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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Pay Issues
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Parting Shot
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155th ABCT FAMILY READINESS 24 HOUR HOTLINE 601-313-0155
Issue 3
February 1, 2019
FROM THE TOP “Hard, rigorous, realistic, repetitive training. That is the ultimate form of taking care of an American Soldier.” ~ GEN Mark A. Milley, 39th Chief of Staff of the Army. Our mission as an Army is simple “fight and win our Lt. Col. Jeramy Hopkins nation’s wars.” Commander, 1-18 CAV Unfortunately, the reality is wars come in the form of battles of varying degrees of complexity, and it is the sum of those battles that often determines the outcomes of wars. The battles range from high intensity, direct action fights to the individual battles of getting new Soldiers to fully embody the Army Values, the foundation of our organization. It is our responsibility as Soldiers and leaders to ensure we are able to succeed in that full spectrum of battles. The Army has provided us the tools to succeed in these battles, but we must choose to use those tools. Training is the primary tool at our disposal. I am not referring to PowerPoint presentations in large auditoriums. I do not know of a single Soldier in the military that enjoys those, though they are sometimes a necessity due to constraints. I am referring to conducting training that is in line with GEN Milley’s quote. While this type of training
takes a multitude of skills to execute, each of us are equipped with those skills. We just need the will, initiative, and discipline to put those skills to use. Leading up to and throughout the deployment, we have used the skills to train and “work-out” hard. We have built strength in our profession of arms at the individual through unit levels. Likewise, we have to take time to recover after a workout in order to truly build muscle. Upon redeployment, it is important to take the time to decompress and recover. It doesn’t mean we stop everything, we must use that time to plan our next work-out routine, since we will have to get back to our “gym” at some point. If we start too soon, we won’t have recovered; if we wait too long, our muscles will atrophy. Both cause a loss of strength. That loss of strength will cost us in our future battles, and that cost can be very high. It quite possibly may only be paid for in blood. The cost of not winning enough battles is even higher, since it may limit our ability to win our nation’s wars. I am sure these are prices none of us wish to pay. As we near redeployment, it is time for our Soldiers to take a breather, let the muscles recover. As leaders at every level, we need to look ahead, after recovery, to begin the next cycle of “hard, rigorous, realistic, repetitive training.” We owe it to each other, our families, and our nation. “Swift and Deadly!” Saber 6
CURRENT NEWS Task Force Spartan Soldiers of the 155th ABCT work hard to safely load equipment for transport and turn-in. The Army’s Prepositioned Stocks are being configured into combat-ready sets with the most modernized equipment, strategically located to respond quickly to meet theater requirments. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
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FRONTLINE FRAMES
A Soldier with Alpha Troop, 1-18 CAV fires a Javelin missile as part of a live-fire exercise at the Joint Training Center in Jordan. (Photo by 1st Lt. Jack Scippa)
Sgt. Joel Page and Cpl. Sean Montanio discuss coursework during a classroom exercise as part of Basic Leader Course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (Photo by Spc. Jovi Prevot)
S A F E T Y
An Air Assault instructor looks on as Soldiers of th 155 ABCT participate in a pre Air Assault course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)
A 2-198 AR Soldier demonstrates weapon techniques during bilateral exercise Inferno Creek 19 with the Royal Army of Oman. (Photo by Spc. Linsey Williams)
CARRY EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT • Be prepared for unexpected road hazards you may encounter. • Driving in unknown places requires you to have a small amount of repair capabilities to ensure your vehicle can be moved to a safe location for further attention. • A disabled vehicle on the side of the road can create hazards to both you and other motorists.
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CHAPPY’S CHAT Why Am I an Afterthought?
