Steel Warrior Issue 4
December 2012
Greetings Steel Warrior Family. The past few months have been extremely busy for this unit. The battalion has successfully completed our month long off post training event at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas. The Soldiers were extremely motivated to complete live fire exercises, MOS training and multiple weapon systems qualifications. I am proud of the training we accomplished while at Fort Chaffee and appreciate the hard work from the Soldiers. We arrived back to a wonderful welcoming party and spent long nights recovering our vehicles and equipment. After our recovery period, the battalion is ready for the holiday season. After Thanksgiving, the Steel Warriors will conduct overnight field training exercises, continuing to train on their assigned weapons and mission essential task lists. Also prior to Christmas, Alpha Battery will be traveling to Fort Hood December 5th-14th to teach the functions and operation of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to units on the installation. The Command encourages all Soldiers to spend the maximum amount of time during block leave with their Families. Block Leave will run from 17 December 2012 through 2 January 2013. At this time those Soldiers not on block leave will work half day schedules. During the holiday session, many Families may experience an increased level of stress due to money, traveling, and school closings. The Steel Warrior Battalion, along with Fort Sill agencies extend various resources to help with any issues that may arise. Our Brigade Military Family Life Consultant and Family Readiness Leaders have been trained to identify any agencies or resources that are available to make it easier to survive the holiday session. Also, feel free to check the 1-14th Family Readiness Group Facebook for updates on all battalion holiday celebration events or your unit’s FRG Leader. “Steel Warriors!” LTC Will Johnson Steel 6
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From 25 September-19 October, Alpha Battery, 1 Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment conducted a month long field training exercise (FTX) in Fort Chaffee, AR. The training focus was centered towards executing various ranges and qualifying platoon leadership by testing Platoon Leader’s reaction to IED attacks, ambushes, evacuations, and a number of wartime scenarios. The culminating event was a night fire where we shot 12 rockets down range, and a BN BBQ to congratulate the Soldiers on all their hard work and participation. We used the knowledge gained and lessons learned from the Fort Chaffee deployment to execute our own Platoon FTX from 27-29 November here at Fort Sill with 2nd Fires Platoon lead by 2LT Young and SFC Barker. The dynamic duos led their Soldiers through convoy operations, ranges, and tactical scenarios which enforced the training obtained while at Fort Chaffee. Concurrently, the team conducting training at Fort Hood HIMARS Support Mission was also finalizing the last requirements of training. From 30 November to 14 December, the Fort Hood Mobile Training Team will provide instruction and train the 2-20 FA Battalion on equipment and provide subject matter expertise on our HIMARS system for their unit sustainment training prior to their deployment. The Assassins would like to congratulate CPL Dickson, SGT Holmes, SSG Hughes, and PFC Rodriquez for their participation in the 214th Fires BDE Combative Tournament held at Honeycutt Fitness Center on 15-16 November. CPL Dickson received 1st place in the Middleweight division and SGT Holmes received 3rd place in the Welterweight division. Lastly, we will end the quarter with a Holiday Dinner provided by our Battery FRG at LETRA on 29 November. Soldiers and their families are encouraged to attend and celebrate the upcoming holidays so we can welcome the start of a new year with new feats to accomplish. Thank you and all your families for their support and we wish you a wonderful holiday season. WHO DARES, WINS! CPT Sean A Grevious
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Combative Tournament
November 15-16
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It is a great honor and privilege to join H-26 FA as your new battery comFAMILY READINESS IS TIED mander. The New Year offers many new opportunities for the battery as we continue DIRECTLY TO COMBAT to train and refine our skills for our wartime mission. My wife Stephanie and I look READINESS forwards to starting this new chapter of our lives with H-26. I am from Tucson, AZ and graduated in 2005 from Arizona State University. Following completion of training here at Ft Sill, I served at Ft. Lewis, WA and Vilseck, Commanding Officer Germany with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment, where I worked as a Fire Support Officer, CPT Heath Bixel Target Acquisition Platoon Leader, Headquarters Platoon Leader, and Targeting Offi- 580-442-0277 Heath.a.bixel@us.army.mil cer. I also served at Ellsworth Air Force Base, SD as a ground liaison officer, and prior to command as a Logistics Mentor to the Afghan National Police with the 214th First Sergeant Brigade Security Force Assistance Team (SFAT) mission. I have deployed to Iraq in 1SG Robert Solis 2007-09, to Qatar in 2010, and just returned from Afghanistan this October. I met my 580-442-0278 wife here in Lawton in 2010, and married in April of this year, just prior to deploying to 580-917-5951 roberto.solis@us.army.mil Afghanistan. I would like to close by extending my open door policy to all the soldiers, Executive Officer spouses, and family members of H-26. It is important for everyone to address issues Mr. Bobby Eastwood 580-442-0279 with their chain of command; however I am available 24 hours a day, seven days a bobby.eastwood@us.army.mil week if you have issues that you feel are not being addressed or not coming to my attention. Point of Contacts I look forward to working with, and getting to know the whole H-26 family. Courage and Action! CPT Heath A. Bixel Commander, H Battery, 26 Field Artillery (Target Acquisition)
Family
Readiness
News
Christmas Party We will be having our battery Christmas party at the Twin Oaks Bowling Alley on post. We have had suggestions regarding the location of the party. Some of the families have expressed the desire to hold a pot luckSoldiers party whereDuring the children as well as the adults can participate. We have small children who are not old enough to bowl. We would like your input. Please let me knowthe if youFort wouldBliss like to continue with the original plan of the bowling alley.
