2nd Brigade Combat Team Forward Camp Buehring, Kuwait Striker Torch What’s Inside? EDITION 08 JANUARY 2006 Fine Tuning a Four 3 Conqueror Fun in the Sun! 4 Joint Training Brings Air Support 5 to 2nd BCT 3rd Platoon, B Company, 2nd Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, conducts close quarter marksmanship at a Kuwait firing range in December. Ra’aj Hadeed - Photo by 1st Lt. Scott Love Iron Thunder 6 Soldiers Learn Arabic Stars Shine at STRIKER TORCH NEWS TEAM 7 Camp Buehring 2nd BCT Commander CONTACT US! COL Robert E. Scurlock Jr. HQ, 2BCT, 1AD nd Engineers Pass 2 BCT Command Sergeant Major ATTN: PAO on Knowledge, CSM Jose A. Santos 9 Camp Buehring Experience of 2nd BCT Public Affairs Officer APO AE 09330 IEDs MAJ Frederick K. Bower tom.hasara @ us.army.mil david.r.dockett @ us.army.mil Striker Torch Editor in Chief Chaplain’s Corner 11 This Edition can also be found online at CPT Thomas A. Hasara http://www. 1ad.army.mil/2BCTNewsletters.htm Striker Torch Editors SFC David R. Dockett We’re looking for any type of submissions to include: Bottom: Soldiers from 3rd SFC(P) Armaruel T. Peralta letters, articles, comic strips or artwork, and photographs. Platoon, C Company, 1st SSG(P) Liviu A. Ivan Battalion, 35th Armored Regi- If you would like a copy of this issue please contact your Battalion UPAR ment, clear a room at a Mili- Striker Torch Design Coordinator 1-6IN: 1LT Bledy Taka, 2-6IN: 1LT Gabriel Martinez, 1-35AR: 1LT Zachary Hadfield, 40th EN: CPT Daniel Napolitano, tary Operations in Urban SPC(P) Ben T. Siep Terrain (MOUT) site at Camp 47th FSB: CPT Heather Jangraw 4-27 FA: MAJ Frederick Bower Buehring, Kuwait. Striker Torch Staff Writers The Striker Torch is an authorized publication for Department of Defense members. Contents of the Striker Torch are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, Photo by 1st Lt. Timothy PFC Evan Richardson PFC Joshua P. Ramey the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. The editorial content of this Connors publication is the responsibility of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office. PFC Jeremy E. Neece PAGE 2 EDITIONFour PAGE 3 A Word from the Striker Command Team Fine Tuning a Conqueror Story by 1st Lt. Zachary Hadfield Soldiers assigned to Task Force 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Savers course which emphasizes hazards unique to the battle- Iron Brigade Soldiers, individual skills, and seeking Regt., have been training rigorously since their arrival in Ku- field. This week-long class aims at teaching Soldiers valuable 2006 is upon us, and improvement. Work to get wait. All armored crewmen, or “tankers,” participated in the life sustaining skills for a multitude of combat and non-combat Tank Crew Gunnery Skills Test (TCGST) training. TCGST is a related injuries. They are we have an opportunity to better everyday. series of 12 individual tasks that prepare crews for tank gunnery. required to demonstrate improve ourselves as Sol- Environmental leave The training begins with three days of training led by qualified their new knowledge NCOs. The final two days of testing allow Soldiers to demon- through a written exami- diers and as a team. Con- will begin soon, and it is a strate their skills while being rated on their ability to perform nation, practical exer- tinue to focus on the basics time to relax and get a well- certain tasks. Once the tankers have successfully negotiated cises, and must safely TCGST, they are cleared to fire live rounds from their assigned administer fluids intrave- and improve your Iron War- deserved break. Remember duty position on the M1A1 Abrams tank. nously to a fellow Sol- rior skills. Over the past at the same time we must Private First Class Jeffrey Whitman said, “It’s different to dier. Specialist Michael come out and get a chance to train as a tanker.” PFC Whitman, Campbell, a medic from year we have accomplished maintain our military bearing assigned to the 1st Bn, 35 Armd. Regt., support platoon, had the 1st Bn., 35th Armd. many great things, including and discipline. We are all opportunity to participate in TCGST even though he is not Regt., said, “We are many safe, successful field Soldiers 24-7, and every Sol- currently assigned to a traditional tank platoon. Participating in trying to prepare our COL Robert E. Scurlock Jr. gunnery training will help him remain proficient in his Military Soldiers to handle medi- exercises, a deployment to dier is an ambassador for this Operational Specialty (MOS), ensuring he will be ready when cal situations without he is assigned to a tank platoon again. professional supervision. CSM Jose A. Santos this theater and an adjust- Brigade and the United It has been going ment of mission that you States Army. Stay safe, you really well over here.” Soldiers have all handled with the are each a vital part of our have also re- utmost professionalism. combat force. ceived