Tflr newsletter 21 dec2012

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LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY A publication of the 2/138th FAR MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Horn of Africa!! Being separated from loved ones and family traditions is difficult and stressful to say the least. e recent tragic events stateside re-emphasize the importance of our families and can certainly make the distances that keep us apart seem that much greater. With this in mind I remind you all that none of us is alone here. While we do not have the holidays at home, we have the holidays with our Brothers and Sisters in arms here! Our celebrations in Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia will feature some deserved down time as much as our force protection duties allow. We will have another feast prepared by the galley, some opportunity to interact as units with church services, giſt exchanges, recreational activities and most importantly time to call and Skype our loved ones. We are also expecting a big push of mail today (Friday) which should bring us some more long awaited items. e work we are doing here is important. e Longrifles are getting the job done in a magnificent fashion and will continue to do so. For the folks at home during this holiday season remember we miss you and love you and will be back as soon we can. Merry Christmas to all! ~Lt. Col. Rob Larkin DJIBOUTI - On an early African morning, before the sun rose, a convoy of Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers with the 2/138th rolled out of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. ey were headed for the intense heat of the Grand Bara Desert to spend four days and nights with fellow artillerymen. Yet, these fellow artillerymen weren’t wearing the same uniform. ey weren’t even speaking the same language. e 22 good ole’ Kentucky boys and girls would be working and living with Soldiers from the 93e Régiment d’Artillerie de Montagne (93rd Artillery and Mountain Regiment) out of Grenoble, France. “e purpose of this mission was to conduct a combined arms exercise with the French forces in Djibouti, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Djiboutian National Forces to enhance our experience in working with international coalition forces,” said 2nd Lt. Doyle Stephens, officer in charge for the 2/138th Soldiers participating in this mission. e 2/138th Soldiers worked alongside the French artillery forces and the US Marines for this exercise. “We provided two five-man mortar teams, and a two-man forward observer (FO) team that worked with the French and Marine FOs,” said Stephens. He continued “e mission was very successful, we learned about their tactics, techniques and Commander’s Corner A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and every one of you! My season’s greetings also extend home to all of your families! It can be a tough time to be deployed but there are many activities scheduled here for us Soldiers throughout the Holidays. ere is a 5K on the 23rd to a Christmas Carnival on the 25th, and even some Holiday Bingo at 11 Degrees! Take part in these activities as a way of enjoying the Holidays the best you can away from family this year. Also be sure to call home and tell your family Merry Christmas. Holidays are a time when we tend to let our guard down and relax, and by all means I want you to do just that when the time is appropriate. Please remember safety must be maintained throughout the Holiday season if we want it to be a joyous time. Be safe today because we need you tomorrow. On another note, I am extremely proud of all of you for working so hard at your physical training. It shows! Our PT scores on the whole are outstanding! Keep up the great work and remain vigilant. ~Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Gividen CSM oughts CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > > American, French and Dji- boutian Soldiers Team Up For Desert Exercise Story and Photos by Sgt. Alexa Becerra, 2/138th PAO December 21, 2012 Volume 1, Issue 10 GRAND BARA DESERT, Djibouti - Sgt. James Cissell and Spc. King help French soldiers attach a 120mm mortar to a truck to be moved to the next exercise location on Dec. 9, 2012.

Transcript of Tflr newsletter 21 dec2012

LONGRIFLEs WEEKLYA publication of the 2/138th FAR

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the Horn of Africa!! Being separated from loved ones and family traditions is difficult and stressful to say the least. The recent tragic events stateside re-emphasize the importance of our families and can certainly make the distances

that keep us apart seem that much greater. With this in mind I remind you all that none of us is alone here. While we do not have the holidays at home, we have the holidays with our Brothers and Sisters in arms here!Our celebrations in Djibouti, Kenya and Ethiopia will feature some deserved down time as much as our force protection duties allow. We will have another feast prepared by the galley, some opportunity to interact as units with church services, gift exchanges, recreational activities and most importantly time to call and Skype our loved ones. We are also expecting a big push of mail today (Friday) which should bring us some more long awaited items.The work we are doing here is important. The Longrifles are getting the job done in a magnificent fashion and will continue to do so. For the folks at home during this holiday season remember we miss you and love you and will be back as soon we can. Merry Christmas to all! ~Lt. Col. Rob Larkin

DJIBOUTI - On an early African morning, before the sun rose, a convoy of Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers with the 2/138th rolled out of Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. They were headed for the intense heat of the Grand Bara Desert to spend four days and nights with fellow artillerymen.Yet, these fellow artillerymen weren’t wearing the same uniform. They weren’t even speaking the same language. The 22 good ole’ Kentucky boys and girls would be working and living with Soldiers from the 93e Régiment d’Artillerie de Montagne (93rd Artillery and Mountain Regiment) out of Grenoble, France.

“The purpose of this mission was to conduct a combined arms exercise with the French forces in Djibouti, the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit and the Djiboutian National Forces to enhance our experience in working with international coalition forces,” said 2nd Lt. Doyle Stephens, officer in charge for the 2/138th Soldiers participating in this mission.

