The Saber - February 2020

1-303D CAVALRY REGIMENT

FEBRUARY 2020

“ SO EVEN THOUGH WE FACE THE DIFFICULTIES OF TODAY AND TOMORROW, I STILL HAVE A DREAM” MARTIN LUTHER KING JR

Settling into the Mission Author: SSG Eric White

Having been here for nearly three months, Troopers of the 1-303D CAV, have settled into the rhythm of everyday life at the NJTC. The successful completion of Casual Troops JOEP cycle developed an unbreakable bond between our Troopers and their Jordanian counterparts. Assassin Troop is on track to complete their JOEP cycle during the second week of February. Assassin Troopers took the lessons learned from Casual’s 6th Mech JOEP cycle, and used them to enhance their training curriculum with 24th Mech. Collectively, we continue to refine our teaching methods and products as we transition to a more Jordanian focused instruction model, which we expect to implement within the next couple of months. Battle Troop has been conducting SECFOR operations protecting critical US infrastructure as well as maintaining individual soldier skill proficiency. Outside of our mission, many Soldiers participate in friendly competition with the monthly 1000/500lbs clubs, hosted by the USO. For all of the runners in our ranks, there is now also a 1000/500km club that began in January and will continue through the remainder of the deployment. Perhaps the biggest event that all of our Troopers have been looking forward to is Super Bowl LVI between the Chiefs and 49ers.

While the game doesn't start until 0130 here in Jordan, there will be no shortage of fans attending the viewing party at the NJTC Auditorium during the early morning hours. Thank you for your continued commitment to our Soldiers and mission.

1-303D CAV soldiers participated in and completed the Monthly USO 1000/500LB club on NJTC - Congrats to all those who participated and successfully achieved this amazing feat.

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1-303D CAV Soldier of the Month Winner “SPEAK SOFTLY AND CARRY A BIG STICK”- THEODORE ROOSEVELT

SPC Kevin Anderson

Military Education: 

Troop: Havoc MOS: 68W10 Duty POS: Combat Medic HOR: Longview, Washington



Brigade Combat Trauma Training Team 2019 Basic Leaders Course 2019

Civilian Education:

SPC Anderson has been a medic with the 303rd since 2017 and has been a line medic with C Trp, 1-303rd for the majority of that time. SPC Anderson distinguished himself during XCTC as an exceptional medic, treating dozens of simulated and real-world casualties. Since deploying, SPC Anderson has taken on multiple responsibilities including working as a CLS Instructor, treating sick and injured Soldiers at the TMC, as well as providing maintenance support of the platoon's ambulances and communication equipment.

Most importantly SPC Anderson has been a key contributor to the Squadrons primary mission, the Jordan Operational Exchange Program. SPC Anderson has become one of the senior CLS instructors in JOEP by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in both the CLS material he teaches as well as his ability to teach and demonstrate the principles of first aid to the JAF. SPC Anderson hopes to continue to serve as a medic in the 1-303rd and is working towards becoming an exemplary NCO.

  

Trident University International Northwest Regional Training Center Clark Community College

Personal Interest:

I enjoy hunting, camping, fishing, rowing and motorcycle riding.

What does being recognized as Soldier of the Month mean to you?

“It means that I get to be an example to soldiers around me. It also tests my knowledge of basic soldering tasks and provides insight in what areas I need to improve myself.”

-SPC Anderson

Ambitions and Goals: Complete my bachelor’s degree, complete paramedic school and become a fire fighter and become a home owner..

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From the Command Team 1-303D Commander

1-303D Command Sergeant Major

LTC Ozmer

CSM Hurt

Another month has come and gone as we continue operations here in Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

The Troopers of 1-303 CAV continue to work hard and their success and progress can be witnessed daily.

Training with our Jordanian counterparts continues with great success. Casual Troop completed our first cycle of training with our Jordanian counterparts in mid-January and started training with another unit on 26 January. Assassin Troop is in the final phase of training with their Jordanian unit and will complete their cycle in mid-February. Battle Troop is improving their SECFOR mission capability, and capitalizing on training opportunities in Bahrain, escaping the cold and damp weather that the rest of the Squadron is experiencing in Jordan and Kuwait. Havoc continues to provide Staff and Medical support to all elements of the Squadron, planning and supporting current missions while preparing the Squadron for future missions throughout our area of responsibility. The Medics taught a Combat Life Saver courses concurrent with clinic operations and training Jordanian soldiers on medical tasks. Dark Horse has steadily improved the capability of our vehicles and equipment, completing nearly 1000 maintenance work orders since our arrival in November while providing recovery and transportation for the elements in Jordan. Their team at MSAB continues to improve the security and infrastructure for their SECFOR mission site. And our Dark Horse liaison team in Kuwait continues their critical role in our successful communications with the Brigade HQs, ensuring supplies and repair parts flow to Jordan regularly. I am certain the events of early January gave many of you moments of pause or concern, but I can assure you the Troopers of the 1303 CAV are safe and continue to work diligently in supporting the US strategic mission of building relationships and capabilities with our partners in the Middle East. Thank you for your continued support at home; you can be proud of your Soldier and the work they are doing here.