Training
Welcome Captain Heath Bixel and wife Stephanie SPC Robert Underwood and wife Amber Nicole Children: Kayden (4 years old) and Kevin (1 year old)
Mirtha Solis FRG Leader H26frg@yahoo.com solismirtha@gmail.com
Amber Eastwood 817-629-7249 Welcoming amberbob2002@yahoo.com Sharon Kedrowski FRG Advisor Cell 580-917-0048 sharonked723@yahoo.com Jasmine Alderman FRG Secretary Cell 434-509-3241 taj.alderman@AOL.com Shantel Lang FRG Treasurer Cell 760-987-5466 smcqueen15@hotmail.com Ariel Bergeron Cell 228-369-4651 arielbergeron@gmail.com Ashley Schmitz 224-213-5642 bna.schmitz@gmail.co DIRECT EMAIL LIST: Send email to h26frg@yahoo.com
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The last few months have been very busy for the Soldiers of Headquarters Battery as we continue our commitment to excellence. Soldiers have continued to excel both on and off duty, winning Soldier Boards, Combative Tournaments, and receiving accolades from across the Brigade. The Battery has undergone many changes since CPT McKean joined the team in August 2012. Almost immediately the batter went to the field supporting the battalion’s off post training exercise at Fort Chaffee. The battery spent weeks in the field, and in addition to supporting the battalion qualified our personnel on the M16 rifle and various crew served weapon systems. The Officers, S NCOs and Soldiers alike have grown tremendously and look forT ward to the next opportunity to highlight their skills. E HHB has great things lined up in the next couple of months E including crew served weapons ranges, convoy live fire and much L more. But first, we will pause and allow Families to spend valuable time with their loved ones over the Holiday Season. We are W A currently preparing for a battalion field exercise in January. The R upcoming exercise will support another battalion live fire and allow R the battery to showcase its commitment to excellence and maintain I their technical and tactical expertise. The battery would like to extend a warm Hellraiser welcome O R to the newest members of the team; 1LT Fiol, SGT Parra-Aceves, S SPC Gardner, PFC Alipio, and PVT Harmon. I would like to personally thank Mrs. Chantelle Reynolds, SPC Balcinovic and all of the ladies of our FRG for their help in putting together our HHB Holiday party set for December 7th. I have been pleasantly surprised at the amount of Soldier & Family participation and know our FRG continues to grow and put together great events for the battery. Thanks to the Soldiers and families for your continued support. Have a safe and happy Holiday Season! CPT Brandon McKean HELLRAISER 6
HHB Assumption of Command
Hellraiser Soldiers conducting Military Operations on Urban Terrain
HHB medics conducting a mock mass casualty training exercise
Army Family Action Plan took place as Delegates, subject matter experts and facilitators gathered at the Graham Resiliency Campus Nov. 13-15 to identify, discuss and prioritize issues of importance to military Families and the Fort Sill community. Maj. Gen. Mark McDonald, Fires Center of Excellence and Fort Sill commanding general, was briefed on those issues the delegates deemed important for resolution. Issues that cannot be resolved locally will be sent to Department of the Army for resolution.
214th Fires Brigade Run for the Fallen was held on 21 November. Amanda Alexander fired the cannon, signifying the start. Alexander was one of many Gold Star family members who attended the event. “Firing the cannon was amazing and a very loud experience. It was such an honor to be able to start the race,� said Alexander.