Army birthday

4 Fort Hood Herald

] ACROSS THE FORT [

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

13th Sustainment bids farewell to one leader and welcomes another

BY RACHAEL RILEY FORT HOOD HERALD

As 13th Sustainment Command soldiers said goodbye to one commander, they welcomed another during a ceremony Friday.

Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg has led the command since July 2014.

As Fogg heads to Fort Lee, Va., to become the next quarter master general of the United States Army Commandant and Quartermaster School, Col. Douglas McArthur McBride Jr. will now lead the command.

“Giving up command is bittersweet,” Fogg said. “We hate to move on, but we know it’s time and good things are ahead.”

This was Fogg’s first assignment at Fort Hood and he said it’s been the best in 29 years because of the people, relationships and mission.

“To all the soldiers, (noncommissioned officers) and officers in the 13th (Sustainment Command), I want to say thank you and how very proud I am of you, because you made every mission happen,” he said.

“You truly made a difference, and it’s been an absolute honor serving with you all.”

Fogg’s time with the 13th Sustainment Command included a nine month deployment to Kuwait from July 2014 to December 2015 — serving as the operational command for the first theater sustainment, said Maj. Gen. John Uberti, deputy III Corps commander and reviewing officer of Friday’s ceremony.

“Whether it’s getting the Iraqi army ready to fight or improving III Corps readiness, he cares,” Uberti said.

Uberti called Fogg a good logistician who would scour the globe “to get the war fighter what the war fighter needs,” and cares about the soldiers, families and community.

“He always says ‘take care of soldiers and families, and the mission will take care of itself,’” the general said.

As Uberti thanked Fogg, he welcomed

AMY PROCTOR | HERALD

Janie Fogg, wife of 13th Sustainment Command commander Brig. Gen. Rodney Fogg, receives ceremonial flowers expressing the Army’s appreciation at 13th ESC’s Change of Command ceremony on Friday, June 3 inside Abrams Gym on Fort Hood.

McBride.

McBride is coming from Virginia having served as the combined arms support commander until May. McBride said it’s “great to be home.”

About 48 years ago, he was a toddler riding his “tricycle around Fort Hood” when his own father was a sergeant with the 2nd Army Division in 1968 before deploying to Vietnam.

Fort Hood was also McBride’s first duty station in 1989 when he was an electronic maintenance platoon leader with Charlie

Company, 27th Main Support Battalion, 1st Cavalry Division.

“To return here where it all began and to be able to assist and shape the next generation of sustainment warriors and professionals as commander of the 13th Expeditionary Sustainment Command at the very place that led the foundation of my career, is pretty awesome,” McBride said.

Making it more special, McBride said, was to change command with Fogg, who he called a friend and said he served along-

side from 2007 to 2009 during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

He said he looks forward to becoming part of the community and working with the 13th Sustainment Command soldiers.

“We have some exciting times ahead of us and we will attack all missions home and abroad head on, collectively as a team,” he said. “I’ll give you the shirt of my back and the boots off my feet to complete a mission.” rriley@kdhnews.com | 254-501-7553

] MILITARY PULSE [

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Fort Hood Herald

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Army Medical Center’s Soldier of the Year a ‘soldier’s soldier’

BY GLORIA MONTGOMERY CARL R. DARNALL ARMY MEDICAL CENTER PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and Regional Health Command-Central’s Soldier of the Year, Sgt. Ian Ramsey, has crossed the finish line in his quest to earn the Army’s coveted title of “Best Warrior.” Although he finished second in May’s Army Medicine competition, it wasn’t a loss — but a new journey for the 27-year-old soldier.

“There’s a responsibility that comes with that win,” said Ramsey, who, after winning Army Medicine’ central regional competition, was promoted to sergeant.

“You’ve displayed that you have the capability to do these things and now it’s your duty to pass on what you know to the next generation of soldiers.”

Even though the preparation and competition were grueling, the Seattle native said the experience has been invaluable.

“It just makes you a better soldier because you’re now more prepared mentally and physically for anything the Army might ask you to do. The more you know and the more you’re able to do, the more useful you are to the Army and to your fellow soldiers,” he said, adding that training for the competitions has helped him gain a deeper appreciation and understanding of Army traditions and standards. “I was academically aware of these things, but I didn’t really have a true understanding of the stewardship of professionalism that makes the Army great.”

According to Sgt. Maj. of the

Army Daniel Dailey, the Best Warrior Competition recognizes “Soldiers who demonstrate commitment to the Army values, embody the Warrior Ethos, and represent the Force of the Future.”

“It’s the whole soldier concept,” Dailey said. “We want to make sure everyone is well-rounded.”

Each leg of the Army Best Warrior competition tests soldier’s skills and aptitudes in urban warfare simulations, board interviews, physical fitness tests, written exams and warrior tasks and battle drills relevant to today’s operating environment.

