october edition for the rail gunner monthly

Inside this

issue

Message from

RG6/RG9

2

Chemical attack 3

Convoy 4

Fires Conference 8

Promotions and Re-up 13

The Rail Gunner

Monthly Staff

Commander

COL John C. Thomson, III

Command Sgt. Maj.

CSM Kelvin A. Hughes

Rail Gunner PAO

NCOIC

SSG Kyle Richardson

Rail Gunner Journalists

SGT Lucas Hoskins

SPC Dalinda Salazar

41st Fires Brigade

“Rail Gunners!!”

FORT HOOD, Texas—While Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, were preparing to move locations and conduct counter fire missions, the unit was mortared with several rounds of an unknown chemical

agent during the Table XV battery level field training exercise on North Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 22. The blare of the M4 JCAD Chemical Agent Detection Device alerted the Soldiers, setting them into a ready phase. The sound of the alarm caused them to go from a Mission Orientated Protective Posture level two up to a level four.

Story and photos by

Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson

41st Fires Brigade, PAO

VOLUME 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 12

FORT HOOD, Texas—Spc. Joseph Vales, Phoenix native, chemical agent specialist for Battery C, 2nd Battalion,

20th Field Artillery Regiment, calls in an NBC 1 report after a mortar attack releasing non-persistent nerve

agent in the air during the Table XV training exercise located on North Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 22. With recent

technology and upgrades an NBC 1 report is sent using the Blue Force Tracker.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson , 1st Fires Brigade PAO

See CHEMICAL on Page 3

Rail Gunner 6 & 9 Send an Honor Graduate of ALC at Fort Sill, while SGT Santana Darby of Headquarters Battery, 1-21 FA earned Commandant’s List acco-lades from the most recent Warrior Leader’s Course. Additionally, Ms. Anita Hernandez of the 324th Signal Company’s Family Readiness group was recognized as a Fort Hood Vol-unteer of Merit in September for her countless hours of support to a number of different causes. Finally, four of our magnificent spouses were recognized at the 1st Cavalry Division’s Distinguished Service ceremony on October 5th for their volunteer support to our Army Fam-ily: Ms. Jackie Norris of A/26 FA FRG, Ms. Andrya Rhodes of 1-21 FA FRG, Ms. Beck Bishop of 2-20 FA FRG, and Ms. Gracie Lopez of 589th BSB FRG. Please join us in congratulating these magnificent individuals that help make our Rail Gunner Family so special. As we head into October, the Brigade is focused on recovery op-erations from our recent field train-ing and ramping up for a command post exercise that happens at the end of the month. However, no weekend training is scheduled in October. Importantly, the Brigade will enjoy a four-day weekend Octo-ber 8-11 for Columbus Day and a Brigade Training Holiday on Octo-ber 25th in compensation for our recent field training. The week of October 18-22 is Fort Hood Fall Clean-Up, so our energies will be on beautification of unit areas, clean-up of training facilities, and mainte-nance of our quarters/yards. All units in the Brigade have volun-teered to perform a project in sup-port of Make a Difference Day on October 23, and we encourage all to help makes less fortunate folks’

Colonel

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY OCTOBER 2010

John C. Thomson, III

41st Fires Brigade

Command Sergeant Major

Dear Rail Gunner Family: We start this month’s newsletter with a big shout out to the sixteen companies/batteries of the Brigade for their spectacular performance in the field during the month of September. Each of them safely and superbly increased their war-fighting capabilities. Highlights of the training can be viewed on the Brigade Facebook page, the Fort Hood Sentinel, as well as the Fort Hood On Track television program. While we are extremely proud of their achievements, we also extend a hearty thank you to our Families for your support while we spent over two weeks away from home including some weekends. Your understanding and sacrifices are greatly appreciated, and rest as-sured that we are a much better, more combat-ready unit than we were a few weeks ago. On the individual front, SSG Joshua Frana of Battery, 1-21 FA returned from the Advanced Leader Course at Fort Sill, OK as

The “Rail Gunner Monthly” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the

“Rail Gunner Monthly” are not necessarily official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Depart-

ment of Defense, Department of the Army or the 41st Fires Brigade. All editorial content of this publication

is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office. If you have any

questions, comments, concerns or suggestions contact the 41st Fires Brigade PAO office at 254-287-0739 or

Kelvin Hughes

41st Fires Brigade CSM

lives better on this particular day. Finally, all Rail Gunner troopers and family members are invited to the 1st Cavalry Division Associa-tion’s Stable Call on October 12, 4:30 p.m. at the 1st Cav. Museum, where there will be free food and live entertainment. The Rail Gunner Family is so special because of our wonderful Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members. We are, first and fore-most, a true family that takes care of each other like brothers and sis-ters, and sons and daughters. Each of you is extremely vital to our mission success and nothing is more important than your well-being, health, and safety. If you see or notice a teammate that is down or needs help, please en-gage as a responsible battle buddy and also inform your leaders. We are Rail Gunner Strong because of all you do, each and every day – thank you for your service and dedication to our Nation!

