April 22, 2010Issue 9

3-16 trains with Paladins

Command Sergeant Major’s Corner

Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Barteau, CSM2nd Brigade Combat Team

Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Later on in the year we will start to develop more theater specific training that will prepare us for the particular theater where we will deploy.

Many of you have noticed that there have been some changes in the brigade since coming back from deployment. To mark the new shift in leadership that took place in November, I have redesigned the Warhorse crest to bring us into a 21st Century mindset. There is a major shift in the morale of this brigade and I want that to continue.

Story and photo by 2nd Lt. Ian Faison3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment

battalion FDC. They executed dry fire missions at various

angles until 3 p.m., when they began live fire missions.

For the first live fire mission, the gun crews shot the Paladin with a 50 foot lanyard to ensure safety because the guns had not been fired in over a year.

First Platoon’s guns fired 36 safe, accurate, high explosive (HE) rounds.

“I was excited to go to the field and start

shooting big bullets again,” said a Soldier from Battery A.

“It felt great executing live fire missions and putting rounds down range. I hope we win top gun in the Battalion.”

Since 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., returned from Iraq, where it executed a non-standard artillery mission, this is the first time in two years that Soldiers from the battalion have fired artillery rounds.

This valuable training provides necessary practice for both the veteran Soldiers and the inexperienced ones.

Providing safe, accurate fires will be essential for the battery FDCs and gun crews when executing Table XVIII qualification, which include battalion-massed missions, in June.

Capt. Jonathan Holm, Battery A commander, said “Our section certification is a vital step in reasserting ourselves as the ‘King of Battle’ after conducting stability operations during and prior to the last deployment.”

“The guys love it; this is what they joined the Army to do,” he said.

The Thunder Pride Battalion ,“Redlegs”, have been in the field since April 6 focusing on their Table VIII (crew) and Table XII (platoon) artillery qualifications.

Both platoons of Battery A and Battery B have already finished their qualifications and are ready for more training.

Crew members from 3rd Batttalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, fire artillery rounds from their Paladin during live fire exercises for qualifications April 13.

The 1st Platoon, Battery A, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division executed individual, crew, and section live fire exercises to qualify for Field Artillery Table VIII April 13.

The platoon’s Fire Direction Center (FDC) and gun crews rehearsed all morning receiving and executing “dry-fire” missions from the

It has been more than six months since the brigade returned from deployment and our focus is now shifting from reset to getting back to training. Initially the concentration will be on individual and collective training as we build up our capacity to conduct full spectrum operations. Right now the Army is so focused on COIN that we are losing our capability to perform conventional warfare, what I consider to be a lost art. One of the highlights of our individual

training plan is having the sniper mobile training team come to Fort Carson and train our Soldiers. We have gotten many slots for this course already and there are more to come for deserving Soldiers who want to excel. A key component to ensuring we maximize our training is by preparing the ones who will execute the plan. Central to that is sending our young Soldiers and noncommissioned officers to NCOES to help prepare them to be the future leaders we need. continued on page 2

fired live rounds versus using simulators. Kolasheski ended the brief outlining the noncommisioned officer and officer educa-tion timelines to show the similarities in how we train our leaders at similar phases of their careers. After the briefing, the general was escorted around the vehicles in the motor pool that included an Abrams tank, Bradley Fighting Ve-hicle, and maintenance and recovery vehicles

from the 204th BSB. While talking to Staff Sgt. Samuel Farmer from Company B, 204th BSB, the general asked about the different companies that made up a brigade support battalion. The sergeant explained the supply and transportation functions of Company A, the maintenance capabili-ties of Company B and the medical support provided by Company C. The general further inquired about the main-tenance capability of the

recovery vehicles and was impressed at the array of on-site maintenance that the Soldiers were able to provide from a towing vehicle. The general’s visit to the 204th BSB motor pool concluded with thanks from both the general and the brigade commander. After Voboriov departed, Kolasheski took his time to issue commander’s coins to the assembled Soldiers who helped make the visit a complete success.

Fort Carson was honored to have General-Colonel Henadii Vorobiov, commander of Land Forces for the Armed Forces of the Ukraine, visit on April 12. The general’s presence was part of an invitation from Gen. George Casey to visit the United States and see how our military trains to fight under the aus-pices of the Chief of Staff ’s Army Counterpart Visit Program. While Division had the honor of hosting the general’s visit, the 204th Brigade Support Battal-ion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divi-sion, had the pleasure of showing off some of its best Soldiers and equip-ment at the 204th BSB motor pool before the general went to lunch in the 2nd BCT dining facility. Col. John S. Kolasheski, the commander for the 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., was on hand to brief the general and lead him around the static displays of equipment on hand. The visit started with a briefing by Kolashes-ki outlining the structure of a brigade combat team, the timeline for training and preparing for deployment, as well as how the brigade incorporates lessons learned into its training. Vorobiov was interested in the typical train-ing week for the brigade, and how often they

Warhorse Pridepage 2 April 22, 2010Issue 9

Story and photos by Capt. Timothy Bushnell204th Brigade Support Battalion

Col. John S. Kolasheski, Commander of 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gives a brief to General-Colonel Henadii Vorobiov, commander of Land Forces for the Armed Forces of the Ukraine, and his party during the general’s visit to Fort Carson April 12.

