They have been awarded the 2012 First Cavalry Div. Assoc. reunion in
Portland, Oregon - Hope to
see you there!
Army to Switch 2 Heavy Brigades to Strykers
By Gina Cavallaro and Kris Osborn - Army Times Staff writers
Posted : Saturday Oct 3, 2009 14:33:22 EDTT
Two heavy brigade combat teams will vanish by 2013 to make way for two
new Stryker brigades, bringing the Army’s number of active SBCTs to eight
and taking another bite out of its armor formations.
Planning documents obtained by Army Times say 1st Heavy Brigade Combat
Team, 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss, Texas, and 3rd Armored Cavalry
Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas, will be converted to SBCTs beginning in
fiscal 2011 and fiscal 2012, respectively, and will take 24 months to
become fully operational.
Another combat aviation brigade would be built, with aviation assets
reallocated from the 3rd ACR’s Longknife Squadron, mostly AH-64D Apache
Longbow attack helicopters, and tracked equipment and other assets of the
heavy units to undergo conversion will be redistributed to the Army’s
heavy BCTs as needed.
The move to convert two heavy brigades to Stryker units signals the
Army’s shift toward a lighter, more quickly deployable formation that is
infantry-focused and proven to be highly mobile in diverse environments.
And it further reduces the Army’s number of heavy brigades. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates had announced in April that the Army would hold the
total number of brigade combat teams at 45 rather than the planned 48, and
the Army nixed a plan to grow three heavy brigades.
The 1st HBCT, which is deploying to Iraq now, will begin its conversion
in the first quarter of fiscal 2011, during the reset period after its
fall 2010 redeployment.
The 3rd ACR redeployed from its third rotation to Iraq in January and
no announcement has been made about its next deployment.
But the Stryker plan calls for the 3rd ACR to begin its conversion in
the first quarter of fiscal 2012 during the reset period following
deployment.
That would mean the unit will be receiving orders to deploy for a year
beginning fall 2010.
The Army's HooahMail program
makes it possible for friends and family members to put a paper letter and
photograph into the hands of their loved ones in Afghanistan, in some
cases, on the same day it's sent.
The one-year pilot program is scheduled to begin Dec. 1 and makes use
of the Internet combined with physical mail delivery to create a hybrid
mail system that can get letters into the hands of Soldiers in remote
locations much faster than regular mail delivery alone.
"This gives Soldiers actual printed correspondence that is sent from
their family members that they can take out on a mission with them and
read and reread again," said Bill Hilsher, Army postal program manager.
Family members that want to send a letter and a photograph to a Soldier
in Afghanistan would log into the program's Web site at
www.hooahmail.us. There, they type
in their message and attach a digital photo. They also add delivery
information for their Soldier, as though they were addressing a paper
envelope.
Their electronic letter is sent via the Internet to one of 10 locations
in Afghanistan where special equipment will automatically print it, fold
it, stuff it into an envelope, address it, and seal it. The sealed
envelopes are then placed into the regular intra-theater APO mail delivery
system.
Hilsher said depending on where Soldiers are in Afghanistan, the paper
letter from home could be in their hands the same day as mother sent
it, or it could take as many as four days. A paper letter sent
directly from the states takes much longer, Hilsher said.
"Compared
to traditional mail ... it reduces it from an average of 14 days down
to same-day or next-day, ready for delivery," he said.
The HooahMail program is free for family members and friends, and
is available for Soldiers in Afghanistan only.
Hilsher said the Army postal service expects the program to benefit
the service during the holiday season, when it typically sees
increases in mail traffic.
"During the holiday season, that's your busiest time and this is
going to augment that system," he said. "It'll give friends and
families a way to send a message to their loved ones in a timely
manner for the holiday season."
Hilsher also said he thinks the improved delivery time will have a
positive effect on Soldier morale.
Service for the Army's HooahMail pilot program is provided by
"SuperLetter," which provides similar services to the British military
for its "e-Bluey" program and the U.S. Marine Corps for its "Motomail"
program.
THE CAVALRY RIDES AGAIN!
SEPTEMBER 24-26 2009 - Fort Robinson, Nebraska
The sound of pistol shots, the thunder of horses’ hooves, the flash of sabers,
and the precision movements of horse-cavalry troopers are just some of the
experiences you will encounter in historic Fort Robinson, Nebraska at the
eighth edition of the National Cavalry Competition. The United States Cavalry
Association sponsors this annual competition to test and improve the skills of
those who keep the spirit of the U.S. Horse Cavalry alive.
Download the NCC 2009 Flyer here!
Calvary Unit Looks Toward Home
Army News Service | Spc. Alexis Harrison | August 07, 2007
BAGHDAD
- Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment have found themselves in
some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital.
After more than a year patrolling and surviving the streets of Baghdad, the
squadron finds itself on the downhill slope toward home at Fort Lewis, Wash.
Although many Soldiers are counting down the remaining days, they are still
patrolling the streets of Karkh district.
Second Lt. Michael Patti has only been with the Soldiers for about six months.
When he heard he was being assigned to the 1st Sqdn., 14th Cav. Regt., 2nd Lt.
Patti said he expected a less-than-friendly welcome from Soldiers who moved
several times, fought through many battles, only to receive word of an
extension.
To his surprise, 2nd Lt. Patti said he fell into the platoon seamlessly.
"I thought I was going to walk into a unit that was beaten down, tired and angry
about getting extended," he said. "I haven't seen anything like what I expected.
Leaders do a great job keeping the Soldiers heads in the fight even this late in
the deployment. Fourteen months into this and they're still a force to be
reckoned with."
Second Lt. Patti credits leaders in general, but he extends a special thanks to
those in his platoon. He said leaders like Sgt. Brandon Bashore make all the
difference when they patrol.
The sergeant said he understands going home is something they all think of, but
he knows complacency has no place in the unit.
"There's a big difference between being comfortable and being complacent," Sgt.
Bashore said. "We're comfortable in what we do because we've been doing it for
so long, but being complacent would mean that we wouldn't care. You have to take
things seriously out here. No matter what happens, we all have to make it back
together."
Sgt. Bashore said he's been able to focus on his troops more due to improvements
made by the Iraqi army company they patrol with.
"I'm able to keep better control of my Soldiers because the IA has really
stepped up lately," he said. "They've become quite an asset to us and the
community."
Second Lt. Patti also noticed a big change in the Iraqi soldiers. He said what
was once an unmotivated unit has turned into something the people can be proud
of.
"There were a lot of problems with the IA when I first arrived in April," he
said. "We would show up to the outpost the IA would be manning and have to wait
for them for an hour before they'd be ready to go out on a patrol. Sometimes
there'd be only six of them in one truck that would come out with us."
Now, when the "Death Stalkers" arrive to the outpost, dozens of Iraqi troops
stand up; ready to go, in full uniform.
Second Lt. Patti said the relationship between the two forces has grown into a
friendship, but it doesn't end there. Traffic control points are improved,
search techniques have been passed on and etiquette are just a few more things
the lieutenant and sergeant have noticed improvements in.
"When you treat people with respect like the IA has been doing lately, word gets
around and people start to work with us a little more," Sgt. Bashore said.
The platoon recently wrapped up an ongoing operation aimed at cataloging all the
military-age males in the area. Spc. Jacob Campbell said having good relations
makes the job much faster and easier.
Spc. Campbell, who was trained on the identification system, noticed people
welcome the troops into their homes now; whereas in times past, the people
wouldn't want to be seen talking to American or Iraqi troops.
Joint patrols, clearing operations and building good relations proved to be a
"triple-edged" sword, 2nd Lt. Patti said. While he and his troops hope to leave
a lasting impression on the Iraqi soldiers, 2nd Lt. Patti said the level of
professionalism and discipline will remain where it is until the day they step
on the plane headed to Fort Lewis.
(Spc. Alexis Harrison serves with 2nd BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public Affairs.)
Cavalry scout will show the way
Kyle Phipps doesn't flinch when he is asked if it bothers him that joining
the Army as a cavalry scout will likely mean a deployment to Iraq. "I don't have
a problem with that,'' Phipps said, sitting in the living room of his Maineville
home with his parents, Tim and Debbie Phipps. Tim Phipps piped up immediately,
"it worries us to death," the brand new soldier's father said.
But Kyle's parents have known for years that their son, the oldest of three
boys, was bound for a career in the military. "We could see it coming for
a long time,'' Debbie Phipps said. "He's been into this very deeply since he was
a small child." So, a year ago, when Kyle, then 17, asked them to sign his
enlistment papers, they did. He completed basic training during last year's
summer break.
Soon, he will be a cavalry scout, a specialized soldier who will do
reconnaissance, preparing the way for larger bodies of troops when they go into
potentially dangerous areas. "It is," Kyle said, "right where I want to be.
Right out front."
Source: Cincinnati.com Enquirer
This photo provided by the USO shows actor Gary Sinise, right,
listening as U.S. Army
CW4 Leif Neely of Woodbridge, Va., talks about how he was wounded while flying
his Kiowa Warrior helicopter on a mission over Mosul
during Sinise's visit to the hospital at Forward Operating Base Mazur, Iraq.
Sunday, May 20, 2007.
BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two U.S. soldiers were killed when their helicopter was shot
down and crashed in central Iraq, the military said Friday, as the government
announced a massive crackdown against insurgents in Baghdad.
U.S. officials were investigating Thursday's crash involving a two-seater OH-58
Kiowa Warrior helicopter that crashed near Buhriz, a former Saddam stronghold
about 35 miles north of Baghdad.
The armed U.S. reconnaissance helicopter was flying in support of combat
operations in Buhriz. The slain soldiers were with Task Force Liberty, under the
command of the Tikrit-based 42nd Infantry Division.
The military said small-arms fire downed the helicopter, while another returned
to base safely despite being hit.
An announcement said that two Task Force Liberty helicopters received small arms
fire while conducting operations in support of coalition forces near Baqouba 35
miles northeast of Baghdad.
"Coalition forces responded to the scene and secured the site," the announcement
added.
The OH-58 Kiowa chopper was flying alongside a second helicopter
when they received small arms fire from the ground. The second chopper managed
to get to a coalition base safely, the military said.
The Kiowa, with a crew of two, is an armed reconnaissance helicopter that
entered service with the U.S. Army in 1986. Task Force Liberty, under the
command of the 42nd Infantry Division, is headquartered in Saddam Hussein's
hometown of Tikrit.
The shootdown came on the day Iraqi ministers announced a new
security plan for Baghdad to fight the insurgency.
2 Army Cav pilots, CW2 Joshua Scott, and CW3 Matthew Lourey were killed 27 May
2005, crashing their OH-58D helicopter as a result of small arms fire. (CW3
Lourey's guestbook can be found at
www.startribune.com)
Elements of 1st Squadron, 4th Cav will be inactivating upon
return from the Iraqi theater of operations to the central region. The
Department of the Army has directed an initiative to modularize its aviation
assets. As part of this plan, Delta, Echo, and Foxtrot troops of 1-4 Cav will be
inactivated on 15 June 2005.
As part of the plan, aviation units containing OH-58D Kiowa
Warriors will be returned to CONUS to enhance aviation unit modularization
worldwide. The first focus area is personnel moves. Next is the movement of
equipment. The 1-4 Cav soldiers will start turning in their helicopters once
they leave Iraq. The third focus area, according to Squadron Deputy Commander
Major Michael McCurry, is to capture the heritage and history of the unit.
"Some of these guidons have been with the Squadron since
Vietnam, and it's important to memories of all the heroes who have served here
are preserved," McCurry said. "There's great camaraderie between the air and
ground cavalry troops in this unit. Anyone who has ever been with a Division
Cavalry unit feels like this is the end of an era. On the other hand, everybody
realizes the need to go through this change to make the Army a more effective
fighting force in the years to come."
PRESS RELEASE: 10 Mar 05 - For immediate publication in
newsletters and online postings
RE: Letter Writing Campaign for Retroactive Air Assault Badge
The Air Assault Parity Coalition has begun a Letter Writing Campaign requesting
the new Secretary of the Army make the current Air Assault Badge retroactive to
the Vietnam war for former airmobile and air cavalry combat veterans. The Army
previously considered and rejected the retroactive award of the current Air
Assault Badge to former members of the air assault units.
The Air Assault Parity Coalition is also seeking a congressional sponsor for a
Retroactive Air Assault Badge bill. For more information and sample letters,
visit the Air Assault Parity Coalition website at:
http://airassault.bizhosting.com. Please help obtain this long
overdue recognition for the pioneers of the current Air Assault technology (We
Put The Air in Air Assault¯).
Submitted by Guy C. Lamunyon Coordinator Air Assault Parity Coalition (Glamunyon@aol.com)
21 FEB 05
U.S. Kiowa Armed Reconnaissance Copters Redeployed Back Home
SEOUL, Feb. 21 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. military redeployed
16 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior armed reconnaissance helicopters back home from their
bases in South Korea last year, a military source said Monday.
The redeployment of the copters is part of Washington's plan to realign its
military forces in South Korea, said the source in the U.S. military command in
Seoul, requesting anonymity.
3RD Armored Cavalry Regiment has 10 wars and 150 years under its belt
BY JOSEPH L. GALLOWAY Knight Ridder Newspapers
FORT CARSON, Colo.
- (KRT) - The 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment has a 150-year history of
fighting in 10 of America's wars and major combat operations, from the
U.S.-Mexico War of 1847 to the Philippines Insurrection to World Wars I and II,
the Persian Gulf War, Bosnia and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Its troopers have earned 23 Medals of Honor and a Presidential Unit Citation.
Its battle flag proudly displays 39 campaign ribbons.
The 3rd ACR is one of the Army's most capable maneuver units, using a lethal
combination of Apache helicopter gunships, Kiowa Warrior scout helicopters and
Blackhawk helicopters with M1A2 Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles. It
will have nearly 6,000 soldiers in its ranks - some 600 more than the number
training now at Fort Carson - when it returns to Iraq.
The regiment was built to provide scout and reconnaissance functions to Army
divisions; it finds what's on the battlefield and destroys it if necessary. Its
officers and men led Gen. George Patton's Third Army on its drive into Germany
in World War II.
The 3rd ACR is expected to be attached to the 3rd Infantry Division
(Mechanized) for Iraq duty. Exactly where it will be in Iraq is classified
information.
The 71st colonel to command the regiment, Col. H.R. McMaster of Philadelphia,
earned a doctorate from North Carolina State University. As commander of Eagle
Troop, 2nd Armored Cavalry, McMaster fought the seminal tank engagement of the
Gulf War, the Battle of 73 Easting. In a 21-minute fight, Eagle Troop destroyed
an Iraqi Republican Guard regiment of T-72 tanks with no friendly casualties.
McMaster is also author of "Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon B. Johnson, Robert S.
McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Lies That Led Us Into Vietnam."
On 14 June 2004 -- the 229th birthday of the United States Army -- the Army
today officially unveiled its new combat uniform designed with major input by
the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Corps and enlisted Soldiers, and tested by
Stryker Brigade Soldiers in Iraq since October 2003. Army senior leadership
introduced the Army Combat Uniform (ACU) during a 10 a.m. Army Birthday Pentagon
courtyard cake-cutting ceremony. Soldiers displayed and also suited-up in the
wrinkle-free uniform with a digitized camouflage pattern.
Three different versions of the ACU have been developed, and more than 10,000
uniforms have been produced and battle-tested in the sands of Iraq and at Army
training centers. Even more are on American production lines to be issued by
April 2005 to Soldiers in deploying units. Current fielding plans call for
fielding to the total Army by December 2007, said officials from the Program
Executive Office Soldier, known as PEO Soldier.
This isn’t a cosmetic redesign of the uniform. It is a functionality change
of the uniform that will improve the ability of Soldiers to execute their combat
mission. Every change was made for a reason. The bottom pockets on the jacket
were removed and placed on the shoulder sleeves so Soldiers can have access to
them while wearing body armor. The pockets were also tilted forward so that they
are easily accessible. Buttons were replaced with zippers that open from the top
and bottom to provide comfort while wearing armor.
There were 18 changes made to the uniform, to include removing the color
black and adapting the digital print from the Marine Corps uniform to meet the
needs of the Army.
The Army's Natick Laboratory in Natick, Mass., took the original digital
pattern to the next level by developing a pattern for world-wide theaters to
encompass both the BDU and DCU requirements. Black is no longer useful on the
uniform because it is not a color found in woodland areas. The current colors on
the ACU are green and sandy brown. The pattern is not a 100-percent solution in
every environment, Myhre said, but a good solution across the board.
There has not made a major change to our uniforms since the BDUs were
introduced in the early 1980s. This new uniform performs well in multiple
environments. Its new pockets and color designs are a result of Soldiers in
combat. It's only fitting that the next generation of Army uniforms be designed
to meet actual wartime requirements. Patches and tabs are affixed to the uniform
with Velcro to give the wearer more flexibility and to save the Soldier money.
Soldiers can take the name-tapes and patches off their uniforms before
laundering, which will add to the lifecycle of the patches. Also the cost to get
patches sewn on will be eliminated, he added.
The ACU will consist of a jacket, trousers, moisture wicking t-shirt and the
brown combat boots. It will replace both versions of the BDU and the desert
camoflauge uniform. The black beret will be the normal headgear for the ACU, but
there is a matching patrol cap to be worn at the commander’s discretion.
In addition to the overall pattern and color changes, the ACU changes
include:
1. Mandarin collar that can be worn up or down
2. Rank insignia affixed above right chest pocket
3. Velcro for wearing unit patch, skill tabs and recognition devices
4. Zippered front closure
5. Elbow pouch for internal elbow pad inserts
6. Knee pouch for internal knee pad inserts
7. Elastic leg cuff
8. Tilted chest pockets with Velcro closure
9. Three-slot pen pocket on bottom of sleeve
10. Velcro sleeve cuff closure
11. Shoulder pockets with Velcro
12. Forward tilted cargo pockets
13. Integrated blouse bellows for increased upper body mobility
14. Integrated Friend or Foe Identification Square on both left and right
shoulder pocket flap
15. Bellowed calf storage pocket on left and right leg
16. Moisture-wicking desert tan t-shirt
17. Patrol Cap with double thick bill and internal pocket
18. Improved hot-weather desert boot or temperate-weather desert boot
At $88 per uniform, about $30 more than the BDU, Soldiers will eventually
reap gains in money and time by not having to take uniforms to the cleaners or
shine boots.
The life of the ACU began in January 2003. The team looked at a number of
uniforms and took the best part of each uniform and combined it into one. They
built their first prototype and delivered 25 uniforms to Stryker squads at the
National Training Center. After listening to their comments, the team went back
to the lab and created prototype two. Twenty-one uniforms were then delivered to
Stryker Soldiers at the Joint Training and Readiness Center, Fort Polk, La. Two
issues of the third version were given to the Stryker Soldiers deploying to
Iraq. Three months ago, Myhre was among a team who visited Iraq to get more
feedback from Soldiers.
Apr 2006- available in military clothing.
May 2007- mandatory possession date for 2 sets of ACU and 1 pair boot.
May 2008- mandatory possession date for 4 sets ACU and 2 pair boots.
The uniforms also cost $88 a pair. A 50% increase from the old ones.
On Friday, 22 Oct. 04, A Trp. 1/17 CAV 82nd ABN was changed over to C
Trp. 73rd Armor. It is composed of roughly 70 19D Cav scouts, and
two mortar teams.
Even though we, for the majority, are all Cavalry Scouts........they decided
to keep the 3/73 Armor crest because of the history behind it. I'm sure
whoever receives this knows about 3/73 Armor, and its contributions to history
it has made. 1/17 Cav is going overseas, and when they get back they
will go to the 101st. Division wanted to keep Cav, so they kept this one
troop.
Contributed by PFC Justin Patterson - 19D, Fort Bragg
Military support groups on Wednesday hailed plans
introduced by Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton to expand military benefits.
WASHINGTON — Military support groups on Wednesday hailed plans to expand
military education benefits, VA home loans and small business grants for
veterans under new legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill.
The measure was introduced in the Senate by presidential candidate Sen.
Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and in the House by Iraq war veteran Rep.
Patrick Murphy, D-Pa. The lawmakers and their supporters said the Montgomery
GI bill, passed in 1994, has been an invaluable tool but one that sorely needs
updating.
"The aim isn't just to get them to simply re-integrate into civilian
society, but to give them the means to achieve positions of corporate, federal
and private sector leadership," said Dennis Cullinan, legislative director for
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Take Action: Tell your public officials how you feel about this issue.
"We're not only doing the right thing for them, we're doing the right thing
for the nation by allowing our best and brightest to step forward."
The new legislation would eliminate the current requirement that
servicemembers pay into the GI Bill program to receive educational benefits.
Instead, any active-duty member who has served two consecutive years since
2001 would be eligible to receive eight semesters of tuition, based on the
national average for college costs.
Books, room and board, and other associated fees also would be covered.
Reservists and Guardsmen who have served at least two years total on active
duty since 2001 could see the same benefits.
Those proposals mirror several pieces of legislation already under
consideration in the House and Senate. However, the new bill also would expand
the Veterans Microloan Program, designed to help former servicemembers start
small businesses, by raising the maximum loan from $25,000 to $100,000 and
capping interest rates at 2.5 percent.
And on housing, the bill would eliminate a number of fees currently
associated with the VA home loan program and raise the maximum loan from
$417,000 to $625,000.
Clinton estimated the proposals will cost between $4 billion and $5
billion, but she called it an investment in those who have done an important
service for the country.
"Patriotic men and women have answered the call of duty throughout our
history; those who put down the plow, or the books, or the laptop, who left
their families to wear the uniform," Clinton said. "For too long, their
sacrifice has not been matched by a national commitment on the part of our
government."
Murphy said when he tried to buy his first home in suburban Philadelphia,
the VA loan was too restrictive and had too many fees, forcing him into a
traditional loan without any military perks.
"This bill guarantees that we have done the right thing by our servicemen
and women," he said. "This will help the 21st-century veterans live the
American dream, just like the Greatest Generation before them."
No hearing schedule has been set on the legislation so far.
As reported in the Associated Press and other news services, the
First and Second Squadrons of the Blackhorse Regiment will deploy to Iraq in the
near future. Additionally, the First battalion of the 509th Infantry will deploy
from Fort Polk; the aggressor duties at both installations will be assumed by
National Guard units. To the force mix in Iraq, this adds a mech infantry
battalion, a light infantry battalion and an armor battalion that otherwise had
not been part of the force structure planning.
Click the link above, then click the link at the bottom of the page that says My
Video Album for an outstanding Iraqi Freedom Video! I found this on
http://www.cavalryscouts.com/
Published Friday, June 25, 2004 Auction Raises $5,800 For Armored Cavalry
By L.W. KONG New York Times Regional Newspapers
NOKOMIS -- Local auctioneer Jeff Carlson banged his gavel with purpose as buyers
thrust their hands into the air.
Fred Malloy paid $210 for two Silver Eagle dollar coins.
Don Elder paid $60 for four rounds of golf at Capri Isles.
Fred Hoyt paid $105 for a box of geodes.
The 60 people at the Sarasota Auction House on Wednesday knew that every dollar
raised would support Carlson's stepson and the other 59 soldiers in his company
in Baghdad.
"I'm trying to raise money to send money to the Crazyhorse armored cavalry unit
in Baghdad," Carlson said. "One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the
soldiers' families."
Carlson has been collecting donations of goods and services from local
businesses and individuals for the past week. The items up for auction Wednesday
included furniture, books, glassware and gift certificates.
The auction raised $5,800, which Carlson and his wife will use to buy their
adopted company what the troops desire most: ordinary household items such as
toilet paper.
The Army gives troops "military-industrial-strength toilet tissue," Carlson
said. "It's the little things that we take for granted that they need the most."
So far, Carlson has sent 39 boxes filled with insect repellent, batteries,
toothpaste and other supplies to Iraq.
His stepson, Shea Ghering, is a specialist in the Army's C Company, 1st Brigade,
12th Armored Cavalry regiment. The company is stationed in northeast Baghdad,
far from Army supply depots to the south.
"In order to get things we need, we have to get a four-vehicle convoy to the
other side of Baghdad," said Ghering, 32, who is at home in Venice on a twoweek
leave. "We don't have the manpower, vehicles, or money for it."
Ghering says boxes filled with food, personal hygiene items and books are much-
needed morale boosters.
"It's like getting home shipped to you," Ghering said. "When we get toilet paper
and shampoo, that's a godsend because we can't get that in Iraq."
Hoyt, who bought the geodes Wednesday night, served in the Navy from 1959 to
1961. He recalls that receiving care packages made a big difference.
"It brightens your whole day," he said. "Anything extra that you get you can
trade for other things."
Carlson said that Wednesday night's auction would be the first in a series of
fund-raisers. He said he was already collecting items for the next auction in
November.
"We have to raise more money," he said, "so the Crazyhorse company can have
gifts for Christmas."
As his stepfather auctioned off item after item on Wednesday night, Ghering's
smile became wider and wider.
Some of the Events include Mounted Saber, Mounted Pistol,
Military Equitation, and Military Field Jumping. There are 3 levels in each
event. Level I is for beginners, Level II is for the novice rider and Level III
is for advance riders. Ribbons for the first three places and a silver trophy
for first place will be given for each event and level.
The winners in Level III are invited to join the Event Directors and Staff, in
competing for the Director's Cup.
There will also be competitions for Platoon Drill, Bugle Competition and
Authenticity.
The Authenticity categories will include both field and garrison for the Mexican
War 1846-48; Civil War Union and Civil War Confederate; Plains Indian Campaigns
1870-1879; Southwestern Campaigns 1880-1889; Spanish American War 1889; Punitive
Expedition 1916; Sam Browne Belt Army 1912-1943.