Rail Gunner Strong!

fected. ―I did what I was taught to do,‖ said Spc. Joseph Vales, Phoenix native, chemical agent specialist for Btry. C, 2nd Bat., 20th FA Regt. ―It’s my job to make sure everyone knows how to put on the NBC gear, decon themselves, equipment and vehicles. I just consider myself lucky because I have a chain of command that’s willing to support my training. Most places won’t do NBC training.‖ As the attacked prevailed, Vales shouted directions to the Soldiers on his team and sent up his NBC 1 report that would inform higher headquarters of the attack they encountered. The attack was a non-persistent attack meaning the nerve agent dissipates

quicker than a persistent attack which lingers like a cloud. ―After we got the reports up and closed off everything, we just had to wait for the gas to blow by,‖ said Vales. ―With the heat and the wind it would only take minutes to clear the area.‖ After hours in the sun, the unit succeeded in handling a chemical attack properly and concluded with an after action review with the brigade’s chemi-cal noncommissioned officer in charge. ―It’s important to stay profi-cient with our NBC training,‖ said Sgt. 1st Class Rodney Blackwell, brigade chemical NCOIC, native of Oxford, N.C., 41st FiB. ―Even though the Army has gotten away from some of this training, the threat is still out there. This training could deter-mine life or death.‖

CHEMICAL, cont. from Page 1

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 3

As the yellow smoke crept through the camp, the Soldiers donned the appropriate protec-tive gear, moved into position and quickly gave audible and visual signals of ―Gas, Gas, Gas,‖ warning fellow comrades of the chemical attack. The unit wasn’t completely caught off guard because the command received several re-ports from higher headquarters about possible chemical attacks in the area. ―We received some intelli-gence from our higher command to be prepared for possible NBC attacks,‖ said Capt. Roland Pugh, battery commander for the Btry. C, 2nd Bat., 20th FA Regt. ―We went ahead and got into a MOPP level two because an attack seemed imminent.‖ Even though NBC training is important to Soldiers, counter

measures were put in place to minimize heat casualties. ―It’s been awhile since we’ve incorporated chemical attacks into our field training exercises,‖ said 1st Sgt. Anthony Igehart, Waco, Texas native, first ser-geant for Btry. C, 2nd Bat., 20th FA Regt. ―Before the field, we started doing PT in our MOPP suits and masks. We wanted to identify the Soldiers who would struggle. By the time we got out here, we knew who to keep an eye on.‖ Igehart said PT served an extra purpose by allowing Sol-diers to build confidence in themselves knowing they could withstand the additional heat from the extra equipment. As the gas made its way through the training area, one individual worked even harder to make sure his team wasn’t af-

Soldiers with Battery A, 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, runs to man a position to repel an

attack from the opposition forces invading the battery operation center during the Table XV battery level

field training exercise located on North Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 27. The Soldiers were being evaluated on

their ability to react to indirect fire. During the attack, one Soldier received a chest wound.


Food, water, ammo; 589th BSB sustains fight Story and photos by

Sgt. Lucas Hoskins


Some of the most important jobs on the battlefield does not involve raiding weapons caches, searching for enemy combat-

ants, or kicking in doors be-cause without the simple neces-sities like food, fuel, ammunition, and maintenance parts none of those jobs would be possible. The 589th BSB conducted training on convoy logistical pa-trols during the Table XV field training exercise on Fort Hood, Sept. 21. The Soldiers from the 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade are responsible for

