Thunder Times January 15, 2019

Thunder Times A Bi-Monthly Chronicle of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team Volume 2

THIS ISSUE From the Top Current News

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Frontline Frames

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Play It Safe

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Chappy’s Chat

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From the Front

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Meet Your Team

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Parting Shot

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155th ABCT FAMILY READINESS 24 HOUR HOTLINE 601-313-0155

Issue 2

January 15, 2019

FROM THE TOP It was my honor to assume command of the 2-198 AR and to follow in the footsteps of an outstanding commander Lt. Col. Chris Cooksey. As I enter my command, I want to share three messages with the soldiers of the 155 Lt. Col. Kenneth Anthony ABCT in preparation for demobilization.

Commander, 2-198 AR What we do here matters. We are more prepared to do our assigned mission than I have ever seen in my 27 years in the “Dixie Thunder” brigade. As brigade exercise planner, I was often told by officers at CENTCOM and ARCENT that it was refreshing to work with soldiers from a brigade that were professional, dedicated to the mission, and exhibited technical and tactical proficiency during every mission. Many of you supported OIR directly contributing to the fight against ISIS. Regardless of your individual task, collectively you have set a high standard for operations in our brigade, the division, and US Army. Be proud of what you have done here.

Take care of yourself and others. Many of you have improved yourselves physically, professionally, spiritually, emotionally, or intellectually. You are better for being here. As you transition home don’t lose the gains you’ve made here. Take back those good habits and continue to improve. You have been on an amazing journey and have done great things. Keep it up when you return home.

As you make the transition back home manage your expectations. Don’t expect everything to be exactly as you imagine it will be. Be prepared for frustrations during the process and make sure you have the resources to support yourself and others during this process. That takes me to the final message.

Don’t rush the process. When you get to Bliss you will be tempted to rush through the demobilization process. Don’t! Pay attention to the briefings so you will know the resources you or your battle buddy might need if they hit a snag during their transition home. Finally, don’t rush the process so when you leave Fort Bliss and go home to your family, your records are complete and accurate and set you up to receive any current and future benefits you have earned as a result of your service during this deployment.

Lastly, I want to address the families, communities, and employers back home in Mississippi. Thank you for your outstanding support of our 155th ABCT Soldiers. As they return don’t forget the sacrifices they make while at home. Recognize that you work, go to church, sit in class, and hunt and fish with men and women in the National Guard who balance their civilian and military lives on a daily basis.

We focus on these soldiers during times when they are deployed, but often forget that their ability to this is only possible because of their sacrifice when they are back home balancing their civilian and military lives. We need to recognize the sacrifices they and their families make, and at the end of the day, remember that they do it for you. Thank you.

We Came To Fight!

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CURRENT NEWS Spc. Matthew Driskill, left, a cavalry scout assigned to Task Force India Bravo, assists an Iraqi soldier with a dime/washer drill as part of a primary marksmanship instruction course at Camp Taji, Iraq, Dec.19, 2018. Task Force India Bravo is comprised of Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 98th Cavalry Regiment, 106th Support Battalion and 2nd Battalion, 114th Field Artillery Regiment. (Photo by Spc. Jovi Prevot)

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FRONTLINE FRAMES

Spc. Artilus Moore, an M1 Abrams Tank Driver for Mississippi National Guard’s 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team prepares for a live-fire exercise on December 12, 2018.

(Photo by Sgt. Bill Boecker)

Soldiers with India Company, 1-155 IN are awarded their shoulder sleeve insignia during a “patching” ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (Photo by Sgt. Kaci Tidwell)

S A F E T Y

1-18 CAV 1st Lt. Manuel Soriano provides covering fire during a break contact live-fire exercise at the Joint Training Center in Jordan. (Photo by 2nd Lt. Marco Jimenez)

150th BEB Soldiers at Camp Patriot show their gratitude Tunica, Mississippi Elementary students for writing them each a Christmas card. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Grenilo Caspillan)

Lap and Shoulder Seat Belts Research has found that lap/shoulder seat belts, when used, reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent and the risk of moderate-to-critical injury by 50 percent.

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CHAPPY’S CHAT Soldiers are often forced to make due with very little.

We train and live in austere environments, function with little sleep, feed on skimpy rations, endure cold or hot extremes, live away from Family for extended periods, and work ourselves to exhaustion. Living “in the suck,” as it is affectionately known, causes some Soldiers Capt. Scott Edwards to become jaded and cynical Chaplain, 2-114 FA over time, yet others literally thrive among these challenges.

It is this latter group that absolutely amaze me because they have learned what I believe to be the greatest secret to success in life – contentment.

Being content means to be satisfied with what you have and not want anything else. It is human nature to want what we do not have. When this drive is harnessed

healthily, we are focused on making improvements in our lives personally, financially, and materialistically that benefit ourselves and our Families. Yet an unhealthy balance of wanting more breeds sins of jealousy, pride, thievery, and covetousness.