General Henadii Vorobiov visits 204th

General-Colonel Henadii Vorobiov

Our retention statistics are leading the Army and we have more than met our goals. This is a great place to work and a great team to be a part of. You are going to continue to see a shift in recognizing deserving leaders through our NCO and Soldier of the month/quarter and Sgt. Audie Murphy boards.

Since we have such a long dwell time one issue I will tackle is how we transition from the constant deployments to operating in a garrison environment. There are different concerns that affect our families and what we focus on in garrison, and quite frankly I think we can do better. The continuous deployment schedule the Army has been on has caused an atrophy of NCO skill sets. My goal is to rejuvenate those skills in two different ways.

For the junior leaders, there will be a 40-hour team leader course that will develop the skills I believe are critical in the garrison environment. While training is important, what goes on at a Soldiers home is equally important. By learning how to help Soldiers deal with stress, finances, anger issues that may lead to domestic violence, and substance abuse we can prevent some of the blotter entries that we are currently seeing.

I want senior NCOs to take a more comprehensive approach. Unlike other people who leave their jobs at night, we are Soldiers 24/7. That means this is more than just a job, this is a lifestyle. Part of that lifestyle includes taking care of your troops and their families. My expectation is that senior NCOs in this brigade will visit families, both on and off-post, and be more responsive to their needs. This is a family and I want the senior NCOs to instill that in their troops. That also means working closely with the FRG’s to identify ways we can better take care of our Soldiers.

Overall I am very proud of what we are doing and where this brigade is going. Keep up the great work.

Warhorse!

continued from page 1

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division execute combined arms live fire exercises April 13-16 on Ranges 143, 145 and 155.

“The purpose is to train Soldiers on the basic tasks of live fire operations,” said Lt. Col. Michael Simmering, the commander of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg.

These basic tasks are maneuvering, command and control, battle tracking and positive target identification.

The overall intent was getting tanks,

Bradleys, howitzers, mortars, Apache helicopters and other systems oriented in one place to encounter and destroy an enemy force, Simmering said.

Soldiers were given a scenario where the enemy force was trying to overtake a small town to use it for drug trafficking or smuggling, said 1st Lt. Colin O’Toole, the battalion engineer for 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg.

“Our job is to make sure that doesn’t happen,” he said.

In order to achieve their mission, tanks and Bradleys bounded forward to push the enemy back while troops on the ground defended the town. When targets were identified the tanks and Bradleys engaged with live artillery rounds. Meanwhile the infantry men were engaging pop up targets with live fire.

Overall the mission was a success. Companies identified their weak points and their strong points and now the Soldiers of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg. are more prepared to engage the enemy, said O’Toole.

“The main part is getting the team effort down,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael Bushman, the battalion tank master gunner for 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg.

It’s a 360 degree, 3-D battlefield. It’s not just

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of The Warhorse Pride arenot necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The War-horse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and

approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook.com/2bct4id Submissions should be emailed to theeditor: c.mcmillan2@us.army.mil

WarhorsePride

Warhorse Pridepage 3 April 22, 2010Issue 9

1-67 trains with live rounds and tanksStory and photos by Spc. April York2nd BCT 4th Inf. Div. PAO

Chaplain’s Corner: give honor and gloryHave you ever been asked, “Do you have

any regrets about your military career?” I have heard many different answers, but the one that caught my attention was the comment about spending more time with family. As we reflect upon the things that we have done: the good and the bad, the successes and failures and the other highpoints, what will you remember the most?

How about right now? Are you longing for a new TV, car or perhaps a game console? Are you chasing after a ribbon or promotion? Or are you investing in those

whom you love the most?Amidst the whirlwind and storm of the

Army life, I invite you to take a moment to reflect on the words of The Mighty Counselor, “You cannot undo the things you have done. So, you had better get busy and do the things that give honor and glory to God. Then, when you do look back on what you have done, you can rejoice knowing you have given honor and glory to the King.”

BlessingsCH (Capt.) Aaron Duhon2nd STB Chaplain

Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Barteau.....2nd BCT CSMLt. Col. Richard Stebbins................................2nd BCT PAO 2nd Lt. Christopher McMillan....................................Editor

Staff WritersSgt. Seth Barham and Spc. April York

on the ground; it’s the airspace above it as well, he said.

When this training is done, the Soldiers of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., will be moving on to more complex training.

“This is the beginning of a comprehensive training cycle, which the Army calls ‘Army Force Generation’, Simmering said.

He explained the next phase is maneuver training operations, where we go force on force against mobile, cognitive, living enemies, but there is no live fire.

“As a Soldier this is what we do. Train for the worst and hope for the best,” Bushman said.

Crew members from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regi-ment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, engage enemy targets with their M1A2 Abrams tanks during a combined arms live fire exercise.

Crew members from 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regi-ment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Divi-sion, bound forward in their Bradley Fighting Vehicle to push back an enemy force during a combined arms live fire exercise April 15.