classroom instruction and Remember that our fo- Even though this year led hands-on cus is to be prepared for a has just begun, we are ex- training on how to identify and call at any time to move for- cited and look forward to react to Impro- ward. This means that we continue the mission for our vised Explosive Devices, am- B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored can not become complacent Army and the Brigade Com- bushes, and Regiment ready to roll out for training. or lose focus. Continue to bat Team in the coming year. indirect fire. Photo by 1st Lt. Greggory Johnson Realistic training train hard, sharpening your Strike Hard! of enemy tactics allows Soldiers to confidently react to situa- tions they will “The training encounter while Front Cover: Sgt. William Clark main- Top Left: Sgt. Devon Lomax, deployed in the 1st Battalion, 35th Armored tains manual traction on CENTCOM area here is most Regiment, prepares to store a Pvt. 2 William Black- of operations. HEAT round in his Abrams burn's right leg while Addition- tank. Spec. Deidre Fante stops ally, Task Force impressive.” 1st Bn., 35th Photo by Spec. Edward Palacio bleeding and PFC Mi- SSgt. Jose Laboy of B Company, 1st Battalion, 35th Armored Regiment -Spec. William Lahrmer, Armd. Regt. C Co., 1st Bn., 35th Armd. Regt. chelle Catlin pulls secu- prepares his .50 caliber machine gun before zeroing it at the range. Soldiers have Top Right: SSgt. Zachary rity. The members of C Photo by 1st Lt. Greggory Johnson Parrish, C Battery 4th Battalion been using the Company, 47th Forward nearby ranges to test fire, zero, and qualify with their 27th Field Artillery Regiment’s st th 6th Howitzer section chief, Support Battalion are The tank crews of 1 Bn., 35 Armd. Regt. have not been individual and crew-served weapons. Countless rounds of inputs data in the Automatic evaluated by 1st Lt. the only ones training in the Task Force lately. The staff plan- ammunition have been fired on marksmanship and simulated Fire Control System. Jeanne Deden during ners working in the Battalion Headquarters have also undergone tactical-situation ranges, honing basic Soldier skills and weapon rigorous deployment training. Task Force 1st Bn., 35th Armd. proficiency. Spec. William Lahrmer of C Co., 1st Bn. 35th Armd. Photo by PFC Jeremy Neece squad casualty training at Regt. has been testing its readiness to push its assets and person- Regt., commented on the unique training opportunity the desert the Military Operations in nel out of Kuwait and into Iraq. Movement of personnel and environment provides by saying, “The training here is most Urban Terrain (MOUT) massive amounts of heavy equipment can be a daunting task impressive.” site. while deploying a Task Force on short notice. Planners train on For the time being, Task Force 1st Bn., 35th Armd. Regt. Photo by Sgt. Tal Wick the logistics of organizing and executing large scale moves, continues to maintain its readiness and fine tune the skills they ensuring that the battalion is prepared for a rapid deployment. have gained in order to support the 2nd Brigade Combat Team’s The medic platoon is currently teaching a Combat Life mission in Operation Iraqi Freedom. STRIKER TORCH PAGE 4 2nd BCT Retention News EDITIONFour PAGE 5 Joint Training Brings Air Support to 2nd BCT HOT! HOT! HOT! Story and Photos by Capt. Thomas Viscelli MOS AND DEPLOYED BONUSES HAVE (From left to 1st Lt. Ken- BEEN EXTENDED. EXTENSION ENDS right) PFC neth Jordan Ryan Niziolek, (left) admin- 31DEC06. isters the Airman First oath of re- ASSIGNMENTS AND RECLASSIFICATION Class Jesse enlistment of RE ENLISTMENT OPTIONS OPEN UP FEB Johnson, Senior Spec. Bran- 2006. Airman Rusty don Hawn Welch, and (right) of 2nd CONTACT YOUR RE ENLISTMENT NCO SFC Marcus Battalion, AND CAREER COUNSELOR FOR MORE Carter, of HHC, 6th Infantry INFO 2 BCT guide in Regiment. a Navy fighter Photo by Capt. Jason 2nd Brigade Retention Office jet while lasing Wingeart Bldg. 6-9, Rm. 8 their target. DNVT 828-1519 Photo by Tech- nical Sergeant CSM Ramon Kenneth Moon Delgado motivates the entire 1st Battal- Camp Buehring, Kuwait - In early The exercise not only tested the skill other attempt to release the ordnance. This ion, 35th Armored December, the Joint Terminal Attack Con- and accuracy of the pilots, it also tested the time the pilot received the “Cleared Hot” Regiment during troller (JTAC) team from 2nd Brigade Com- “talk-on” abilities of the Air Force JTACs from the controller and released his pay- Monday morning bat Team, 1st Armored Division, conducted themselves. On the first mission, after load. “Dead Hit!” was heard from the formation with a live fire Close Air Support training in the giving a brief area update and sending a Forward Observer spotting the weapon’s light workout of urban training complex on the Udairi strike coordination communication to the impact, as a cloud of dirt plumed from the pushups.