See BSB on Page 5

supplying all of the life and mission sustaining equipment to the two multiple launch rocket system battalions in their brigade. The Table XV training exer-cise is a battery level live fire

exercise designed for leader-ship to evaluate troops, assess their capabilities, and equip-ment. All sections in the batter-ies must conduct the training and certification gates before qualification. Second Lt. Alex Kuziel, a native of Baltimore, currently serving as a platoon leader in Company A, 589th BSB, was tasked with being the convoy commander. Kuziel has just a

little more than a year in the Army, has only been assigned to the unit several weeks. ―This was the really the first convoy I’ve taken place in,‖ said Kuziel. ―I had great support from the noncommissioned offi-

cers as well as my fellow lieu-tenants, which made it easier.‖ The convoy consisted of eight vehicles and 21 Soldiers. Along the route, the convoy came upon a road block which was booby-trapped by opposi-tion forces. Staff Sgt. Juan Rod-riguez, originally from Santa Monica, Calif., assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery 589th BSB as a food service specialist was the first to

Private First Class Lapoleon Hurell, a light-wheeled mechanic with Company B, 589th Brigade Support Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, returns fire when his convoy

encountered opposition forces on a logistical patrol during the brigades field training exercise. Hurell, along with the rest of his patrol, delivered essential supplies

such as fuel, food, and vehicle repair parts to the other elements of the brigade.

Kuziel said, ―Overall everyone did an out-standing job for a first run. We have a few things we can work on, but the bottom line is that the mission got ac-complished in a timely and safe matter.‖ At the end of the day the war fighters got all the supplies they needed and eve-ryone returned to camp.


BSB cont. from Page 4

react to the contact. ―I used as much of the rules of engage-ment and escalation of force as I could,‖ said Rodriguez. ―When I saw the first grenade being thrown, I was forced to take action quickly. Being in the front security vehicle you have to be on alert at all times.‖ Kuziel called his situation report to the battalion’s tactical op-erations center immedi-ately. ―They can follow us on the Blue Force Tracker and are able to see our exact location at all times,‖ Kuziel said. ―It’s important to let them know what’s going on so they can send help if the situation gets out of control.‖ As the attack escaladed, the rear security vehicle, equipped with a .50-caliber machine gun, pushed forward to help suppress the attack. Pvt. 1st Class Lapoleon Hurell, native to Georgetown, S. C., as-signed to Company B, 589th BSB as a light wheel mechanic, was on the trigger of the ma-chine gun. ―This is what we have been training for, so it’s good to see it actually be put to use,‖ said Hurell. ―Even though I’m a me-chanic by trade, I have to stay in the Soldier-first mentality. I have to remember that as a gun-ner, other people’s lives are in my hands.‖ When asked about the over-all performance of his team

Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez, a food service specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 589th Brigade Support

Battalion, 41st Fires Brigade, returns fire on opposition forces as his convoy encountered an enemy force during the brigade’s

field training exercise. Rodriguez, along with the rest of his patrol, delivered essential supplies such as fuel, food, and vehicle

repair parts to the other elements of the brigade.

Second Lt. Alex Kuziel, a

platoon leader in Company

A, 589th Brigade Support

Battalion, 41st Fires Bri-

gade, calls a status report up

to his battalion headquarters

after taking enemy fire dur-

ing a logistical patrol as part

of a brigade field training exercise on Fort Hood. Kuziel served as the convoy commander and led eight vehicles

carrying 21 Soldiers to deliver supplies and maintenance support to the rest of the brigade.

Soldiers build spiritual strength Story and photos by

Staff Sgt. Kyle Richardson


As the Soldiers from the 41st Fires Brigade take a break from the physical demands of the Table XV battery level train-ing exercise, they took advan-tage of the down time and de-voted some time to training and strengthening a part of the body often forgotten about; the spirit. Maj. Joseph Vieira, native of Quincy, Calif., brigade chaplain for the 41st Fires Bde., ar-ranged for a 58th Street chap-lain, 1st Lt. Thomas Obia-tuegwu, native of Nigeria, to conduct a Catholic Mass for the Soldiers training in the field lo-cated on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 24. The 41st Fires Bde. has been in the field for two weeks, training and evaluating Sol-diers’ combat and readiness skills. The training consists of fire and counter-fire missions, react to contact, civilians on the battle field, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear; along with other training scenarios. The Mass allowed the Sol-diers a chance to practice their faith with their brothers in arms, work on strengthening their spirits, and fellowshipping with one another. ―Just because you’re out here in the field doesn’t mean you have to forget about your spiritual needs,‖ said Maj. An-thony Campbell, Lockhart, Texas native, brigade aviation officer for the 41st Fires Bde.