“It was an intense experience,” said the x-ray technician, who also doubles down as aide to the hospital’s top enlisted advisor.

Ramsey, who enlisted in 2013, said one of the most challenging tasks throughout the competition was night navigation during the regional competition at Fort Polk, La., this past March.

“We’re in the woods of Louisiana in a torrential rainstorm.

It’s basically one big forest so you can’t really do any terrain association or even read your compass,” he said, adding that abysmal weather conditions prevented celestial navigation. “It was pitch black with zero visibility. The only way to navigate out there was making sure the pace count was on point.”

Additionally, footing was problematic because the rain had turned the ground into muck. Every step, he said, became wasted energy because of the amount of exertion needed to raise his mudsoaked boots out of the muck.

“It was tough, but exhilarating,”

he said, “but if it’s not challenging, what’s the point? The end result, after you think about all the steps you did to get to the competition, is ‘Wow, I built this.’”

Ramsey, who loves obstacle courses and endurance running, said the most important takeaway from all the competitions is the value of year-round training and preparation.

“It’s not just training when you know you’re going to the board and are training up for it,” he said, adding how grateful he is to the medical center team who worked with his schedule and gave him training time. “It’s really what you do the rest of the year.”

Ramsey, according to the hospital’s troop Command Sgt. Maj. Melissa McFrazier, exemplifies professionalism.

“He gives 110 percent effort in anything and everything he does,” she said, praising him on his soldier instincts. “Even though he’s a newly promoted sergeant, he acts like he’s been a sergeant for some time because of how he carries himself. He is a ‘soldier’s soldier’ and a warrior, and an example for others to emulate.”

That dedication, she said, also was showcased during the Canadian forces’ 2016 Starlight Challenge, an international competition for combat medics held May 13-15 at 2nd Canadian Division Valcartier, Quebec. This was the first year the United States has competed. More than 100 soldiers manned the 20 teams that included Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“Without any preparation or notice, his team came in third,” she

COURTESY PHOTO

Sgt. Ian Ramsey, Soldier of the Year for Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center and Regional Health Command-Central, surveys his surroundings during the Canadian forces 2016 Starlight Challenge, an international competition for combat medics held May 13-15 at 2nd Canadian Division Valcartier, Quebec.

said, adding that the American team representing Army Medicine only had two days to learn the Canadian weapons systems and medical protocols.

Ramsey, who said he was honored to represent Army Medicine, said his team’s success was a testament to Army training. “Our training is so standardized that we were able to work together even though we had never been on a team together.”

Overall, he said, no matter how you finish in any Army competition it’s about being your best.

“If you fail at one task, you move on and try to do better at the next task,” he said, encouraging soldiers to go outside of their

comfort zone and be that total soldier and a steward of Army professionalism. “That’s what the Army warrior competition has meant to me. If I’m just competing for myself, than I’m not part of the team. I might as well get out of the Army because being part of a team is one of the reasons I am in the Army.”

Even though Ramsey won’t be representing Army Medicine in the 2016 Best Warrior competition, he still considers himself a winner.

“There are no losers in this competition,” he said. “I’m honored to have competed and to have gained all this knowledge and experience.”

6 Fort Hood Herald

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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

U.S., South Korean soldiers earn coveted Expert Infantryman Badges

BY SGT. CHRISTOPHER DENNIS 1ST CAVALRY DIVISION PUBLIC AFFAIRS

CAMP CASEY, South Korea — In the pre-dawn hours, with sweat dripping down their foreheads and a rucksack that seemed to get heavier with each step of the 12-mile march, U.S. and South Korean soldiers pushed themselves to exhaustion and to a finish line that meant they had just one more challenge ahead.

For 12 days, 627 soldiers from all over the Korean Peninsula trained for the grueling five-day Expert Infantryman Badge testing that started May 22 and ended May 26 at Schoonover Bowl at Camp Casey, South Korea.

The EIB is a prized and respected badge for Infantrymen through out the US Army.

“It sets that individual apart from his peers — that he has demonstrated skills, attention to detail and proficiency in his trade of arms,” said Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Kerns, an infantryman with Company B, 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, serving as one of the graders on the grenade testing.

The 1st ABCT, or “Ironhorse” brigade, hosted the Expert Infantryman Badge training and testing for all U.S. infantry on the peninsula and gave Republic of Korea Army soldiers, including four female soldiers, a chance to try and earn a certificate of achievement to honor their attempt at the EIB — currently, South Korean soldiers are not authorized to wear the U.S badge.

Infantry soldiers from 1st ABCT participated in the event, along with their peers from the 2nd Infantry Division, the Eighth U.S. Army and others.

