1A HOME OF THE BIG RED ONE THE 1ST INFANTRY DIVISION POST 1DivPost.com FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2015 Vol. 7, No. 45 FORT RILEY, KAN. Company of ‘Longknife’ firsts: Gray Soldiers make VICTORY WITH HONORS partnership Eagles return with Chapman to Fort Riley By Staff Sgt. Jerry Griffis 1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Jerry Griffis 1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS CHAPMAN, Kansas — When people come together The Soldiers of Company F, 1st Attack to make things happen, the Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Aviation results can be remarkable. Regiment, 1st Combat Aviation Brigade, The partnership between 1st Infantry Division, returned home “Longknife” Soldiers and Oct. 28 from a nine-month deployment Chapman has been chartered to Afghanistan. since at least the early 2000s The Soldiers served in support of There are more than 70 school Operation Freedom’s Sentinel. partnerships throughout the “I had 117 Soldiers that were deployed 1st Infantry Division. ... with me along with 27 civilian “It’s like everything in life contractors in support of missions or in the Army,” said Lt. Col. throughout the theater of operations,” Brad Duplessis, 5th Squadron, said Capt. Nick Parsai, “Phoenix” 4th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd company commander. Armored Brigade Combat While deployed, the Soldiers of Staff Sgt. Jerry Griffis | 1ST INF .DIV. Team, 1st Infantry Division. Phoenix company operated the Gray Staff Sgt. Aaron Larson, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st “It’s about people and you have Eagle unmanned aircraft system, Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, left, presents Col. Pat- to form a relationship and what providing reconnaissance, surveillance rick D. Frank, deputy commanding officer for support, 1st Inf. Div., the canister we did is we tried to say, ‘Hey, and air power to support the ground from the first round fired from the salute battery during a Victory with Honors we are on your team.’” forces of the United States and its allies. ceremony Oct. 30 at 1st Inf. Div. headquarters. Lacee Sell, the Unified Parsai said there was no other place like School District 473 the unmanned aircraft system community superintendent, said she was where Soldiers could obtain the concept Frank returns to ‘Big Red One’ as amazed at the time and service of professionalism for themselves. the Soldiers provided to the “It’s also the only place that they are three schools in the district. in control of an aviation asset, (and) able “It’s not just a one time a to send Hellfires downrange to engage New deputy commander welcomed month, on this specific day, at targets,” Parsai said. “It’s because of their this time,” Sell said. “It’s just maturity, their competence and their By Amanda Kim Stairrett a given in that there’s going knowledge of the system that allows them 1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS “Pat exemplifies the BRO Creed. He is a to be folks hanging out with to do that.” brave, responsible and on-point leader.” kids or in the lunchroom, on During the deployment, Phoenix It was the greatest honor the playground, helping with Soldiers conducted more than 1,000 to rejoin the ranks of the 1st sporting events or going on combat missions, resulting in more than MAJ. GEN. WAYNE W. GRIGSBY JR. | 1ST INFANTRY field trips.” Infantry Division, the “Big DIVISION AND FORT RILEY COMMANDING GENERAL 8,000 flight hours. Red One’s” new deputy Sell said there were Parsai said there was an unofficial commander for support differences between various motto for the company partly due to the said Oct. 30 at Fort Riley. commanders involved with nature of their name: “Fox first: We are Col. Patrick D. Frank, the partnership, but Duplessis’ going to do it first.” was officially welcomed back during a leadership really stood out in Phoenix was the first Gray Eagle Victory with Honors ceremony dedicated to her mind. company to conduct split-based operations, him. Before coming back to Fort Riley, he “He was bringing more first to conduct support operations and served as executive officer to the commander and more of an emphasis on training in several partner countries, first of the International Security Assistance the importance of it being a Force, Resolute Support mission. community partnership,” Sell See GRAY EAGLES, page 10 Frank previously served at Fort Riley said. “And when I say community as the 1st Inf. Div.’s operations officer and — here in Chapman, the commanded the 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry community is the school Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat because we are just so small and Team, where he first interacted with members if one is doing something, the of the local communities. other is joining.” “That’s just “The bond between the 1st Infantry Staff Sgt. Jerry Griffis | 1ST INF. DIV. how it happens in these small Division and our neighbors is the strongest Col. Patrick D. Frank, 1st Infantry Division communities.” of any Army