Serving the , Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 43 Jan 27, 2011

2nd STB activates ‘Havoc’ FSC “Today was not just the passing of a guidon from one commander to the next, but the start of a new entity to support the wartime mission Lt. Col. Patrick Stevenson, commander, 2nd Special in Afghanistan” said Capt. and Capt. Brian Johnson, com- Brian Johnson, commander of mander, H present the colors as Sgt. 1st Company H. Class Joseph Kienath, First Sergeant, Company H Special Troops do uncases their new colors. not traditionally include FSCs, will be the Mission Readiness Exercise at the but the logistical expectations Joint Readiness Training Center. Soldiers for the unit’s upcoming from Company H are scheduled in realistic deployment to Afghanistan were training events at JRTC to ensure they are Lt. Col. Patrick Stevenson, commander, 2nd Special Troops Battalion greater than the Soldiers of the able to transfer their capabilities to the and Capt. Brian Johnson, commander, Company H, lead the activa- battalion could be expected to wartime mission in Afghanistan. tion ceremony after the uncasing of the company’s colors. support, said 1st Lt. Timothy “We are excited to continue to support Story by 1st Lt. Bonnie Hutchinson Green, the executive officer of the Special Troops Battalion,” said Green. “I photos by Staff Sgt. Dennis Hines Company H. see this activation as the perfect opportunity 2nd Special Troops Battalion The company will be pushed hard as they to expand our resources and capabilities in Company H, a forward support company, posture themselves for deployment, said order to accomplish our mission and ensure was activated into the 2nd Special Troops Green. the Special Troops Battalion has the resources Battalion at Fort Carson on Jan. 20. Their first training event with the battalion to accomplish theirs,” he said.

the early formation of teams and drills and Standard Operating Commander’s Column development / rehearsal of key Procedures. The rear detach- mission essential tasks. These ment along with the Family In December, the for- tasks revolve around taking care Readiness Groups are com- mally established both the bridge of Soldiers and Families; we are mitted to the preparation of and battalion rear detachment using the combined experience our family teams for this de- command teams. I would like and resources of the brigade to ployment; several battalions to introduce myself and 1st Sgt. develop a clear path toward and have already started education Skinner. I come to this position beyond the deployment. and training utilizing following 18 months serving as During winter block leave we Community Services pro- the 1-10 CAV S3 and a previous served as the command structure grams. We encourage the use stint as a company commander for the brigade and were able to of these training opportuni- in 2-8 IN. Skinner joins the rehearse for deployment. During ties as a base for strengthening brigade from 4th BCT, 4 Inf. Div. the upcoming Joint Readiness the team and to familiarize where he served as an infantry Training Center rotation the Families with the training / company first sergeant for four rear detachment will again be in services available on post. The years. charge of brigade operations here rear detachment is working on Maj. James Wiles, Rear Detachment Commander We feel that the keys to the at Fort Carson and will use this both the Deployment Hand 2nd Brigade Combat Team rear detachment’s success are time to rehearse several battle continued on page 2 page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 43 Jan 27, 2011

continued from page 1 Staffs plan at Fort Polk, Louisiana Book and Deployment Fair, and will be Story by Maj. Kevin Toner finalized in the coming weeks. photo by Sgt. Seth Barham I’m thoroughly encouraged by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO strides that we have made as an orga- Brigade and battalion commanders and nization during the past weeks and staff deployed to Fort Polk, La. to test their confident that the detachment will be planning processes Jan. 5 – 12, 2011. resourced and poised to tackle any The 7 day Leader’s Training Program was circumstance that the Brigade encoun- designed to allow the staffs to verify their ters. Finally, we believe that the rear planning processes and develop the base plan Members of the brigade’s logistical planning team detachment mission is vital to the suc- from which the brigade will operate when at analyze the mission to determine how best to sup- cess of our deployment and stand ready the Joint Readiness Training Center in Feb. port. to assist our team in the preparation, 2011. and develop how the brigade will operate deployment and re-integration of our “The brigade and battalion staffs gelled. while deployed,” said Maj. Rhett Taylor, bri- Soldiers and Families. We found ways to communicate better and gade fire support coordinator. plan in parallel,” said Maj. Dana Stowell, bri- Finally, the event allowed new members of gade executive officer. the staffs to become experts in their field and The week away from Fort Carson allowed build cohesion. the staffs to focus longer and more intently “I am new to the brigade staff and was im- on mission and campaign planning than they pressed by how well the team works together,” could while here. said Maj. Rich Fierro, brigade operations “LTP gave me the chance to understand planner.

Combating Terrorism Center helps Warhorse prepare Story by Maj. Kevin Toner A second VTC introduced the brigade CTC director. 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO to two civilian researchers who have spent The relationship between the CTC and 2nd Members of the Combating Terrorism Cen- 4 years in Afghanistan talking directly to BCT began this past summer when 1st Bat- ter from West Point shared their insight with Taliban commanders. The CTC also brought talion, 67th Armor deployed to West 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divi- journalist Gretchen Peters, author of “Seeds of Point to support Cadet Field Training, said sion Jan. 24 and 25 to help the brigade men- Terror: Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Maj. Vinnie Garbarino, their executive officer. tally prepare for its Afghanistan deployment. al Qaeda” to share her research about how the The CTC, a center of excellence in the De- Commanders and staff from company Taliban is using the illegal drug trade to fund partment of Social Sciences at West Point, was through brigade attended a series of seminars its insurgency. formed in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001 to con- during the two day visit. “The CTC gave the brigade insights and tribute relevant scholarly perspectives through The CTC provided a strategic and opera- perspectives on how to think about insur- education, research and policy analysis to tional overview of Afghanistan and the region. gencies and how best to neutralize insurgent combat terrorist threats to the United States, In addition to the briefings by the CTC mem- effects,” said Col. John Kolasheski, 2nd BCT said Maj. Bryan Groves, CTC executive officer. bers, the CTC coordinated a video tele-confer- commander. “The CTC provided an invaluable oppor- ence with Brig. Gen. H.R. McMaster to gain a “Members of the CTC regularly deploy to tunity for leaders in our brigade to discuss the better understanding of how Afghanistan and Afghanistan to provide commanders analysis challenges and opportunities that we might the International Security Assistance Forces are and to gather data to better understand the na- face during our deployment to Afghanistan,” fighting corruption. ture of insurgencies,” said Lt. Col Reid Sawyer, said Kolasheski.

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the fairs Office. Warhorse Pride Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen- . The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news- tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the Col. John S. Kolasheski...... 2nd BCT Commander Contents of The Warhorse Pride are publication. Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa...... 2nd BCT CSM not necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S. All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed Maj. Kevin Toner...... 2nd BCT PAO government, Department of Defense, Department of the online from your home computer at www.facebook. Spc. April York...... Layout and Design Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content com/2bct4id Sgt. Seth Barham...... Editor of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and Submissions should be emailed to the Sgt. Ruth Pagan...... Editor approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Af- editor: [email protected]