare tab are either the carrier who compete in the championship,” ex- have placed 100th before” he said. is one of the guards of the Tomb of the plained Bearnson. “The top 100 "nishers “I am almost more proud of placing Unknown Soldier or a guard for the Presi- are known as the presidents 100 for that number 100 than I am of placing 10th.” dent. 1st Sgt. Mark Bearnson clari"es on year.” Bearnson has participated in the com- this subject revealing the truth behind The course of "re for the President’s petition approximately 10 to 12 times. the rarest of the four tabs available in the 100 match goes as follows: 10 shots are However, he has never placed "rst. As Army. "red from 200 yards in the standing posi- the NCOIC of the Army Reserve’s National The tabs are used to identify a certain tion, 10 shots are "red rapid "re from 300 Firing Team he hasn’t skill of a Soldier or unit. The President’s participated in 20 Hundred tab signi"es the top 100 years. shooters in the National Shooting “Being the Championships, which takes place NCOIC of the team at Camp Perry, Ohio, said Bearnson, is very intense a "eld medic infantryman with and usually the 10th Battalion, 104th Divi- doesn’t a!ord sion, which is a downtrace unit me the oppor- of the 91st Training Division yards in the prone tunity to go (Operations). position and then 10 shots out and "re because it is an all-day “In order to make the "red in 70 seconds. The last 10 a!air to "re those 30 shots,” he said. top 100 it takes a lot of shots are "red from 600 yards in “Unfortunately, as much as it pains me work, a lot of years of the prone position again. However, to see 1,500 people out there shoot- practice,” said the Wan- those shots are "red at a much slower ing and all of my guys "ring away, I ship, Utah native. pace, he said. just have too much to do to participate The championships are in the "rst “There are 300 points possible,” said in the competition. I keep threaten- two weeks of August every year. The "rst Bearnson. “The target system is not a hit ing that one of these days I’m going to day of that two-week period they "re a or miss -- it is actually a bulls’-eye target bite the bullet and go out and shoot the match known as the President’s match. with scoring ranks. The center bulls’ eye match. Hopefully I can make it again.” The President’s match has been around is 10 points and the rings leading to the For those Soldiers who are interested in one form or another since 1884, said outside are 9, 8, 7, 6 and 5.” in attempting to compete for this rare Bearnson. Army personnel who place in the top tab, Bearnson has a few recommenda- The top civilian teams from each state, 100 receive permanent orders and are tions. top individual shooters from each state, known as the Presidents Hundred. Those “I would say number one recommen- ´7KHELJWKLQJ6ROGLHUVQHHGPRUHWKDQDQ\WKLQJLIWKH\DWWHQGDQGÀUHLQ WKH86$UP\6PDOO$UPV&KDPSLRQVKLSLVDÀYHJDOORQEXFNHWRIHQWKX- siasm. If they can go out there with a lot of enthusiasm and if they can get UDPSHGXSIRUWKLVWKH\ZLOOGRDEVROXWHO\ÀQHLQWKHFRXUVHDQGHYHQW7KH\ will learn more about marksmanship in a ten-day period then they have learned in their entire military careers.” 1st Sgt. Mark Bearnson 10th Battalion, 104th Division “Soldiers will learn so much about marksmanship. Steady position, breath- ing, aiming process and trigger squeeze. They will learn so much about these fundamentals and this will lead them into the more advanced type of shooting.” 1st Sgt. Mark Bearnson 10th Battalion, 104th Division dation would be to get involved with the local civilian competi- and pistol you can earn each year -- Bronze, silver and gold, said tions and activities,” he said. “This could be local club shooting Bearnson. events and it doesn’t matter what type of "rearm you use. Many “The gold badge is 14-carat gold and the Army engraves times going to these competitions, there are organizations that your name into the back of it,” he said. sponsor these events. It allows people to just go down and see On Bearnson’s ending note, he had one "nal message for all what these events are all about. You would be amazed at how military units. many people have extra gear and ammunition for others to “I would really encourage units to look into the All Army use.” Championships,” he said. “They have information about all of There are competitions within the Army that Soldiers can the Army Reserve’s shooting teams. There are links on usar- participate in, as well. The most well-known competition it the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships, held at Ft. Ben- ning, Ga. usually in the spring, said Bearnson. Army Knowl- edge Online advertises in late November and early Decem- ber for this competition. “This course and competition is an excellent way for Sol- diers and units themselves to get advanced marksmanship training,” he said. “The Army Marksmanship Unit provides a small-arms "ring school. The instructors cover all "ring techniques, not only shooting techniques, but safety, sight adjustments and all of the little things Soldiers don’t normal- ly learn when they go through basic marksmanship courses.” Passion is a must for any Soldier willing to participate in this event. “The big thing Soldiers need more than anything, if they attend and "re in the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship, is a "ve-gallon bucket of enthusiasm,” said Bearnson. “If they can go out there with a lot of enthusiasm and if they can get ramped up for this, they will do absolutely "ne in the course and event. They will learn more about marks- manship in a ten-day period then they have learned in their entire military careers.” Participating in the U.S. Army Small Arms Cham- pionship is a great step closer to the President’s 100 match. “Soldiers will learn so much about marksmanship. Steady position, breathing, aiming process and trigger squeeze,” said Bearnson. “They will learn so much about these fundamentals and this will lead them into the more advanced type of shooting.” The U.S. Army Small Arms Championship of- fers "ring awards, as well. “They are called the Excellence-in-Compe- tition Badges,” said Bearnson. “You receive permanent orders for those, as well as a badge you can wear on your Class As.” There are three di!erent badges for ri$e CSTX 91 12-01 Photo by Spc. Andrew Orillion Sgt. Joseph Martino, petroleum supply specialist with the 389th Engineering Battalion out of Davenport, Iowa, plants simulated explosive rounds at a train- ing lane on Fort Hunter Liggett during CSTX. Photo by Spc. Andrew Orillion Photo by Sgt. Jaime Avila Sta! Sgt. Brian Gonterman, an instructor with the SARG, C Co., 91st Training Di- A convoy from the 208th Trans. Co. leaves behind a trail of dust in its wake as it vision, addresses a formation of the OPFOR at Base Camp Tusi during the CSTX. travels down a back road during CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif. Photo by Spc. Jacqueline Guerrero A C-130 sits on the dirt runway at Schoonover Strip at dusk while participating in a medicval evacuation exercise during CSTX 91 12-01 at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif.