Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Issue 106 Aug. 16, 2012
Denver community welcomes
home the troops Story and photos by Sgt. April York
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2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
ries of “thank you” and “welcome home” filled the streets of downtown Denver as 160 Soldiers from Fort Carson, Colo., with 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, marched and called cadence in the Colorado Yellow Ribbon Parade. The Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard followed by the Fort Carson wounded warriors led the parade. “The parade was about welcoming home the troops, letting the community know we were there and that we are back, and to say thank you,” said Spc. Ashley Barraza, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with Forward Support Company G, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. The parade was the first and only statewide event dedicated to welcome home the military troops and honor those still serving. Representatives from the Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy along with veterans and community organizations marched in the parade in support of the troops. “This is just awesome,” said Katherine Mullin, a retired special education teacher for Littleton Public Schools. “I think everyone has feelings for our military, but maybe they don’t
Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., led by Lt. Col. Keith Jarolimek, their commander, march and call cadence in the Colorado Yellow Ribbon Parade downtown Denver, Aug. 11.
know how to show it and this is just a great venue for it.” Soldiers from private to command sergeant major took great pride in the event. “To me it’s more emotional,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Benito Perez Jr., 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. “It felt good seeing my Soldiers march in the parade—it means more to me than they may know.” Perez served with 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. from 2001 to 2004 as a platoon sergeant for Battery C and deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom I where he lost a
Members of the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard and their trusty horses lead the Colorado Yellow Ribbon Parade through the streets of downtown Denver, Aug. 11.
Soldier. Seeing the community get involved to support the Soldiers was very uplifting for the participants. “As military service members sometimes we don’t see the appreciation from the civilians, and parades like this really make us realize that they really do appreciate everything we do,” said Sgt. Noe Tapia, a canon crewmember from Battery B, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. “It felt kind of nice to actually have civilians supporting us on coming back home and doing the mission we did in Afghanistan.” The Soldiers of 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12 and have recently returned home. Deployments can be long hours and high stress, which makes this welcome home parade all the more meaningful. “It was great to hear people cheering for our Soldiers before they even announced our name,” Perez said. “It was really touching.” Community members and veterans waved signs and cheered as all the parade participants passed by. One community member, Evelyn Poulo, a retired database administrator, had a message for the men and women who serve, “We love you for it.”
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Warhorse Pride
Issue 106 Aug. 16, 2012
ASIST workshop targets leaders, focuses on intervention Story and photo by Sgt. Seth Barham 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO
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eaders from the “Warhorse” Brigade attended an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop Aug. 9 and 10 at Veterans Chapel. The ASIST program was incorporated into the Department of the Army Pamphlet 600-24, Health Promotion, Risk Reduction and Suicide Prevention, which became effective in 2009 and requires battalions to have a minimum of 85 percent of their first-line leaders certified through the two-day workshop. “The training is intended to compliment the Army’s ‘Ask, Care, Escort,’ suicide prevention program,” said Maj. Ricky Way, chaplain, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Warhorse Pride Col. Omar Jones.............................2nd BCT Commander Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen....2nd BCT CSM Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOIC Staff Sgt. Ruth Pagan.........................Layout and Design Sgt. April York......................................Layout and Design
Division. “It focuses on making in the long run and the enduring connections with Soldiers within the process, and it’s the same thing with formation to help better understand the ASIST model.” the reasons behind suicidal thoughts The workshop consisted of and feelings.” “If we can save just one several lectures, Way is one simulations and life as a result of this of five primary practical exercises, and training, then we have culminated in a role ASIST trainers in 2nd BCT who made a difference.” playing exercise that completed a five~Maj. Ricky Way allowed leaders to apply day “train the 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Chaplain their newly learned trainer” workshop. intervention skills. The ASIST model is the way to Thirty leaders from 2nd BCT apply the ACE program effectively, took part in the two-day training and said Staff Sgt. Adam Ward, senior additional leaders will be certified chaplain’s assistant, 2nd BCT. in the weeks to come as the Unit “Comparing decisive Ministry Teams in the brigade plan to action operations in combat to hold ASIST every other week. counterinsurgency methods is just “I honestly thought this was like comparing ACE to ASIST,” going to be a dry and boring type of Ward said. “When you’re conducting training,” said Sgt. Nathan Lewis, COIN, you are much more invested infantryman, Company B, 1st Staff Sergeant Doris Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, Fisher, left, supply 2nd BCT, who attended the training. sergeant, Company G, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., “I couldn’t have been any more talks Capt. Joel Payne, wrong. The ASIST model really chaplain, 204th BSB, out of committing opened my eyes and I feel like I’m so suicide during a role much better equipped to care for my playing exercise as part of Applied Suicide Soldiers if they are having issues.” Intervention Skills U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson Training at Veterans Chapel, Aug. 10. The will host a five-day ASIST workshop workshop consisted Oct. 1 through 5 to certify additional of several lectures, simulations and practical trainers on post. exercises, and culminated “If we can save just one life as in a role playing exercise that allowed leaders to a result of this training, then we have apply their newly-learned made a difference,” Way said. intervention skills.
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
Affairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook. com/2bct4id Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor: seth.barham1@us.army.mil