Thunder Times A Bi-Monthly Chronicle of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team Volume 1 Issue 21 December 15, 2018
THIS ISSUE From the Top Current News
Pg. 1
Pg. 1
Frontline Frames
Pg. 2
Play It Safe
Pg. 2
Chappy’s Chat
Pg. 3
From the Front
Pg. 3
Meet Your Team
Pg. 4
Parting Shot
Pg. 4
155th ABCT FAMILY READINESS 24 HOUR HOTLINE 601-313-0155
FROM THE TOP Greetings from the Dragon Battalion! We are over halfway through our deployment and our Soldiers have gained a great deal of experience from partnerships, exercises, and operations. Over Lt. Col. Rodney Bowman the past several Commander, 2-114 FA months, the 2-114th Field Artillery Battalion has accomplished many great tasks. Our mission to support Operation Spartan Shield has brought about amazing opportunities for the men and women of the 2-114th. Our soldiers and leaders have equipped, trained, and conducted operations that our friends and families can certainly be proud of. As soon as we hit the ground in theater, our remarkable soldiers completed a full battalion draw of equipment from the Army Prepositioned Stock fleet in Kuwait. This was no small feat. Dragon Battalion soldiers, along with other brigade units, inventoried, inspected, and moved an entire brigade-sized equipment set to Camp Buehring in half the time expected. Now, this equipment is used daily as we train to face potential threats and operate in remote areas accomplishing the tasks that lay before us. Much of the battalion’s mission rests on building and maintaining partnership capacity.
Since coming to Kuwait, the Dragon Battalion has been able to engage our host nation counterparts in the Kuwaiti Land Forces Field Artillery. Cannon units from Kuwait now meet with us regularly and will eventually train alongside us in the weeks to come. It is this type of partnership that pays huge dividends on the long road to stability in this region. As you may know, our country’s armed forces conduct missions in several remote areas in the Middle East. With 2-114th spread over six countries, many of our soldiers support these very ongoing operations that you hear about in the news. Recently, I had the pleasure of visiting several sites where our soldiers are operating in support of these missions and I must say, our soldiers are performing admirably. Family and friends of the Dragon Battalion can be very proud of the amazing accomplishments our troops are achieving in support of the fight against ISIS and the threat of those who would cause instability. Our warriors will leave this region knowing that they made a difference in the lives of those that might not be able to defend themselves. With the holiday season upon us, I want to say thank you and God bless to our families back home. Although our task is not easy, it is made less difficult knowing that we have a strong support system back home. Our families are on our minds daily, and it is because of you that our soldiers are able to accomplish any task that lay before them. Thank You! Dragon 6
CURRENT NEWS Mississippi Army National Guardsmen from the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team prepare to load a simulated patient on a Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC) helicopter during Desert Observer II at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, December 11, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
1
FRONTLINE FRAMES
A UH-60 Medevac helicopter conducts training near Udairi Range in Kuwait as part of Exercise Desert Observer II. (Photo by Spc. Jovi Prevot)
Thunder Brigade Soldiers pose with NFL Cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, December 13, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
Spc. Larry Solomon, C Troop, 1-98 CAV fires a 240B machinge gun at the Engagement Skills Trainer at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
Maj. Christopher Jurney takes command of 1-98 CAV regiment from LTC Glenn Adams, Dec. 11, 2018. (Photo by 1st Lt. Terry Hill)
S A F E T Y
Risk Management Failures • GROUND GUIDING: LEADERS MUST ASSESS HAZARDS WITH INEXPERIENCED MECHANICS AND UNLICENSED DRIVERS CONDUCTING MAINTENANCE TASKS • VEHICLE TOWING: SOLDIERS MUST FOLLOW STEPS THREE AND FOUR IN THE RISK MANAGEMENT PROCESS IN TRAINING CIRCULAR 21-305-20. • RANGE OPERATIONS: LEADERS MUST ENFORCE RANGE SAFETY STANDARDS BY ASSIGNING LINE SAFETIES, MONITORING RATES OF FIRE, AND NEVER DEVIATING FROM THE COURSE OF FIRE.