The story of the Lost or Prodigal Son is a story told by Jesus to his disciples. Jesus says, “A man had two sons and the younger son asked his father for his inheritance while he was still Capt. Lavonia Winford alive. The father gives the Chaplain, 106 SPT younger son his portion of the estate and he decides to gather all his belongings and move to a far country. While there his son spends all his inheritance on wild living and finds himself in want. The son then finds a job in that country working for a pig farmer. One day while feeding the pigs he is so hungry that he
contemplates whether or not to eat the pig’s food. Then all of a sudden the younger son remembers that his father has plenty and decides that he will go home, tell his father that he knows he has sinned and ask for forgiveness.” In the new year of 2019 let’s not make God an afterthought like the young man in the story that Jesus told to his disciples. Instead let’s seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness; trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding; but in all our ways acknowledge Him and allow Him to direct our paths. Let’s pray together: God of grace and mercy, I thank you for allowing me to see a new year. When I am faced with decisions in my life let me include you and ask for wisdom and guidance. Amen Ch. Winford
155 ABCT Instructs Basic Leader Course to U.S. Army Central Soldiers Story by SPC Jovi Prevot Soldiers from throughout U.S. Army Central attended a Basic Leader Course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, January 2019. The accelerated two-week course is taught by Soldiers of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team in conjunction with Mississippi National Guard’s 154th Regional Training Institute. “BLC is the foundation course for our future leaders,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christy Basden, a basic leader course instructor currently assigned to the 3rd Non-Commissioned Officer Training Battalion, 154th Regional Training Institute, Mississippi Army National Guard. Soldiers need these foundations to advance their career in the U.S. Army as noncommissioned officers. “BLC is Basic Leader Course, so we are learning to how to basically become a noncommissioned officer,” said U.S. Army Cpl. Britta K. Momanyi, a paralegal specialist assigned to 34th Red Bull Infantry Division, Minnesota Army National Guard, Task Force Spartan. “There are three training modules… leadership, training, and warfighting; we are learning anything from how to fill out an [Noncommissioned Officer Evaluation Report] to common warfighting tactics.” BLC does more than teach from a book. “It teaches us how to be leaders, not only really the textbook answers on what kind of attributes and competencies we are supposed to have,” said U.S. Army Cpl. Alexander Yucatonis, an infantryman assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 155th Infantry Regiment, 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, Task Force Spartan. “[It] also gives us an open mind on how to approach situations, how to handle maybe difficult instances you may find yourself in with a lower enlisted soldier if you were in a supervisory position.” The group of Soldiers participating in BLC is taking the next step to strengthen the backbone of the Army. “These are Soldiers that are selected from their unit that are either sitting in a slot as an E-5 or they are preparing to. They are from all different units, all different backgrounds, all different MOSs,” said Basden. With the help of the 154th Regional Training Institute, the 155th was able to bolster the number of Soldiers it sent to BLC during their Operation Spartan Shield deployment. Using instructors assigned to the 155 ABCT along with coordinated efforts from our staffs, we were able put together a Mobile Training Team to facilitate three BLC classes according to Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher L. Young, commandant, 3rd Non-Commissioned Officer Training Battalion, 154th Regional Training Institute, Mississippi Army
National Guard. “The end result was an additional 180 Soldiers from all three components being afforded the opportunity to attend BLC,” said Young. “The intent was to provide Soldiers an opportunity to attend their first leadership course while supporting operations in [Operation Spartan Shield], said Sgt. Maj. Cornelius Williams Jr, Deputy Commandant, Basic Leader Course, Camp Buehring. “Giving deserving and qualified junior Soldiers the chance to complete their necessary Noncommissioned Officer Education System (NCOES) course.” The coursework exposes Soldiers to universal tasks that may be new to them. “I’d say my favorite part is the warfighting portion because, as a paralegal, that is not my forte. I am learning a lot of skills that I feel would be applicable, and would help me better understand the Soldiers that I will be working with,” said Momanyi. The course aims to help each Soldier grow as a leader. “What we do here is we evaluate what their capabilities are and then train them up on their weaknesses so they go back to their unit and become better leaders,” said Basden. The evaluations are more than pen-and-paper tests. Soldiers are able to learn from their mistakes, BLC gives them an environment where they can make those mistakes and build off it, said Basden. “It looks at all aspects that are required of an effective Army leader; their ability to counsel, their ability to lead, and also their physical fitness.” Soldiers must also have the right mentality. “In my opinion what it does is it gives us the appropriate mindset. It will teach you the documentation aspects of it, all the forms that the Army uses on a day-to-day basis,” said Yucatonis. “It teaches you the mindset on how to approach problems.” Courses like BLC insure the next generation of NCOs is ready to fulfill their role as the “backbone of the Army.” Staff Sgt. Jerry Frank instructs students during Basic Leader Course.
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PAY ISSUES! • • • • • •
Check your LES for any debts acquired while overseas. Remember to get your CMS case number through your chain of command if you have a pay issue that is already being worked. Remember to submit your travel voucher to DFAS NLT 5 days after your leave stops. Check your LES to make sure your Hardship Duty Pay STOPS when you report to Ft. Bliss. Soldiers are encouraged to USE their leave and NOT sell it at Ft. Bliss. Contact the USPFO for any issues when you report back to your home state.
Helpful Links: • Financial Management Regulation: https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/volume 07a.pdf •
BAH questions: https://militarybenefits.info/bah-calculator/
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2019 military pay rates: https://www.militaryrates.com/military-pay-charts
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PARTING SHOT
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PUBLISHED BY THE 155TH ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE PAO - 1st Lt. Terry Hill II 2-114th FA Soldiers receive their shoulder sleeve insignia or “combat patch” earned in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. (Photo by 1st Lt. Terry Hill)
PAO NCOIC - Staff Sgt. Michael Williams PA SPECIALIST - Spc. Jovi Prevot
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