THE REVOLUTIONARY GUARD BATTALION’S CODEWORDS Issue 1 1 The Revolutionary Guard Battalion’s CODEWORDS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: HARRISON TAMKE VOLUME I – ISSUE I - APRIL 2018 ASSOCIATE EDITOR: CEDRIC TAN first time you compromise Cadre Corner standards for Issue Date by someone, MSG Matthew Dalton, SMI you’ve lost the Greetings Revolutionary Guard Battalion! I’m high-ground. It extremely excited to be a part of this first issue of the current is absolutely version of CodeWords. Unfortunately, or perhaps critical to fortunately depending on your point of view, this will be the remember that first, last and only issue that I’ll be a part of. More on that in order to later but first I’d like to briefly discuss a few keys to success enforce the that I’ve realized over the past 22 years. standards, you yourself must Being a successful Leader requires motivation. not only meet Discipline is the foundation of motivation. Being but exceed those disciplined will create character and morals (think Army standards. If you Values) which will shape an individual’s personal and cannot exceed professional identity. Discipline will create the framework the standards, for a good Officer/Leader and a good Officer/Leader you will not be creates motivation. Motivation supplies the will and an effective leader. If you don’t demand that your initiative to do what is necessary to accomplish the subordinates meet the standards, you will not be an mission. ADRP 6-22 tells us that “a leader’s role in effective leader. motivation is to understand the needs and desires of others, to align and elevate individual desires into team goals, and Positivity. Those of you who have spent more than to inspire others to accomplish those larger goals.” The a minute with me may have realized that I’m not exactly a Army will challenge your ability to stay motivated. Realize vociferous, outgoing, ray of sunshine type leader. This that and rise above it. does not mean that I’m not thinking positively at all times. Many of you have heard this comment from me, Standards. Leaders must enforce standards at all “Sometimes the Army sucks.” And it’s true. I’ll be times. Standards should be published, known and eternally grateful for everything the Army has given me but understood by all, and enforced fairly at every level. The to say that it’s been all wine and roses would be a lie. You CODEWORDS | Issue 1 1 2 will face situations that are undeniably not fun. I see no makes this program run and from my foxhole, this program issue with acknowledging the suck, all of your Soldiers will is an absolutely first rate organization. know it anyways. Embrace that suck. Find something good and cling to it. A positive attitude is infectious and it My door (or email) is always open to each and starts with Leaders. every one of you and will remain so long after I leave here. I’ve accumulated a lot of experience over the years As most of you know, I was selected to attend the and it would be selfish to keep it all for myself. It doesn’t United States Army Sergeants Major Academy this matter what you branch, leadership is leadership and I want summer. While this tremendous honor is incredibly to help. important for me professionally, it’s bittersweet to be leaving the RGB after only arriving last May. Having no I’d like to end with a quote by one of my personal experience in dealing with Cadets other than a few CTLT’s, favorites, General (RET) McChrystal who said, I was unsure what to expect. I was told some disheartening “Leadership is not a talent or a gift, it’s a choice.” You all stories about Cadets from former ROTC cadre from other have made the first step in choosing to be a leader, now programs, as well as LT’s who went through ROTC. I can push yourselves to improve and develop in ROTC so that say now that they were wrong. I’ve been blown away by one day you can take on perhaps the greatest responsibility the overall level of professionalism and the positive, can-do a person can have, leading Soldiers. attitudes that I’ve encountered here. You all are what RGB Cadets Compete for Prestigious GAFB by CDT Eric Svendsen, C Co The badge itself is a German Eagle 25m, a handgun, and six rounds of During the past Spring 2018 surrounded by an oval wreath of oak ammunition. Each participant has to semester, a group of ROTC cadets leaves, given in either bronze, silver, shoot two rounds each from three from the Revolutionary Guard or gold, based on the standards met positions: standing, kneeling, and Battalion was given the opportunity by the participant. The first event is a prone, in under eighteen seconds. To to travel to the University of North Basic Fitness test, which is comprised achieve gold, a participant must hit Carolina at Charlotte to compete for of three parts: a 1,000 meter sprint, a all six rounds in one attempt. A the prestigious German Armed flexed arm hang, and eleven 10m single missed shot will cause a Forces Badge for Military sprints. participant to lose the ability to Proficiency. The group of cadets was achieve gold at all. comprised of two cadets from the College of William and Mary, seven The third event for the GAFB cadets from Christopher Newport is the Road March. With a 35lb ruck, University, and SFC Ronald a participant has to ruck march a McBroom-Teasley, a cadre member certain distance at around a from Christopher Newport 16min/mile pace. University. At the end of the two-day event, Revolutionary Guard Battalion The fourth event for the cadets came away from the event GAFB is a CBRN MOPP Gear with two gold badges, four silver test. The participant is tasked with badges, and two bronze badges. putting on and clearing a gas mask in under 9s, followed by putting on all The German Armed Forces of the MOPP Gear in proper Badge for Military Proficiency sequence without a time limit. The (hereby shortened to GAFB) is a The next event for the GAFB trick with this is to loosen the straps decoration given to soldiers of the is the pistol qualification. This is one on the gas mask so that it is easier to German Bundeswehr, as well as of the most difficult events in the pull over one’s head, and then allied nations. The GAFB is earned GAFB, and is known for preventing mentally walking through a checklist by meeting a gold/silver/bronze people from obtaining the gold. Each for putting on all of the outfit. standard in all six different events. participant is given two targets at CODEWORDS | Issue 1 1 3 The fifth event for the GAFB who works with cadets from the Also, keeping a positive attitude is a first aid test. This is a simple Revolutionary Guard Battalion as a despite minor setbacks is also multiple choice and short answer test military leadership mentor. After extremely important. When I went to on US Army first aid material. A commanding soldiers in Germany, shoot, the cadre started the timer, and simple study guide created from the COL Smith had to earn the GAFB as I aimed and squeezed for my first Army Combat Lifesaving one level at a time, earning both shot, I found that I had forgotten to information, and TC 4-02.1, will Bronze and Silver during his time in turn the safety off. Instead of giving ensure success on the first aid test. service. up, or complaining that I had made a mistake, I pushed through and Finally, the last and arguably Personally, I really enjoyed surprised myself. Finally, training most difficult event is the 100m swim participating in the GAFB event. I the specific skills that you will be in uniform. For this event, found an event where I could train testing is important. The saying participants must dress in uniform and push myself harder than I had “train how you fight” is extremely (except boots) and swim 100m in ever done before, and it paid off. At relevant in a test like this. Before this under four minutes. Before a the end of the event, I was awarded event, I would set up cones to train on participant can get out of the water, the GAFB at the gold standard. After the sprints, went to the shooting range they must take their uniform blouse participating in this event, I took to practice shooting a pistol, and even and pants off. The biggest tip for this away several important took advantage of an opportunity to is to stay calm and keep pushing, lessons. Preparing for an event like go to Ft. Eustis and learn from there is plenty of time to float on your this should be comprised of physical another cadet how to put on and clear back and swim the 100m. preparation, mental preparation, and the gas mask. Getting these unusual skills preparation. When I say this, I tests not only into your mind, but also A participant is awarded the mean that training the specific events into your hands and body is an GAFB after completing all six events like the sprints and the swim are integral part of doing well when put to a set of standards. A participant extremely important, and pushing to in a stressful situation. must achieve a gold standard in all not only meet the standard, but excel past the standard will help overcome events to get a gold badge.