The Overall Winner who accumulates the most points will receive a silver cup and
have his name added to the Bronze Trophy which is displayed in the U.S. Cavalry
Memorial Research Library.
Carlton Brewington is the Overall Winner for the 2003 National Cavalry
Competition. Trooper Brewington is with the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard.
Iraqis Risk Lives Alongside U.S. Forces
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Even in a country ravaged by 15
months of war, the scene was horrific: a woman's head had been placed on a box
containing the ashes of her cremated body. This was her punishment for working
as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Iraq. Even in a country ravaged by 15
months of war, the scene was horrific: a woman's head had been placed on a box
containing the ashes of her cremated body. This was her punishment for working
as an interpreter for U.S. forces in Iraq.
more
A Troop veterans measure up wars, compare missions
Old members congratulate new ones
at post reunion
By REGAN LOYOLA CONNOLLY
The Leaf-Chronicle (Clarksville, TN)
__________________________________________________
Greg Williamson/The Leaf-Chronicle
Chief Warrent Officer James Small explains to
Bob Masterson the workings of the AH-64 Apache helicopter at
Fort Campbell Friday. Masterson flew a Cobra during Vietnam in
1969-70. The Florida resident joined many of his retired Cavalry
No. 217 Squadron comrades on post for a reunion.
A 30-year age difference separates members of the two groups,
however, they all fought in war and accomplished their missions.
Retired Lt. Gen. Teddy Allen , former commander of A Troop, 2nd
Squadron, 17th Cavalry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, brought
nearly 150 of his former soldiers back to Fort Campbell Friday to meet
and congratulate current soldiers of A Troop who fought in Iraq.
The retired soldiers, most of whom fought in the Vietnam War, are
part of the A Troop Association, which sent the soldiers gift packages
and messages while they were deployed last year.
"Rest assured the trails you, blazed will set you well in life, and
your legacy will live on," Allen told the current soldiers. "We are
proud of everything all the A Troop cadre did in Iraq."
The A Troop Association returns to Fort Campbell every few years for
a reunion that includes sightseeing, telling old war stories and
socializing with current members of the troop.
Capt. Marcus Ritter said the reunion provided a perfect opportunity
for the current soldiers to realize the significance of tradition.
"This allows us to see what our predecessors did before and that
helps us build that sense of tradition," he said. "We want to make our
own traditions, but we also want to carry on these guys' traditions."
Robert Hull served in A Troop in Vietnam from 1967 to 1969. He said
he felt an obligation to welcome home those who had fought in Iraq.
"They did a great job, and I wanted to welcome these fellows home,"
he said. "It also gives me a chance to see the guys I fought beside.
Some of them I haven't seen in 33 years."
The reunion included several days of sightseeing in Nashville this
week and concluded with a slide show and picnic on post Friday. Family
members of both current and former soldiers also participated in the
festivities.
Dave Ender, who served in A Troop from 1971 to 1972, brought his two
daughters and a whole pack of grandchildren from California and Illinois
for the reunion.
"We just had to do it," he said. "This association is great, and we
had to come and see these guys. I had to tell these soldiers how much I
appreciate what they did in Iraq."
With Lt. Gen. Dennis Cavin,
commander of the U.S. Army Accessions Command, standing by, Sgt. 1st
Class Mark Mounce of the Accessions Command prepares to place an
American flag patch on the dash of the Army-sponsored 01 Chevrolet
driven by Joe Nemechek in the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 race. Spc. Lorie Jewell
CONCORD, N.C. (Army News
Service, June 1, 2004) – Flying around a racetrack at speeds pushing 200 miles
per hour, NASCAR driver Joe Nemechek paid special tribute to fallen Soldiers and
those still serving.
On the dash of Nemechek’s Army-sponsored 01 Chevrolet was an American flag
patch, placed there by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Mounce of the U.S. Army’s Accessions
Command minutes before the start of NASCAR’s Coca-Cola 600 race at the Lowe’s
Motor Speedway May 30. Nemechek finished the race in 14th place, while Jimmy
Johnson took first.
Nemechek said it was “cool” to drive with the patch, especially for the Memorial
Day race. Riding shotgun was a G.I. Joe doll dressed in a desert camouflage
uniform, strapped into the passenger seat.
“Anytime we can do something to honor Soldiers, I definitely want to be a part
of it,” Nemechek said.
In a pre-race ceremony on the main stage of the track, Special Forces Soldier
Capt. Doug Legan handed the patch he wore on his desert camouflage uniform while
serving in Iraq to Mounce, who quick-marched across the infield to the 01
racecar. After saluting Accessions Commander Lt. Gen. Dennis Cavin, who stood at
attention at the rear of the car, Mounce reached in through the passenger window
and fastened the Velcro-backed patch to the dash.
“It’s just fitting that Joe carry this around the track for Memorial Day,’’
Cavin said.
The hood of the black-and-gold Army racecar now features the Time Magazine cover
naming the American Soldier as its Person of the Year. Just before the race
started, Cavin playfully polished the hood with a napkin for Nemechek’s mother,
Martha, who captured the moment with her camera.
NASCAR and Coca-Cola celebrated the race’s tie to Memorial Day by featuring the
military, and the Army especially, in activities leading up to the moment the
drivers peeled out of the pit area to start the 600-mile race. The 82nd Airborne
Chorus sang, the Golden Knights Skydive Team jumped into the infield, and
Soldiers with the 3rd Special Forces Group from Fort Bragg, N.C., fast roped to
the track from Blackhawk helicopters and set up a perimeter for the arrival of a
Blackhawk that delivered country singer John Michael Montgomery to the infield.
Montgomery, dressed in a desert camouflage uniform, performed his hit song
“Letters From Home” with Soldiers flanked behind him.
A crew from the 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Brigade, 25th
Infantry Division’s Stryker Brigade Combat Team, made a lap around the track in
the infantry carrier. A 4th Infantry Division Color Guard presented the colors
just before Chief Warrant Officer 4 Charlie King of the 160th Special Operations
Aviation Regiment sang “Amazing Grace.” A 3rd Battalion, 505th Parachute
Infantry Regiment Rifle Team gave a seven-gun volley as Staff Sgt. Shelby Barber
of the 82nd Airborne Division Band played Taps. Five Blackhawks flew over the
track in a missing man formation, followed by a B2 Stealth bomber, as finalists
from the television talent show “American Idol” sang the National Anthem and
Special Forces Soldiers raised the American flag in Victory Lane.