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul shares that he has “learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know both how to have a little, and I know how to have a lot.

In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content — whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:11-13).

Soldiers, I challenge you seek to be content regardless of your circumstances. This is certainly not always easy, but it is possible and it will go a long way toward bringing you great joy in life. God bless and STEEL RAIN!

Ch. Edwards

155 ABCT Behavioral Health Conducts Battlefield Circulation Story by Spc. Jovi Prevot CAMP TAJI, Iraqi – Resiliency is a top priority for the United States Army. Measuring resiliency is no easy task though, it takes trained behavioral health professionals, engaging soldiers on a personal level, to accurately assess.

A group of behavioral health specialists from the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team conducted one of multiple battlefield circulations to visit troops deployed in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Dec. 17-27, 2018. For U.S. Army Maj. Dale W. Willis, a behavioral health officer, and Staff Sgt. Jean Whaley, a behavioral health specialist, both assigned to Company C, 106th Support Battalion, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Mississippi Army National Guard, Soldier welfare is their duty.

“Our role as a behavioral health team is to conduct battlefield circulation missions to locations where our deployed troops are located,” said Whaley. Their unique training and experience enables them to personally engage with Soldiers – doing their job.

“This rotation to Taji, Iraq, allows us to talk with our Soldiers, discuss concerns they have and assist them with counselling opportunities,” she said.

The main mission is just to check on the Soldiers and see how they are managing the day-to-day.

“Resiliency is how Soldiers are coping with the deployment stress, being away from family and friends and how they are dealing with the current mission,” said Maj. Willis, from the Delaware Army National Guard.

For the Willis/Whaley team, this is just business as usual.

“This is our second rotations to Taji and we have also had missions to Syria and Jordan,” said Whaley. “We do this kind of thing a lot.”

This trip also afforded the opportunity to work alongside their troops of the 1st Squadron, 98th Cavalry Regiment, as they interact with Iraqi soldiers.

“Part of the 1-98th’s mission is to train and assist the 9th Army Medical Team,” said Willis. “So we observed them

providing medical training.”

The team also got to watch their Soldiers bond with the Iraqis.

“We have also been afforded the opportunity to observe the medics of the 1-98 CAV as they foster relationships with the Iraqi 9th Armor Medical provider, Maj. Mohamad,“ said Whaley. “Maj. Willis and I were welcomed by Maj. Mohamad to speak with him and other officers about their experiences battling ISIS in Mosul.” “[Maj. Mohamad] talked about treating more than 70 soldiers with battlefield injuries,” said Willis.

“He was relaying how stressful it was for him as the only medical provider present during the battle of Mosul,” he said. “He was able to talk about his experience and share his story; he made a negative experience a positive memory – that is resiliency.”

“Resiliency is the ability to really bounce back from a difficult situation - stressful situations; it keeps the warfighter mentally and emotionally capable. So they are able to do their job, without distraction,” said Willis.

Staff Sgt. Jean Whaley and Maj. Dale Willis, 155 ABCT Behavioral Health

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Meet Your Team Greetings 155 family and friends! My name is Maj. Dennis Bittle and I am the operations officer for the 155th brigade.

I live in Starkville, Mississippi with my wife, Missy and our four beautiful daughters. Before joining the brigade staff, I spent much of my career with the 2-114th Field Artillery Regiment.

I am also a past member of the Maj. Dennis Bittle 1-98th Cavalry Squadron and 155th ABCT S-3 the 2-198th Armor Regiment.

As the primary operations staff officer, I coordinate the activities of the movement and maneuver warfighting function. I also integrate, synchronize, and oversee all brigade operations for the brigade commander. I manage the plans and orders process, as well as supervise the overall training readiness for the brigade.

For our mission here in Kuwait, this means directing which units conduct which missions that our higher headquarters assign to the brigade. It also means synchronizing efforts on movement timelines and determining potential shortfalls or opportunities in future operations, and prioritizing and managing training resources. Whether operations take place in Kuwait or at forward locations, my team and I paint the picture of the overall brigade operation to help the commander make informed decisions.

In my position, I am able to witness all of the operations that the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team conducts, and as we begin to transition home, I can confirm that the brigade has made a huge contribution to increasing partnerships and maintaining regional stability. Thank you to all the friends and family of the 155th ABCT! Dixie Thunder!

Maj. Bittle

***IMPORTANT REMINDER***It is highly advised to no longer send mail or packages to our Soldiers as the last day to receive mail will be January 31. After this date, all mail received will be forwarded to the Soldier’s unit back in the states.

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PARTING SHOT

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PUBLISHED BY THE 155TH ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE PAO - 1st Lt. Terry Hill II Lt. Col. Kenneth Anthony and Lt. Col. Christopher Jurney are promoted to their current rank by Col. Robert Ferguson, 155th ABCT commander, Jan. 5. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)

PAO NCOIC - Staff Sgt. Michael Williams PA SPECIALIST - Spc. Jovi Prevot

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