“We also have soldiers from the U.S. Forces Korea Noncommissioned Officers Academy, Command Post TANGO, USFK Honor Guard, the United Nations Com-

mand Security Battalion, and the Republic of Korea Army — they’re coming from all over to train and compete in the EIB,” said Sgt. 1st Class Richie Pozo, operations NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ABCT. To earn the EIB, candidates first qualified expert on their assigned weapon and conducted two weeks of EIB-focused training from May 9 to 20.

During the five-day test week, the 627 EIB candidates started with the Army Physical Fitness Test, having to score 80 points on each event. Then candidates were tested on thirty individual testing stations organized as a “Weapons Lane,” a “Medical Lane,” a “Patrol Lane” and a day and night land navigation course.

Candidates concluded their week of testing with a 12-mile forced march in less than three hours followed immediately by a series of core tasks, performed under simulated combat conditions and completed to an expert standard on “Objective Bull” at the Schoonover Bowl at Camp Casey.

“It’s like baseball — if you get three strikes, you’re out,” said Pozo. “If you ‘nogo’ three stations, you’re out. If you ‘nogo’ one station twice, you’re out; if you fail a station, you have one hour to come back and re-test. And if you fail to come back in the allotted time, you’re out.”

U.S. Army Chief of Staff George Marshall initiated the development of the EIB in 1944 to represent and honor U.S. Army Infantryman.

The first testing consisted of 100 noncommissioned officers from the 100th Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, N.C. They were selected to undergo three days of testing to select the Army’s first Expert Infantryman.

After all the testing, only ten NCO’s remained. Those ten were then interviewed and on March 29, 1944, Lt. Gen. Lesley McNair, commander of Army Ground

STAFF SGT. KEITH ANDERSON | ARMY

Gen. Vincent Brooks, the top U.S. general in South Korea, pins a U.S. Army Commendation Medal on Sgt. Andrew Raines, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, for successfully completing every event without retest to earn the Expert Infantryman Badge, a “True Blue” awardee.

Forces, awarded the first EIB to Tech. Sgt. Walter Bull.

The first candidates to complete the ruck march, finishing at the two-hour mark, were 1st Lt. Nicholas Kiser, a platoon leader from Company A, 2nd Bn., 5th Cav. Reg., 1st ABCT, followed quickly by ROKA Sgt. 1st Class Do Hoon Lee. Kiser, along with teammate Capt.

James Teskey, plans officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st ABCT, recently placed sixth at the Army’s Best Ranger Competition on April 17 at Fort Benning, Ga. Included in the final number to complete the challenge were more than 40 ROKA soldiers, including Republic of Korea Army 1st Lt. Ji Eun Jeong, a platoon leader in the 115th Mechanized Infantry Battalion, 90th Mech. Inf. Brigade, 30th

Mech. Inf. Division. Jeong was the first female ROK officer to earn the EIB. A female ROK NCO completed the grueling challenge last year to earn her EIB. “I want a specialty for infantry, and EIB is a challenge for female Soldiers,” said Jeong.

Of the 627 soldiers who started the EIB testing in South Korea May 22, only 131 finished and earned the honor of wearing the coveted badge. And of those, 29 distinguished themselves as “True Blue” infantryman by successfully completing every event without retest and receiving first time “go’s” on every evaluation — 18 U.S. and 11 South Korean soldiers.

Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general, USFK, personally pinned those recognized as True Blue Infantry during a ceremony May 26.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016

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Fort Hood Herald

7

Sapper like a girl; 326th Sapper Eagle first female to finish competition

BY SGT. SAMANTHA STOFFREGEN 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION (AA) PUBLIC AFFAIRS

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. — For the first time ever Army-wide, a female engineer not only finished all 50 hours of the competition this year, but finished in the top ten.

Second Lt. Leah Mullenix, 326th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), didn’t set out to make history — she only wanted to challenge herself physically and mentally.

The Best Sapper Competition calls upon the Army’s brightest and toughest combat engineers every spring to compete for the coveted title of “Best Sapper” at Fort Leonardwood, Mo. The competition boasts “50 teams, 50 miles, and 50 hours” of all-encompassing engineering tasks from tactical obstacle planning, road crater emplacement and urban breaching.

“For me, most of the decisions I’ve made, especially in the Army, are meant to challenge myself,” Mullenix said. “So I jumped on the opportunity (to compete) as another way to challenge myself and prepare for Sapper School.”

Mullenix and her partner, 1st Lt. Edward Colon, 326th BEB, 1st BCT, began training about eight weeks prior to the competition, focusing on ruck marches and upper body weight training.

“We were rucking 30 to 40 miles a week; that was the focus because we knew we’d be going 50 miles in three days,” Mullenix said. “We also did weight training, working on upper body and overall strength training. Days we didn’t ruck, we’d run and we’d do our longer rucks on the weekends.”

The team completed their longest ruck of 20 miles before heading to the competition.

