Issue 38 Dec. 9, 2010
Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
FORSCOM CSM visits Warhorse Soldiers Story by Sgt. Seth Barham
2nd Brigade Combat Team, PAO
The senior enlisted leader for the U.S. Army’s Forces Command, Command Sgt. Maj. Ronald Riling, visited with Soldiers and noncommissioned officers from 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, December 1. Riling began his visit to the Mountain Post by eating lunch with selected Warhorse Soldiers at the Raider Dining Facility.
The luncheon served as an open forum for Soldiers to discuss their thoughts on current Army programs such as the implementation of the new Army Physical Fitness doctrine, deployment rotations, and quality of life for Soldiers. Riling then met with 2nd BCT’s acting command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Alvarado, to talk about current and future operations for the brigade. Riling concluded his visit with a
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright
Commander’s Column
Col. John S. Kolasheski, commander 2nd Brigade Combat Team
Soldiers and Families of the Warhorse Brigade, In the near future, the Department of Defense will announce what we’ve expected for some time. The Warhorse
Brigade will deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The brigade will deploy in late Spring / early Summer 2011. Although it is too early to know exactly where in Afghanistan we will deploy, we are planning on Southern and Western Afghanistan. Of course, both the timing and locations can change based on operational needs. Our completed and future training will lead to mission success. We are developing lethal platoons, educating Soldiers and leaders on culture and language, training with new weapons and
noncommissioned officer professional development session for all available NCOs on the installation. He discussed a wide range of topics such as discipline, training and standards. Riling charged the NCOs with setting and making the standards for the force. “We’ve got to get back to basics and do the basics well,” said Riling. “We’ve got to train our young Soldiers and show them what right looks like.”
Photo by Maj. Kevin Toner
equipment, and learning about governance, economics, and infrastructure development. Our February mission rehearsal exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center will provide a world-class training environment and give us the opportunity to hone our skills and verify our battle drills. Our leaders are competent and confident in their abilities and the capabilities of their units. Growing from field training, counter-insurgency seminars, academics, and discussions with deployed units, our leaders know what we must do to achieve our military goals. Deployments are challeng-
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Shannon Wright
ing for all of us, especially our Families. We are making every effort to ensure our Families have the support they need and deserve. Our Family Readiness Groups are vibrant. Our Rear Detachment will be well-staffed and well-trained. Our chains of command know their Soldiers at a personal level. Our Chaplains are top-notch. We truly appreciate the love and sacrifice of our Families. Our Families’ unwavering support allows the Soldiers of this brigade to stay mission-focused. I am proud and honored to answer the Nation’s call with you.
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Warhorse Pride
Issue 38 Dec. 9, 2010
Civilians embed with 2-8IN Story by Maj. Kevin Toner 2nd Brigade Combat Team, PAO
A two-man team of college journalism students embedded with Company A, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. during Warhorse Blitz field training December 4 – 6. Graham Hunter and Aaron Gustad, both Colorado State University students in Fort Collins, Colo., spent the weekend with Company A and covered the company’s dismounted patrol and patrol base defense in the Fort Carson training area. “The embed program was designed to be a joint educational experience,” said Maj. Kevin Toner, public affairs officer for 2nd Brigade Combat Team. “The students would learn about the military and embedding while our Soldiers would learn about how to best interact with the media.” Within an hour of arriving to the company patrol base, the students began what became a six hour dismounted patrol where they encountered civilian role players, snipers, and improvised explosive devices. The students became part of the patrol as they would if deployed to a war zone.
Chaplain’s Corner
Relationships, even the best relationships, change. When a relationship is working, these changes are taken in stride. Husbands and wives age together, mastering the challenges of working, running a house hold, dealing with deployments and separation as well as raising children. Often though, changes have the potential to derail a relationship. Love cools, annoying habits grate, money troubles loom and the stress of keeping a family going chips away at the love bond within the marriage. If you find yourself fighting your loved one, if the love you once shared has dissolved into resentment and endless, destructive arguing, you need help. Many relationships have been saved by marriage counseling. The neutral, insightful voice and advice of a counselor or chaplain can help a husband and wife put their partnership back together. Sometimes
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAO Spc. April York........................................Layout and Design Sgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor
We went for a long patrol and took fire and I had to react with the Soldiers, said Hunter. I learned how to capture a shot, protect myself, and not get in the way of the Soldiers. The students provided real-world training for the Soldiers. During the patrol base defense, one of the students received permission to film from outside the base. A base guard identified a civilian moving in the tree line and was prepared to fire, but rightly did not because he could not make positive identification and the student was not acting hostile. The students, who graduate this and next semester, also benefitted professionally from the weekend. Besides the embedding experience, they will use their footage and Soldier interviews to improve their job resumes. “I hope that [this weekend] will set me apart from other journalism students and propel my career,” said Gustad. “This was a unique opportunity to see what happens instead of just hear about it,” he said. “This was an awesome opportunity to see what it’s like for Soldiers to prepare for war,” said Hunter. all that is needed is a little clear and unbiased direction to turn the situation around. The key to saving a relationship is learning the art of sacrificial love, love in which each partner places the other’s needs above their own. That doesn’t mean being a doormat or putting up with abusive behavior. It means mutually respectful love, the kind that God gives to everyone. Pray for this kind of love, especially during this holiday season when God’s demonstration of such great love is so near. Get outside help if you can’t seem to manage it on your own. And then hold on to it with all of your strength. It might very well help you rekindle the nurturing and caring relationship you once had. My prayer for all is that you might know true and unconditional love that brings you peace and joy. Blessings, Chaplain (Maj.) Ricky Way The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the fairs Office. Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commenDivision. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news- tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the Contents of The Warhorse Pride are publication. not necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S. All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed government, Department of Defense, Department of the online from your home computer at www.facebook. Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content com/2bct4id of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and Submissions should be emailed to the approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Afeditor: seth.barham1@conus.army.mil