The 2/138th Soldiers worked alongside the French artillery forces and the US Marines for this exercise.

“We provided two five-man mortar teams, and a two-man forward observer (FO) team that worked with the French and Marine FOs,” said Stephens. He continued “The mission was very successful, we learned about their tactics, techniques and

Commander’s Corner

A very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to each and every one of you! My season’s greetings also extend home to all of your families! It can be a tough time to be deployed but there are many activities scheduled here for us Soldiers throughout

the Holidays. There is a 5K on the 23rd to a Christmas Carnival on the 25th, and even some Holiday Bingo at 11 Degrees! Take part in these activities as a way of enjoying the Holidays the best you can away from family this year. Also be sure to call home and tell your family Merry Christmas. Holidays are a time when we tend to let our guard down and relax, and by all means I want you to do just that when the time is appropriate. Please remember safety must be maintained throughout the Holiday season if we want it to be a joyous time. Be safe today because we need you tomorrow. On another note, I am extremely proud of all of you for working so hard at your physical training. It shows! Our PT scores on the whole are outstanding! Keep up the great work and remain vigilant. ~Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Gividen

CSM Thoughts

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >

American, French and Dji-boutian Soldiers Team Up

For Desert Exercise Story and Photos by Sgt. Alexa Becerra, 2/138th PAO

December 21, 2012Volume 1, Issue 10

GRAND BARA DESERT, Djibouti - Sgt. James Cissell and Spc. King help French soldiers attach a 120mm mortar to a truck to be moved to the next exercise location on Dec. 9, 2012.

Longrifles WeeklyPage 2

procedures on how to set up and break down their mortars.”

Not only was the mission a success because of all the valuable artillery knowledge gained, but it was also a great cultural experience for both sides.

“I learned how to aim and maneuver the 120 mm mortar systems into key positions,” said Spc. Jared Gowens, a Lexington, Ky. native and forward observer who participated in the exercise. “I also made a lot of new friends, although it was hard to understand them at times, but we communicated

well with hand gestures,” he added with a smile.

This training mission was a once in lifetime experience that I’ll never forget, said Gowens.

“At the end of the four days, I felt like I had known them forever,” said Gowens about the French soldiers. “Even though we are from different countries, we know that the French men we served with during this training exercise are our brothers.”

Another purpose of this mission was to help build partnership with foreign allies, said Stephens, and he believes they were successful in that pursuit.

“This is the first time I’ve worked with a French artillery unit, and due to their knowledge, professionalism and camaraderie, I look forward to working with them in the future,” said Stephens.

After the exercise was completed, the sense of camaraderie was so great that both the French soldiers and the Task Force Longrifles Soldiers made plans to see each other again soon for a reunion dinner.

Chaplain ReflectionsIt’s Christmas, and a feeling of goodwill is in the air, colored lights gleam through the dark night. Children are exuberant, smiling from ear to ear, filled with a contagious anticipation that lifts the mood of even the biggest humbug.The stores are crowded and shopping bags

are filled with carefully selected gifts. In the background sounds of bells ringing and a favorite Christmas song can be heard everywhere celebrating a season of cheer.This time of year brings with it nostalgia, full of fond memories from the past and the hope for a brighter future. Christmas works its magic on the Old Scrooges, and Mr. Grinch’s alike, making it hard for even them to resist warming up to this season.No matter where you are in the world, one thread unites us all at Christmas, gifts are nice, but nothing can replace the feeling of togetherness. Your presence will always be more valuable than your presents.Unfortunately, an ocean separates us but cards and letters, phone calls, and video messages transport us to our loved ones, even if it is just for a moment.This year I encourage you not to spend Christmas alone; check on a neighbor or a friend. Invite them to stop by and spend some time catching up. Make sure to call your loved ones, and never forget the real reason for the season.“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:11 ~Chaplain Mark Slaughter

AMERICAN, FRENCH CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > >

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GRAND BARA DESERT, Djibouti - Pfc. Justin Jones and Pfc. Robert Rogers receive a brief on tactics, techniques and procedures for the 120mm mortar system from a French soldier on Dec. 9, 2012.

GRAND BARA DESERT, Djibouti - Task Force Longrifles Soldiers and French soldiers dissasemble a 120mm mortar system and prepare to load it onto a French Army Helicopter on Dec. 11, 2012.

Soldier to Soldier • Any Soldier interested in participating in a shout-

out should stop by the Public Affairs office located in building 150, Monday through Friday from 1300-1600. POC is Capt. Van Horn, ext. 4807.

• We are trying to reach 2,000 ‘Likes’ on Facebook by Christmas, make sure to invite your families and friends to ‘Like’ our page

• Soldiers who have pictures of training should send them to their battery UPAHR for submission to PAO

• Any Soldier interested in volunteering for Troops and Teachers on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, contact 1st Lt. Weiler in building 150 or ext. 5031

• Have a very Merry Christmas!