They also tackled four 16 mile rucks and several 14 milers.

“We spent so much time together training up, we knew each other really well, which helped make us a strong team,” Mullenix said.

As the competition neared, they team combined long ruck marches or runs back to back with weight training or engineering tasks to better prepare themselves for the strenuous competition.

During their training, Mullenix said they also focused on a number of engineering tasks and Sapper skills to help prepare them for the competition.

“She was motivated to do a lot of the selfstudy she needed to put in because she had not been to Sapper school yet, where they teach a lot of the skills evaluated in the competition,” said Lt. Col. Eric Crispino, 326th BEB commander.

Mullenix said the training she received

was a first for her, but was tackled with excitement and high motivation. She added that her favorite portions of the train-up were learning and executing the mountaineering skills she was taught and the urban breaching training day.

Crispino said he wasn’t concerned about sending a female-male team to compete in a competition historically filled with malemale engineer teams.

“Personally I’ve done a lot of competitions — triathlons, running races — and against males I usually do very well, but every race I go to I get beat by a female,” Crispino said. “And if you really want to get scientific about it, you look at how Olympians and top-level athletes do with males and females and the differences at the top are very slight.”

Look at the results, he said — she went out there and held her own.

“I knew she could do it and she proved it,” Crispino said. “She did really well in all of our fitness tests used to screen our candidates. Physically, I knew she could hang.”

Crispino said after seeing the competition last year he knew it’s not necessarily the strongest or fastest team that wins the competition, but a combination of both fitness and brains, which he knew his team had.

“I’m really proud of them both,” Crispino said. “They put in a lot of hard work.”

Mullenis said once she heard about the competition and how hard it was going to be, she was nervous about being one of the only females competing but that she tried for the most part not to think of herself as different.

SGT. SAMANTHA STOFFREGEN | ARMY

ABOVE: 2nd Lt. Leah Mullenix, Team 23, 326th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), crawls under barbed wire with her individual assigned weapon.

LEFT: 1st Lt. Edward Colon, left, and Mullenix complete an engineering skill’s test.

“I just pushed myself as hard as I could,” Mullenix said. “Yeah, it sucked, it was really hard, but it was hard for everyone.

It’s definitely the hardest thing I have done in my career, so now everything is relative to that. When I face new challenges, I’ll always relate it back to this, like ‘this is hard, but it could be worse.’”

On the final day, competitors had to tackle a series of challenges on the main field, called the “x-mile” surrounding the Engineer Castle where crowds of supporters stood and cheered them.

“By the time we got to the end stretch, there was a lot of support from people who were running right alongside us,” Mullenix said. “That was a crazy experience. A lot of female drill sergeants were out there, so I got a lot of support from other women.

They were really excited for me, but so were the other men and teams out there. I

know just hearing those people cheering for us and coaching us along was definitely what got me through to the end. That was a huge source of motivation.”

Mullenix will complete Sapper School later this year and then head to an engineering platoon.

“She’s going to make a great platoon leader when we put her into that position,” Crispino said. “She’s been in the unit since December 2015, so I haven’t known her for very long, but she’s got just an overall good attitude towards everything we’ve asked her to do since she’s been here. She’s attacked every challenge thrown at her with a smile on her face. I look forward to seeing her at (Sapper) graduation.”

Mullenix added she hopes to possibly mentor future Sapper Eagles for the competition and see more females participate and eventually take home the title of Best Sapper.

“I think as a society in general, we limit what we think women can do, and not because women are less — just that it’s what we’ve been taught,” Mullenix said, adding that even she fell into that thought process about herself in regards to the competition. “There are women out there that can do it, it’s just a matter of us going out and showing we are on the same level. The biggest thing I can say to other women is don’t limit yourself. If you want to do something, or you want to train, the sky’s the limit. If you limit yourself before you even have the chance to go out there and do it, that’s the worst thing we can do.”

8 Fort Hood Herald

] OBSERVATION POST [

GABE WOLF | HERALD

Members of the 1st Cavlary Division Honor Guard retire the colors during a patch ceremony at Cooper Field June 1.

GABE WOLF | HERALD

The 1st Cavalry Division’s patch ceremony ends with a “Cavalry Charge” June 1.

JOSH BACHMAN | HERALD

Members of the the 36th Infantry Division stand at attention during their Task Force Arrowhead Deployment Ceremony May 31 at Fort Hood. Less than 100 of the troops will be deployed but they will be serving along side other US forces and Afghan Security Forces as well. The 36th ID will be deploying to Afghanistan in order to provide training, assistance and advice for the Afghan National Defense and other Security Forces.

JOSH BACHMAN | HERALD

Brig. Gen. S. Lee Henry explains the mission of the 36th infantry Division after their deployment ceremony May 31 at Fort Hood.

Wednesday, June 8, 2016