Maj. Gen. Charles Swannack Jr., former commander of the 82nd Airborne Division,
greeted the crowd of 100,000-plus as grand marshal of the race, drawing
thunderous applause as he thanked them for their patriotism and paid tribute to
those “who have made the ultimate sacrifice for you and I” to enjoy the freedoms
of a democratic society.
Swannack deferred the honor of starting the race to a group of Soldiers from
the 1st Armored Cavalry Division currently serving in Iraq. A video of the
Soldiers issuing the traditional command, “Gentlemen, start your engines,” was
broadcast on giant screens around the track.
Soldiers involved in race activities were impressed and grateful with the
lengths organizers went to in recognizing Memorial Day and the military.
“It’s pretty surreal,” said Staff Sgt. David Hughes, a member of the Stryker
crew. “We’ve gotten a lot of thank-yous from everyone. It’s nice to know people
believe in what we’re doing.”
Staff Sgt. Matthew Brandt, of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment Rifle Team,
first experienced the patriotic embrace of a NASCAR crowd last year after
returning from Afghanistan. The patriotism hasn’t diminished one bit, Brandt
said.
“For Soldiers who love NASCAR, this is an awesome experience,” said Brandt,
pausing as he toured the garage area before the race. “You just can’t beat it.
Everyone keeps saying they appreciate what we do, but we want them to know that
we appreciate everything they do for us.”
Members of the 2nd
Squadron, 17th US Cavalry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)
recently celebrated their Hail and Farewell at Fort Campbell, KY. The Hail
and Farewell is a military tradition designed to formally welcome new soldiers
into the unit and say goodbye to those who are leaving the unit or retiring.
The evening's events were started off
by the Squadron Commander, LTC Steven Schiller, celebrating the birth of several
Cav Babies born over the past year. New soldiers from all four troops
were introduced and welcomed into the unit. The new wives received a
garter and a yellow rose, another cavalry tradition.
The Squadron Commander then honored
the loss of
Chief Warrant Officer Michael T. Blaise, who died on January 23, 2004 when
his OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter crashed on its way back from a combat
mission near Mosul in northern Iraq. To leave a message or a contribution
to the family, please visit the
Fallen Heroes Memorial website.
Also honored was a former First
Sergeant for the 2-17 Cav, Kevin Webster, now retired, who served with the unit
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Mr. Webster is an artist who designed and
created a print honoring the outstanding efforts of the 2-17 cavalry while
deployed to Iraq. His prints are available online at
www.kevinlwebster.com
First Lieutenant
Ian Anderson, B Troop platoon leader, was awarded the Broken Spur Award, a light
spirited award transferred from one soldier to another during the ceremony.
The Broken Spur is awarded for an embarrassing act or moment that the poor
recipient would rather forget. During a flight, 1LT Anderson accidentally
contacted the tower and reported himself as a Huey helicopter (he was flying an
OH-58D). He won the award over his peers, one who appeared in a
fashion show, and one who left an engine door open on a helicopter, causing it
to fall off during flight. Congratulations 1LT!
As the ceremony
drew to a close, several soldiers moved outside to indoctrinate the new Cav
troopers by "Breaking in the Stetsons" This is
a very solemn event, and we will not go into details at this time, but a great
time was had by all. Congrats to the newbies!
Spc. Timothy Briggs and Sgt. Charles Kennedy
talk about the IED that wounded Briggs and damaged the up-armored Humvee
behind them.
April 2 will probably be a day Spc.
Timothy Briggs never forgets.
During a late-morning patrol that day, Briggs and his squad mates from Company
A, 1st Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, were heading east of their base camp
when their up-armored Humvee was hit by an improvised explosive devise.
Riding in the gun turret, Briggs heard a big explosion, was surrounded by dust
and his ears were ringing.
“I couldn’t see anything after that, so I dropped back down into the vehicle,”
Briggs said. Even then he didn’t know he was hit, and the crew didn’t know how
badly the vehicle was damaged.
After towing the vehicle to a more secure location, Briggs was evacuated to a
combat support hospital, treated for shrapnel in his arm and returned to duty
the next day. He said the shrapnel is still in his arm and his ears still ring.
But the vehicle took the worst of it. The bomb caused extensive damage to the
Humvee. The radiator was shredded, the two front tires were blown up, the
side-view mirrors and windshield were shattered and the hood was pockmarked with
shrapnel.
Amazingly, despite the damage, the mechanics of 1st of the 8th Cavalry and
Company C, 515th Forward Support Battalion, repaired the stricken vehicle in six
hours and had it back on the road the next day.
Cavalry pilot recounts
days as POW By Tam Cummings
Chief Warrant Officer 2
Dave Williams, a former prisoner of war during Operation Iraqi Freedom,
will soon be the officer in charge at the new SERE (Survive, Evade,
Resist, Escape) school in Fort Rucker, Ala.
FORT HOOD, Texas (Army
News Service, April 12, 2004) -- It has been a year since Chief Warrant Officer
2 Dave Williams’ Longbow Apache was shot down, and pictures of the
bullet-riddled helicopter were broadcast on television internationally.
For his wife, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Michelle Williams, from 1st Cavalry
Division, it was a nightmare coming true on 24-hour news.
“My mom called me the night before as I was going to bed. An imbedded reporter
said a fierce battle against the Republican Guards’ Medina Division had been
fought. The reporter said not all the helicopters were back,” said Michelle, a
28-year-old Black Hawk pilot.
“The next morning, I watched the news showing the helicopter and saw all the
Iraqis with their AK-47s dancing around it. Then I saw the helicopter with the
1st Cav. patch and the bat on the tail. The only Apaches are in 1st Cav. and the
vampire logo told me it was Dave’s company,” she said describing the image from
the television.
Without any more information, she knew her husband was one of the captured
pilots. Chief Warrant Officer 2 Ronald Young Jr. was the other pilot.
“Trust your instincts,” Dave said explaining how Michelle knew he had been
captured and was being held prisoner by the Iraqis.
But it wasn’t official, so Michelle went to work. “I asked the colonel, but he
didn’t have the authority to tell me at that time,” she said. “So I went to my
office and then I saw the chaplain walk in and one minute later they both came
into my office. I don’t remember what was said, I just heard it was Dave.” She
said she began to cry.
Michelle said in spite of her fears, she remained optimistic.
“I’ve had quite a lot of enlisted time in Special Ops training,” Dave explained.
“We had been at war for four days,” Michelle continued. “I’m in the Army and I
knew the possibility of what could happen and it was bad. My mom got here and
then CNN was on and my son (Jason, 2) saw the TV and his dad’s face plastered on
it. ‘Mommy, it’s DaDa,’ he cried. I broke down.”