2
CHAPPY’S CHAT I’m Dreaming… Irving Berlin sat in the LaQuinta Hotel in the warmth of LaQuinta, CA in 1940, when he wrote the tune and lyrics to “White Christmas”. Bing Crosby would first sing the song publicly on Christmas Day in 1941. The song became the most popular song ever recorded, Chaplain Randy Wilson and the unofficial theme Chaplain, 1-155 IN song for all servicemen during World War II. The song topped the music charts for each of the successive years of the war, and would reappear on the charts for another twenty years before a separate category was created for seasonal songs. In the intervening years, nothing has changed. The
song is still one of the most popular tunes, especially during this season. To be sure, popular musical tastes have fluctuated and evolved, but something about that song still conjures the hope and thoughts of the military serving around the globe. Regardless of their geographic location or duty position, all Soldiers still voice those words in different ways every December as we all dream of home and the traditions that take place there. We all still dream of a white Christmas. This year as the 155 ABCT is far away from home, we join the long list of Soldiers and Servicemen who have done the same thing. Even though we recognize our service and mission is important, we still long for home and those traditions we have always observed. We still are motivated. We are still committed. But we still dream… Ch. Wilson
155th ABCT Continues Deployment in Support of Operation Spartan Shield Story by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait-- Last October, the Mississippi National Guard announced that the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team would deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield in the U.S. Army Central Command theater of operations. After months of training at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center and Fort Bliss, Texas, the brigade demonstrated their readiness to conduct operations in an overseas deployment. A transfer of authority, with 2nd ABCT, 1st Armored Division, soon followed in Kuwait, July 15. The Dixie Thunder Brigade made history by becoming the first National Guard ABCT to become the decisive effort in Operation Spartan Shield. “Since arriving in theater, the 155 Armored Brigade Combat Team has strengthened regional stability,” said Col. Robert D. Ferguson, 155 ABCT commander. “We have done this through building host nation partnerships, sustaining readiness as well as shaping transitions for units to follow.” Since boots hit the ground, the brigade has participated in numerous events to include drawing military equipment from the Army’s Pre-Positioned Stock, Basic Officer Leader Course for Kuwaiti officers and several partnership exercises within the Middle East. “Over the past few months, the 155 has participated in numerous host nation exercises, increased readiness through gunnery and other combat skills as well as drawing over 15,000 pieces of equipment of pre-positioned stock,” said Ferguson. As the decisive effort in Task Force Spartan, the brigade maintains a ready and responsive force by drawing nearly 15,000 pieces of pre-positioned military equipment, fostering a culture of maintaining their Soldiers and equipment. The APS is a program that consists of prepositioned sets of equipment located around the world so military units can fall-in on what they need to help speed response time and save on cost. One of the key missions of the largest Mississippi Army National Guard unit in the state is to continue building partnerships with regional allies and interoperability. “My main objective for this deployment is to sustain our
readiness and to increase our credibility,” said Ferguson. Through partnerships, the brigade is working toward the ultimate objective of regional stability. For more than six months, the brigade presence has reached 11 countries in 20 different locations. The Brigade has participated in several bi-lateral exercises including Exercise Bright Star with the Arab Republic of Egypt in Egypt, Iron Union 9 with the United Arab Emirates, and Eastern Action 18, in Qatar. The 2d Battalion, 198th Armored Regiment teamed up with the Kuwait Land Forces Institute (KLFI) to conduct a Basic Officer Leader Course (BOLC) for nearly 80 lieutenants. “The battalion has already done a lot of great stuff since being here,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Cooksey, 2d Battalion, 198th Armored Regiment commander. “This exercise, without a doubt, has been the highlight of our time here in Kuwait.” Cooksey says the goals of the battalion were based off three things. They were to teach small unit tactics to Kuwaiti lieutenants at squad level, learn how to fight and communicate together and build a bond between both countries. “Friendships and relationships were built to last a life time during this training,” he said. The 155th ABCT recently crossed the halfway mark in their deployment. They will continue to train hard, build partnerships, and strengthen regional stability as they shape transitions for follow-on units.
Tanks assigned to 1-98th CAV participate in a Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise with the Kuwaiti Army during Desert Observer II.
3
Meet Your Team Great day! I am Sgt. 1st Class Joe Coleman, the 155th ABCT Safety NCOIC. I’m from a small town in central Mississippi called Newton, located in Newton County. I graduated Newton High then joined the military. After basic and AIT I attended Jackson State University and majored in Industrial Technology with a concentration in Electronics. I know you’re wondering how Sgt. 1st Class Joe Coleman in the world, with that major, I Safety NCOIC. 155 ABCT ended up being the brigade Safety NCOIC? About two years ago I was the safety representative at my job, I decided to go back to school and get my degree in Occupational Safety and Health. In about a year I hope to be a certified safety professional. You’re wondering what the brigade safety does? Well, one of the main things is conduct safety investigations after an accident occurs. When conducting an investigation we are taught not to make hasty decisions on who or what
Click to check us out online!
PARTING SHOT
caused the accident. The idea of an accident investigation is to determine the sequence of events that led up to the accident. Although it is possible to determine causal factors and recommend corrective actions without actually listing an accident’s sequence of events, it is important to understand how and why the accident happened. The key to any investigation is collecting all of the evidence pertaining to the accident, including physical, paper, people, and photographic evidence. Learning from accidents is one of the important aspects for conducting an investigation. Communicating the lessons learned, prevent systemic problems, and improving the safety programs are key components of learning from the accident. Lessons learned is if it can happen at one location, then it can happen anywhere. One of the most important elements of an accident investigation is to figure out what happened and how to prevent it. One of the biggest mistakes of any investigation is not learning from your mistakes and making the same mistake again. I am grateful for this deployment and the opportunity to learn in this unique and challenging environment. SFC Coleman
Check out our Homepage IMPORTANT NUMBERS DEERS Enrollment 1-800-538-9552 Military One Source 1-800-342-9647 155th FRG Hotline 601-313-0155 (Available 24/7)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD OUR APP! APP STORE & GOOGLE PLAY
PUBLISHED BY THE 155TH ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE PAO - 1st Lt. Terry Hill II Soldiers from the 155th ABCT hosted an Engagement Skill Training session with Cheerleaders from the Washington Redskins during a military appreciation tour at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Dec. 13, 2018. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
PAO NCOIC - Staff Sgt. Michael Williams PA SPECIALIST - Spc. Jovi Prevot
4