division,” Frank said. “It is great deputy commanding officer for support Duplessis said there to be serving in your division again.” speaks to guests and visitors during a was a great benefit with Maj. Gen. Wayne W. Grigsby Jr., 1st Inf. Victory with Honors ceremony dedicated partnerships between Fort Div. and Fort Riley commanding general, said to him Oct. 30 at 1st Inf. Div. headquarters. Riley and the surrounding Frank and his wife Jennifer were coming home. communities because values “He and Jenn have jumped right back Frank said he was exceptionally proud to such as dedication, leadership into the Central Flint Hills community,” have commanded the “Black Lions” in combat and teamwork that Soldiers A young girl carries a welcome- Grigsby said. “They have been crucial to and serve as the division’s operations officer. exemplify everyday were values home sign prior to a redeployment strengthening bonds with our partners schools could readily embrace. ceremony Oct. 28 on Camp throughout the state.” See HONORS, page 10 Funston at Fort Riley. See PARTNERSHIP, page 10 ‘Fighting Aces’ bring home lessons from National Training Center By 1st Lt. Christopher Baer 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt., as operations officer of the 2nd Bn., 2ND BATTALION, 34TH ARMOR REGIMENT tank support. 34th Armor Regt., 1st ABCT, 1st During the two-week field Inf. Div. “We learned a lot working FORT IRWIN, Calif. — The training exercise, the Fighting with the Strykers and they learned “Fighting Aces” of Company Aces were involved in every battle how to employ M1 tanks.” C, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor and operation. They worked on a Pfc. Luis Chavez, an M1 Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade variety of missions, ranging from Abrams tank driver with Co. C, Combat Team, 1st Infantry meeting civilians on the battlefield 2nd Bn., 34th Armor Regt.,1st Division, deployed to the to responding to enemy armored ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., was a new National Training Center at Fort threats. The training rotation was driver before the NTC rotation. Irwin, California, from Sept. 30 an extraordinary opportunity for “The terrain was difficult, but to Oct. 3 in support of the 1st the Soldiers to develop a unique great for training,” he said. “I Stryker Brigade Combat Team, set of experiences, leaders said. learned a lot.” 4th Infantry Division, of Fort “First Brigade, 4th Inf. Div., The unit also learned how to Staff Sgt. Scott Cochran | 2ND BN., 34TH ARMOR REGT. Carson, Colorado. integrated the Fighting Aces into work with other Army platforms. Spc. Edgar Arevalo, left, a M1 Abrams tank loader, and Spc. The Stryker brigade’s Soldiers their formation like the company “The rotation gave my crew Joshua Vaira, right, a M1 Abrams tank gunner, both with Company conducted a 14-day, force-on- was permanently assigned and was and I a unique opportunity to C, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade force rotation to sharpen their helpful at every step of the rotation,” Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, conduct maintenance on skills and used troops of Co. C, said Maj. Erik Peterson, the See LESSONS, page 10 their .50-caliber machine gun Sept. 19 at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California. SAFETY HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS ALSO IN THIS ISSUE The next USAG Resilience Day Off will be: As of Thursday, Oct. 29, FORT RILEY BASKETBALL TEAM PLAYS IN NOV. BROWN MACKIE 0 2 1 CLASSIC AGAINST TABOR AND days have passed since the last BROWN MACKIE 13 vehicular fatality at Fort Riley. COLLEGE AT Ninety more and the post will K-STATE SALINA celebrate with a safety holiday SEITZ ELEMENTARY STUDENTS to take place at each unit’s PARTICIPATE IN RED RIBBON CAMPUS OCT. 30, discretion. WEEK, SEE PAGE 13. SEE PAGE 17. 1DivPost.com 2A 2 | NOVEMBER 6, 2015 HOME OF THE BIG RED ONE Garrison employees recognized Air Force officers observe in monthly award ceremony artillery capabilities at Fort Riley Story and photos by Maria Childs By Staff Sgt. Bernhard 1ST INF. DIV. POST Lashleyleidner 1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS The Garrison Awards Ceremony was held at Ware Soldiers from the Parade Field on Oct. 30. 1st Battalion, 5th Field Tim Livsey, deputy garrison Artillery Regiment, commander, awarded the 1st Armored Brigade recipients on behalf of Fort Combat Team, 1st Riley Garrison Commander Infantry Division, hosted Col. Andrew Cole Jr. and 95 Air Force officers Oct. Garrison Command Sgt. Maj. 21 at Fort Riley during Jason Schmidt. a leader professional “As Col. Cole says, we’re development event. going to recognize a bunch The Air Force officers of great Americans, but this were attending the Hannah Kleopfer | POST is a small portion of the Army’s Intermediate Five helicopters landed at the Douthit Gunnery Com- great work going on with the Level Education course plex carrrying the Fort Leavenworth arimen from the Garrison workforce and our at Fort Leavenworth, Army Intermediate Level Education course Oct.