January was quite the busy month for members of the 1-303d Cavalry Regiment. Our Troopers have been engaged in rigorous and relevant training which has focused on both their individual and collective readiness. This last month saw the graduation of the 6th Mechanized Battalion and the start of 14week training program (Jordan Operation Engagement Program: JOEP) with the 4th Mechanized Battalion. The 24th Mechanized Battalion progressed through their Squad live fire exercise and is poised for completion and graduation with their JOEP cycle. Battle Troop continues to build their partnership capacities while executing combined rehearsals and joint battle drills. Our staff continues to support current operations and plan for future operations.

Their flexibility and attention to detail continues to drive success within the Squadron and is appreciated at all levels. Our maintainers continue to increase our operational readiness through their due diligence and time and efforts in the motorpool. I could not be more gratified on the way that the Squadron is executing while training and operating with our military partners across the globe. On every front, our Troopers are punching well above their weight in pursuit of the Squadron’s mission.

“Always in the Lead!”

-Saber 7

“Always in the Lead!”

-Saber 6 LTC Ozmer and CSM Hurt bid farewell to MAJ Mohammad as he moves on to his next assignment. His dedication to the JOEP program has greatly contributed to our strong and lasting relationship with the Kingdom of Jordan.

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Leading from the Front MESSAGES FROM THE FORWARD TROOPS ON TRAINING, MORALE AND DAILY OPERATIONS.

Assassin Troop It has been yet another busy month for us. 1st PLT has continued executing their SECFOR mission with solemn professionalism. They have seized multiple opportunities to participate in live-fire ranges (including both M4 rifles and M240 machine guns). 2nd and 3rd PLT are now heading into week 13 of JOEP, having completed a number of training events including: M4 night qualification, machine gun qualification, squad movement, platoon movement, and two other live-fire exercises. The mortar platoon conducted two weeks of successful direct lay fires with the JAF mortar platoon (shooting 150-250 rounds per day). Our mortar teams report that they have observed demonstrable progress within the JAF Mortars in their ability to get first round effects on target. They have also completed three weeks of integrating FDC (fire direction center) JAF Soldiers with JAF FOs (forward observers) in preparation for the culminating exercise.

Thank you for your continued support. Your Soldiers are hard at work and doing a great job. We are all proud of them. We will continue to stay in touch, especially as our first training cycle draws to a close. Feel free to reach out to the FRG team if you need anything.

-1LT Hubbard

Battle Troop Battle Troop Platoons continue to lead the way in Bahrain. In addition to conducting SECFOR operations within the context of an upgraded Force Protection posture, Battle Troop Platoons have been able to conduct a M17 pistol range, M4 Zero range, and transition ranges. This training increased individual Soldier combat readiness, confidence, and capabilities employing primary and secondary weapon systems. Battle Troop is also finalizing a plan to conduct multi-national Combat Life Saver training with the Royal Bahrain Air Force Air Police from 03-07 February. This training will directly enhance our combat lifesaving capabilities while strengthening relationships with regional allies.

-2LT Wilkinson

Casual Troop Soldiers of Casual troop successfully completed their first JOEP cycle with the 6th Mechanized Battalion (Mech BN) of the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF.) Throughout the 14 week JOEP cycle, Casual Troop trained 6th Mech BN on individual and collective tasks through dismounted maneuvers with exceptional success. Training highlights include; basic rifle marksmanship, first aid, automatic crew served weapons, 81mm mortars, and the employment of snipers.

During this training the Soldiers of the 6th Mech BN gained a vast amount of knowledge from the professionals of Causal Troop, which helped enable the 6th Mech BN to win the Jordanian marksmanship competition in January. We concluded our training with a weeklong company live fire exercise and graduation ceremony at the Jordanian Peace Operations Center.

Overall we had a great experience training with the 6th Mech BN which enhanced our collective capabilities and most importantly strengthened the long standing friendship between the US and the Kingdom of Jordan.

-1SG Muzzy 4

Leading from the Front (Continued) Darkhorse Company Delta continues to perform its support mission repairing and maintaining vehicles and readying them for future operations and training. Delta recently conducted short range convoy training in conjunction with a crew serve weapons range in an effort to maintain our support capabilities and skillsets.

All our Soldiers are taking advantage of physical training opportunities and improving their physical fitness daily. Our SECFOR element continues to improve their base defense skills and maintain readiness at a secure location. Soldiers are also looking forward to rotating into some MWR trips.

-1SG Betts

Havoc Troop Havoc Troop has been working hard during the month of January on a variety of critical tasks.

For the staff sections, their focus has been on mission tracking, planning, logistics, intelligence, communications support, personnel operations, and SRT execution. The fire’s section and medics have been successfully planning and executing JOEP training with our host nation counterparts. Our Soldiers have kept their motivation high and HHT has continued to prove that we are the backbone of the Squadron in which each of us so proudly serves."