Dave’s story
“We were conducting deep attacks against the Medina Division,” Dave, 30, said.
“Our first fight was against the Republican Guard. They used cell phones to
contact each other and pinpoint our location. Up at the target area they turned
lights on and off and then…,” Dave pauses and shuts his eyes for a moment.
“I sit in the back and my gunner sits in front of me. I had lost the number one
engine, the hydraulics, something was on fire. I was only about 30 to 50 feet
off the ground. The snakes (trails left by tracer bullets) were all around,”
Dave explains and holds his hands up with his fingers intertwined to describe
the wall of anti-aircraft artillery fire in front of them.
Bullets came into the cabin and one cut across his boot and foot.
“We made it down into a rice paddy. I was yelling ‘Get out! Get out! Get out!’
to Ron. Then Ron and I were on the ground running and the Iraqis were taking
shots at us.
They could hear us with our vests jingling and they were taking pot shots at us,
hoping they could hit us. One bullet had sliced the top of my boot wide open,
the boot was coming apart and it slowed me down.”
Dave said his training saved him. “It’s second nature. I’m running and thinking
of what I’ve got to do,” the Florida native said.
Once captured, Dave and Young were taken to the Al Rashid prison in Baghdad with
five Soldiers from the 507th Ordnance Maintenance Company. Capture by the Iraqis
included torture and psychological abuse.
“Most of the strikes I got were across my back and the back of my head,” Dave
explained. “They hit me with rifle butts and their fists. When we got captured,
well, Ron, he’s 6 feet 4 inches, he got hit more. I guess it was a macho thing
for the Iraqis.”
Michelle’s Homefront
“The first couple of days I didn’t go to work,” she said. When Michelle did go,
the office did not offer the reprieve she had hoped for. “People were asking how
I was doing and bless them, they wanted to help, but I needed to work. The media
was camped out on my lawn and I couldn’t say anything during his captivity.”
In spite of Michelle’s caution and the Army’s no talk stance, information about
the Williams’ family got out anyway. A distant cousin, who Michelle had not seen
in years, showed up on national television and told the world Michelle is also
an Army pilot and that they have two small children.
“I didn’t sleep the whole time. I had the biggest bags under my eyes,” she
remembered. “I was never alone unless I was going to sleep. I went to work,
picked up the kids, came home, and because I was enrolled in school, I did an
hour of homework each night. I would fall asleep to CNN and pause it when his
big ol’ mug would come on TV.”
The children knew something was wrong in spite of their ages. Madison was
4-months-old and Jason was 2. “They knew there was tension in the house,”
Michelle explained. “Jason knows both Mommy and Daddy are pilots. I told him
Daddy was flying a helicopter far, far away.”
Dave’s Prison Life
“We were in a 7-by-7 cell. It was disgusting, no bathroom, no electricity, no
window, we sat in the darkness and prayed,” Dave said. “Of all the POWs, I was
the SRO (senior ranking officer). By the code of conduct, I was responsible for
everyone and I had to establish a chain of command.
“I reminded them every day to remember Americans are looking for us. It’s hard
to understand, but you’ve got to keep your spirits up,” Dave said. “These guys
were terrified. One was a supply clerk, one was a cook, none were combat arms.”
As the coalition forces moved closer, the bombing of Baghdad increased in fury.
The Iraqis reacted in a frightening manner.
“They would stand on top of the prison, above our rooms and fire anti-aircraft
artillery at the coalition. The coalition was bombing the crap out of Baghdad,”
Dave said. “Bombs would hit so close, and debris and fallout from the concussion
would hit the building.”
Then suddenly two J-DANS or bunker busters struck the facility and the walls
came down. “They came through the rubble to see if we were alive and then they
moved us everyday.”
Dave’s resolve kept the group together. “I never thought the Americans weren’t
looking for us. I dreamed every night they were storming the building.” The
Iraqis apparently felt the same way. The POWs were being taken north toward
Samarra. By April 13, the guards began to leave the prisoners under less secure
conditions.
“On Palm Sunday,” Dave said, “all seven of us were in a room. Iraqis were
complacent as far as security in the house. I heard vehicles go by and my fun
meter was pegged out.
“I took off and ran out the front door with Iraqis in pursuit. The yard had a
solid gate, but it wasn’t locked. I opened it and looked out at two Marines in
prone position. I was on their flank and they were getting ready to assault the
house next door. I broke down.
“We’re Americans,” Dave called out. “Over here! Over here! The Marine looked
over and hollered to his commander. Then it all happened so fast. A whole bunch
of Marines came running. I have a beard and I’m in PJs and there is a Marine on
my left and right. They’re basically holding me up.”
“Chief, it’s gonna be alright,” one Marine told him. “We’re here.”
And the Iraqi pursuing Dave from the house?
“That dude 180’ed and ran back into the house,” Dave laughed. Twelve hours later
he was talking to Michelle. “Hey Momma,” marked the start of their conversation.
Dave and Michelle will soon be leaving Texas for Alabama. There, Dave will be
the officer in charge at the new SERE (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) school
planned for Fort Rucker.
A marble pyramid was unveiled in honor of Pfc.
Ray D. Cuervo, who was killed in Baghdad while guarding a gas station.
The base camp for 2nd Armored Cavalry’s Regiment’s support squadron is
officially named “Camp Cuervo” in memory of the fallen cavalry scout.
Camp Muleskinner, home of the 2nd Armored
Cavalry’s Regiment’s support squadron, was renamed in honor of a fallen trooper
April 1.
The forward operating base was renamed “Camp Cuervo” in memory of Pfc. Ray D.
Cuervo, Apache Troop, 1st Squadron, 2nd ACR, Fort Polk, La. Cuervo was killed
while guarding a Baghdad gas station Dec. 28, 2003. He was posthumously awarded
the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the Army Achievement Medal.
Lt. Col. Mark E. Calvert, 1st Squadron commander, said Cuervo developed a sense
of responsibility for passing along his knowledge and experience. He shared his
cavalry scout skills with Iraqi Civil Defense Corps soldiers, Calvert added.
“Cuervo was one of many soldiers serving a cause greater than one’s self,”
Calvert said. “A cause that often demands great personal sacrifice and, in Ray’s
case, the ultimate sacrifice.”
During the ceremony, a marble pyramid was unveiled in Cuervo’s honor, officially
declaring the camp “Camp Cuervo” in memory of the fallen cavalry scout.
Cuervo’s platoon mates recalled the trooper’s spirit and enthusiasm.
“Cuervo always smiled and was always ready to do his job,” said 1st Lt. Michael
C. Watson, 4th Platoon leader. “He always knew what he and this place were
about. He was always ready to go out there and fight for his country and do what
had to be done for the Iraqi people.”
