Issue 90 Feb. 11, 2012
Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Fire Brigade trains to fight insipient fires on CNS Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
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oldiers with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division completed a week long training course on insipient fire fighting and safety at Camp Nathan Smith, Feb. 3. “We’ve put together a comprehensive course on fire fighting and safety,” said Charles Olson, a civilian fire inspector and instructor brought in to teach the Fire Brigade. “So, even if the guys didn’t have any previous fire training or experience, by the end they will be able to fight insipient fires.”
Spc. Timothy Fogarty, an intelligence analyst with HHT, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., uses a fire extinguisher to douse a controlled fire with flame retardant powder under the supervision of Lloyd Callaway, a fire instructor, Jan. 30.
An incipient fire is one in its beginning stage that can be controlled with a portable fire extinguisher or small hose system. “In case there’s a fire (the Fire Brigade) will respond with the equipment they’ve been trained
Spc. Koran Payton, a supply specialist with HHT, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., uses a fire extinguisher to put out a controlled fire Jan. 30.
on,” Olson said. “They will implement defensive fire fighting procedures and tactics.” “If it’s past the incipient phase, we’ll cordon off the area and prevent the fire from spreading by putting up a water curtain using the fire truck,” said Spc. Koran Payton, a supply specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The CNS Fire Brigade has two types of vehicles it can employ in case of a fire. The first is the Compressed Air Foam System that is mounted on the back of a utility vehicle. The CAFS is a 60 gallon tank containing compressed foam and water designed to suppress fire. The second vehicle is a big sand-colored fire truck, which was brought in from Iraq by the request of Ed Keeser, the 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. safety officer. “This is the first response team for CNS, but they have limited
capabilities and they have been taught those limitations,” said Lloyd Callaway, a civilian fire inspector and instructor. “There are things they have to consider if it’s incipient—the ambient temperature and accumulation of smoke, and then they have to decide if they can take evasive action or not.” “I learned what type of fires we can fight,” Payton said. “I didn’t know there were different classifications of things that would put out a fire. I didn’t know that water isn’t always the solution to kill every fire.” Throughout the training the Fire Brigade was exposed to real world scenarios and received hands-on training by extinguishing fires. “By putting out real fires we learned how to react to fire, how to use the CAFS, how to use the foam and how it reacts to the fire,” said Spc. Baraa Abbas, a water purification specialist with Company A, 204th Brigade Support Battalion.
To culminate the training, the instructors issued a pop quiz The instructors arranged wooden pallets in a pyramid shape about eight feet high and then set it on fire and waited. Within minutes, the fire announcement came on the loud speaker alerting the Fire Brigade, who promptly reacted and extinguished the fire. “The final scenario encompassed everything they’ve learned to this point,” Callaway said. “It’s not a pass or fail but they do have to meet minimum standards—that they’re safe, that they communicate between each other, that they are operating the equipment correctly and that they extinguish the fire.” “You really have to assess your situation, you just can’t rush into a fire because there could be heavy smoke, bullets or grenades that could be very dangerous,” said Staff Sgt. Lester Canidy, a noncommissioned officer in charge of one the Fire Brigade teams on CNS with 385th Military Police Battalion. “It is all about safety first.” Callaway said, “We have some good guys in this class who are motivated and eager and they are going to be the 911 call for CNS.”
Spc. Kory Hohn, an infantryman with HHT, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., yells out to his fellow Fire Brigade members because the fire extinguisher was out of powder Jan. 31.
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Warhorse Pride
Issue 90 Feb. 11, 2012
Warhorse Soldiers become American citizens in Afghanistan Story and photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan 2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
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hree Warhorse Soldiers who have been defending the United States in Afghanistan for the past eight months are now officially defending their country. In a naturalization ceremony held at Kandahar Air Field, the three Soldiers with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division took the Oath of Allegiance to the United States and became American citizens Feb. 10. “I can think of no better people, no better citizens, than you all sitting here,” said Maj. Gen. Jim Huggins, 82nd Airborne Division and Regional Command (South) commander, to the 36 Soldiers, Marines and Airmen who took part in the ceremony. “You already have been well vested and tested in your obligations to the citizens of the United States by virtue of the fact of what you’re doing here and that is ensuring those privileges for the people back in the United States.” In order to receive their citizenship the Soldiers had to submit an application, fingerprints, get interviewed and take a test on civics and American history. “There was a lot of paperwork in the process,” said Pfc. Satoshi Kondo, a medic with Troop D, 1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., who emigrated with his family from Japan and is now a resident of Arcata, Calif. “I started the process
Warhorse Pride Col. John S. Kolasheski...................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa..............2nd BCT CSM Maj. Kevin Toner................................................2nd BCT PAO Sgt. Seth Barham..................................................PAO NCOIC Sgt. Ruth Pagan......................................Layout and Design Spc. April York.........................................Layout and Design
when we got to Afghanistan.” “It was a lot of pressure taking the test and waiting for approval,” said Pfc. Alberto Vera-Navarro, an infantryman with Company C, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., who emigrated with his family from Peru and is now a resident of San Jose, Calif. “It’s a relief to finally take the oath.” Becoming an American citizen comes with a lot of mixed emotions. “My mother has been so excited asking me about it since I did the application back in April 2011,” said Spc. Qianqian Liu, a medic with Troop C, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., who emigrated with her family from China and is now a resident of New York City, N.Y. “I’m the first in my family to become an American citizen.” Also the first in his family, Kondo said, “My family is ambivalent about me becoming a citizen; they are worried about how long I will be able to stay in Japan when I go to visit them, but I feel like it was time for me make that decision.” The Soldiers reasons for becoming citizens are just as diverse as their backgrounds. “I did it for my father and mother,” VeraNavarro said. “They actually got naturalized a couple of months ago and they gave me the courage to do it too.” “I joined the Army and I’m fighting for my
Pfc. Satoshi Kondo (farthest right), a medic with Troop D, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., holds his hand up while saying the Oath of Allegiance to the United States in a naturalization ceremony Feb. 10.
country,” Kondo said. “So, why shouldn’t I get citizenship? I’ve been in the states since 1990. I figured I’ve been here long enough that I felt like, ‘I want to be American.’” “When I joined the Army being naturalized was not on my agenda,” Liu said. “But, I have seen a lot of great things that America does and I think being an American citizen will provide me more opportunities.” After swearing the oath, saying the Pledge of Allegiance and receiving a certificate the Soldiers became official American citizens. “I feel really excited,” Vera-Navarro said. “I’m proud to be an American citizen.” “I feel like I’m part of something bigger then myself,” Kondo said. “I’m really proud to be an American and serve our country better,” Liu said. “I can’t wait to vote this coming November.”
Praise
Walking tall
Photo by Sgt. April York
Photo by Sgt. Seth Barham
Capt. Joel Payne (right), the chaplain for 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., Spc. Marcus Garcia (middle), a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the 411th Military Police Company attached to 204th BSB, and Staff Sgt. Stephanie Hawkins (legt), a financial management technician with Company B, 33rd Financial Management Company attached to 204th BSB, sing praise and worship songs during a prayer luncheon held at Forward Operating Base Walton, Feb. 6. The luncheon was open to everyone.
Soldiers from Company B, 1st Bn., 67th AR, patrol a village in western Kandahar City during a joint clearance operation with the Afghan Uniformed Police from Police Substation 8, Feb. 1. The clearance yielded three mortar rounds, seven rocketpropelled grenades and an anti-personnel mine.
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded newsletter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public
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