-CPT Torres-Mora

UMT A Message from our Chaplain There’s an interesting aspect to our human nature that I’ve observed throughout the years. It’s the aspect that some lessons we have to learn and relearn. Years ago, on deployment, I came to realize that the things that I thought were “the big things” turned out to be the small things. Likewise, the thing that I had thought were “small things”, in reality, turned out to be the big things.

Sometimes we need to just to sit down, or be sat down, and look at the vantage point of where we are in the story of our lives. To take measure of how “the big things” and “the small things” coalesce, for they are both part of the story of our lives. We can’t separate one from the other however, we can come to a peace that it is in embracing the small things that we are prepared for the big things. The big things could be something of great achievement or great disappointment. The small things could be that special time we spend with a loved one or spending time in the Word.

Seasons come and seasons go. Big things come and big things go, whether triumphs or tribulations. It is the small things, when aptly cherished and engaged with, help us traverse this world while we are here. They are the foundation of what drives us and what we’ve been entrusted with and called to.

May the Lord richly bless you all.

-CH Webb “Be still, and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10a 5

Happenings at Home From the Rear Detachment Task Force Jordan is hitting its stride in both Jordan and Bahrain. We can attribute our success not only to the professionalism and expertise of our Soldiers, but also to the unwavering support of all of our families and friends back home. During this time frame with what we see on the news and in social media our mission has not changed. And we are grateful everyday for our soldiers and those supporting us here at home.

- 1LT Park

Family Events

While it feels like the main body left for Jordan just yesterday, we are nearing the halfway point. With that, families are able to begin registering for the mid-tour Yellow Ribbon Event. One thing I want to emphasize is the registration for Yellow Ribbon. We have two locations depending on where families are located within Washington (Olympia and Yakima). During this time a lot of unease and hardship is endured not only for those serving but also for those who are supporting us back home. This is a great program to gather as a community and to come together as a family.

Please also keep in mind that Tax season is upon us. We have included some information and resources below to help you get started.

- 1LT Park MilTax Preparation and e-Filing Software will be available starting Jan. 22 through mid-October. Powered by an industry-leading tax service provider, it’s designed to address situations specific to the military. This easy-to-use, self-paced tax software walks you through a series of questions to help you complete and electronically file your federal return and up to three state tax forms. Calculations are 100 percent accurate – guaranteed by the software provider. Visit this link to get started— https:// www.militaryonesource.mil/financial-legal/tax-resourcecenter/miltax-military-tax-services Registration Steps  Go to www.yellowribbonevents.org  Service Component-select “Army National Guard” from the drop down then click “Find Events”.  On left, uncheck “All” and only check “WA” then click “Update”  Click on your event  Click on “Register Now”  Fill in all blanks with your information and click on “Add another attendee/guest” to add spouse/ family member/children/friend.  When finished, click “register now”  Click on “Add Another” (if applicable), then update  This will confirm your registration  You will receive an email confirm your registration 6

1-303D CAV Birthday’s & Promotions A TRP

Stevens, Jacobs (21st)

Gross, Kevin (3rd)

D CO

Burnett, Nicholas (23rd)

Mendoza, Alejandro (5th)

Wooster, Michael (21st)

Yarbrough, James (22nd)

Zacher, Mathew (15th)

Lujanogonzalez, Luis (25th) Robinson, Joshua (26th) Rodriguez, Matthew (26th) Terrell, William (27th) Kramer, Michael (28th)

C TRP

Muzzy, Jason (5th)

Taylor, Shane (24th) Johnson, Kareem (28th)

HHT

Babb, Nicholas (9th)

Webb, Montgomery (2nd)

Dent, Patrick (12th)

Grunn, David (6th)

Vela, Branden (1st)

Elkins, Alexander (7th)

Lewis, Nakira (9th)

Nguyen, Quang (5th)

Perry Travis (14th)

Harper, Cody (11th)

Zavalarubio, Andres (7th)

Berg, Zachary (22nd)

Hurt, John (12th)

Hansen, Seth (13th)

May, Jacob (26th)

Alvarez, Bryan (15th)

Cobb, Austin (17th)

Reynolds, Michael (25th)

Wendel, Cody (23rd)

Biermanski, Carson (21st)

Ruhlin, Kyle (25th)

Mckay, Alexis (29th)

B TRP

Squadron Promotions CPL Brooks - A Troop SGT Lebow - C Troop SGT Mondragon - C Troop SGT Sherman - C Troop SGT Takagi - C Troop SSG Crimmins - HHT SGT Elkins - C Troop SGT Hansmeyer - A Troop 1LT Benfer - HHT (S2)

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1-303D CAV Moments Caught on Camera

Professional development is part of being a Soldier, and a promotion is a significant achievement in ones career. It shows a commitment to their skill leadership capabilities

1-303D CAV Soldiers participate in training on crew served and mortar weapon systems.

US and JAF Soldiers conduct an After Action Review following a day of JOEP Training.

B TRP Soldiers conduct Marksmanship and CBRN Training in support their SECFOR mission.

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From The USO

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