“Right up until the time before he died, he was smiling,” said Spc. Angel E.
Sanabria, Cuervo’s former roommate. “I remember looking in the rearview mirror
when we went out that day. He was just sitting back there smiling.”
“He always respected everyone, regardless of how they treated him,” added Sgt.
Jason P. Bingell. “He used to always watch out for us and, as my driver, he
would always watch out for me.”
“I would say that if you were to go back and tell Cuervo that he might die on
Dec. 28, he’d still go out that gate with a smile because he knew what his job
was, and what he was over here to do,” Watson said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Army News Service, Jan.
23, 2004) – A little more than a month after helping secure the area where
former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein was captured, Staff Sgt. Joey Wommack was
sitting with the first lady as President George W. Bush delivered his State of
the Union address.
Wommack, a scout platoon sergeant with G Troop, 10th Cavalry, was invited to
hear the annual speech in person as a representative of the U.S. military. The
president lauded service members several times for their performance in Iraq,
Afghanistan and the global war on terrorism, drawing enthusiastic clapping and
standing ovations from Democrats and Republicans alike.
While Special Forces Soldiers were pulling Hussein out of his spider hole,
Wommack and his platoon were keeping watch on the area a short distance away.
After the deposed dictator was flown away by helicopter, the platoon took over
security at the scene before the media arrived.
Wommack said he’s proud he had a role in the historic event, and feels honored
to have been invited to the Jan. 20 speech. He was home near Dallas, Texas on
R&R before coming to Washington, D.C. for the event. Wommack said he was most
touched during the address by the strong support for Soldiers, especially the
letter the president read from a young Texas girl who asked him to tell the
troops “Ashley Pearson believes in you.”
“People were coming out of nowhere to thank me, to shake my hand,” said Wommack.
“It was overwhelming. The guys that are over there are doing a really good job,
they deserve all the support they can get.”
2nd ACR graduates 1st ICDC Class
at Camp Muleskinner
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraq Civil Defense Corps Academy at Camp Muleskinner
graduated its first class of guardsmen Jan. 9 on Redcatcher Field.
The ICDC School, run by noncommissioned officers and
soldiers from the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 37th Armor
Battalion, 1st Armored Division, puts newly recruited individuals through a
rigorous six-day course.
The new ICDC recruits eat, sleep, and train on the academy
grounds, staying fully immersed in the military environment under the watchful
eyes of the cadre. The workday begins at 4 a.m. for the students and usually
does not wind down until about 10 p.m.
For the cadre, hours are more strenuous, starting at 3:30
a.m. and ending at 1 a.m. daily.
During the 140 hours spent at the ICDC Academy, the students
learned a myriad of tasks -- from basic rifle marksmanship to traffic control
point operations.
The new students arrived to the camp wide-eyed and full of
anxiety. As they received their uniforms, one could clearly see the seeds of
pride being sown.
Brand new AK-47 assault rifles, still with plastic covers on
them, were issued to each student.
Smiles and excited words were exchanged by the new ICDC
recruits about how they looked with their new uniforms on.
It seemed that a party was going to ensue at any moment,
until the cadre came out and “introduced” themselves to the students. It was
made very clear at that point, through highly amplified words echoed to the
students by an interpreter that the celebration would come on graduation day,
when the long week of training and mentoring was complete.
Until then, the orders came from the cadre, the grounds
would be kept clean, and everyone would keep quiet and listen to the blocks of
instruction.
There were no questions. The party was over.
The first day of classes, which covered legal advice and
regulations, was taught by Capt. Patrick Parson the Regiment’s Judge Advocate
General officer.
The second day consisted of basic first aid and life saving
skills.
One of the trainers asked how many students had seen a gun shot wound at some
time in the past. Almost every hand went up.
During the first two days of training, drill and ceremony
was stressed very heavily. The students were introduced to calling cadence,
executing orders while marching and keeping in step.
As the week progressed, the cadence calling was turned over
to the students.
During basic rifle marksmanship training, the students were
taught how to load, charge, fire, and clear their weapons. The students went
through a myriad of firing stances -- standing to prone. They went through a
series of scenarios: reacting to direct fire and traffic control points.
The evening of their last class day was spent practicing for
the big day: graduation.
With Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling, assistant division commander
for support, Col. Bradley May, 2nd ACR commander and Lt. Col. John Curran,
Regimental Support Squadron commander, observing, the students marched onto the
field.
With minimal time to practice the ceremony, the platoons
marched past the reviewing stand with precision.
They were proud of themselves, what they had accomplished,
and what they will accomplish.
“We have worked with these guys up in Sadr City before this.
We had a good feel for what they can do well and what we have to work on at the
Academy,” said Staff Sgt. Shannon Doucet, 4th Platoon sergeant. “These guys are
the future of Iraq.”
Doucet will take this platoon back to 2nd Squadron, 2nd ACR,
where they will provide a safe and secure environment for the 2 million people
of Sadr City, located in the northeast section of Baghdad.
The ICDC Academy is driven predominately by junior
noncommissioned officers like Sgt. Rafael Arias, who was assigned as 3rd squad
leader of 4th platoon.
Pvt. Brandon Ritter was also assigned a squad at the academy, proving that even
our youngest, least experienced soldiers are awesome leaders. The ICDC Academy
Commander is Capt. Mike Gautreaux and the noncommissioned officer in charge is
Mater Sgt. Johnny Mackenzie.
With the graduation ceremony at an end, the new ICDC
soldiers celebrated.
One platoon lifted one of their trainers, Sgt. Danny Hill,
unto their shoulders, shouting “Thank you, thank you Sgt. Hill!”
They were feeling like soldiers, looking like soldiers. But
most importantly, after six days of training, they were acting like soldiers.
Pleasure is what nearly all cavalry
training involves. It is the closest a man can get,
as far as I know, to flying, and that is something people long to be able to do.
BAGHDAD
- Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 14th Cavalry Regiment have found themselves in
some of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the Iraqi capital.
BAGHDAD, Iraq -- The Iraq Civil Defense Corps Academy at Camp Muleskinner
graduated its first class of guardsmen Jan. 9 on Redcatcher Field.
One of the trainers asked how many students had seen a gun shot wound at some
time in the past. Almost every hand went up.
Pvt. Brandon Ritter was also assigned a squad at the academy, proving that even
our youngest, least experienced soldiers are awesome leaders. The ICDC Academy
Commander is Capt. Mike Gautreaux and the noncommissioned officer in charge is
Mater Sgt. Johnny Mackenzie.