Campbell was once a Eu-charistic minister. He said he appreciated being able to at-tend a Mass in the field and as-sist the chaplain during service. Obiatuegwu or ―Obie‖ for short, taught about the impor-tance of remembering one’s faith, conditioning the spirit as much as the physical body, and taking time to pray. ―Faith is a vital issue in one’s life,‖ said Obiatuegwu. ―Faith will keep you going when everything else falls short.‖ Soldiers with the 41st Fires Bde. were the first audience Obiatuegwu had a chance to deliver a field Mass too. In the unusual setting for a Mass, underneath camouflage netting, the Soldiers prayed, read scripture, and took part in Communion. ―Conducting a service in the

field is a little different than gar-rison,‖ said Staff Sgt. John Ocasio, native of Juana Diaz, Puerto Rico, brigade chaplain assistant, 41st Fires Bde. ―It’s a different feel and style, but the most important thing is for Sol-diers to feel good when they leave.‖ Ocasio said that field ser-vices are usually shorter than a regular service but none the less they’re still affective. ―It is essential that a person maintains their faith structure while they are in the field and when they’re deployed,‖ said Vieira. ―It is one of those things that is no more to be denied than the air we breathe. Faith is where you can find the strength to continue with the mission even if your physical body is tired.‖


Soldiers with the 41st Fires Brigade attend a Catholic Mass in the field while participating in the brigade Table XV

battery level certification training. The service was conducted by a 58th Street chaplain, 1st Lt. Thomas Obiatuegwu,

native of Nigeria. Obiatuegwu conducted his first field Mass with the Soldiers of the 41st Fires Bde., Sept. 24.


Salsa fever invade Cav. Country for first time Story and photos by

Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson


The Conga drums pounded in the background, the brass in-struments whaled in the fore-ground, and the electric piano laid out the rhythmic patterns for the spicy sounds heard from the 1st Cavalry Division Band’s new Salsa group, Los Cavalleros, led by Staff Sgt. Robert Olivarri. As Los Cavalleros enters into its third week of practice in preparation of its opening show at the Killeen Civic Center for Hispanic Heritage Month, Sept. 11, the 13-man group extends a hand to its final member, Pfc. Amarilys Rodriguez, Puerto Ri-can native, an orderly room clerk for the 67th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment. ―I’m honored to have re-ceived a chance like this to per-form with this group,‖ said Rodri-guez. ―I feel like this is a great accomplishment for me and overall a big opportunity to ex-pand my career.‖ Rodriguez said singing comes naturally to her since she’s been singing from her childhood, throughout high school and into her adult years as a civilian. With just under two years in the Army, Rodriguez is awaiting or-ders detaching her from the 41st Fires Brigade and reassigning her to the 1st Cav. Div. Band as a lead singer for Los Cavalleros. ―Pfc. Rodriguez has shown a good amount of talent and moti-vation given the short amount of time we have had to prepare for the show,‖ said Olivarri. ―I think

she’s a good match with the group.‖ Until Rodriguez receives

her orders assigning her to the band, she’s working double roles in order to prepare for the upcoming show as well as helping the 67th FSC with daily duties. ―She [Rodriguez] has the

full support from her chain of command,‖ Sgt. Rafael Moyeno, native of San Juan, Puerto Rico,

orderly room op-erations NCO for the 67th FSC, 2nd Bat., 20th Field Artillery Regt. ―It’s hard to let her go, we really didn’t want to let her leave but, I sat down with the com-mand and we came to conclu-sion that we didn’t want to stand in the way of her career and dreams.‖ Members of the Salsa band prepare to per-form popular songs like ―Celos‖ by Marc Anthony, ―Fabricando Fan-tasias‖ by Tito Nieves, ―No Quiera Na’re-galal‖ by Giberto Santa Rosa and several hit songs from Elvis Cre-spo. Los Cavalleros is a mixed-nationality band playing all genres

of music, new and old, but mostly Salsa, Mamba and Mer-engue. The name of the group takes after the Spanish word ―caballeros,‖ meaning gentle-men; however, the ―b‖ was re-placed with a ―v‖ in honor of the 1st Cav. Div.

Private First Class Amarilys Rodriguez, Puerto Rican native, an orderly room

clerk for the 67th Forward Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery

Regiment, plays the Conga drum during practice with the Los Cavalleros at the

1st Cavalry Division Band building located on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 3. Los

Cavalleros performed its opening show at the Killeen Civic Center for Hispanic

Heritage Month, Sept. 11.

First Team Fires Conference VOLUME 1, ISSUE 12 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY OCTOBER 2010

Story by

Maj. James Schwartz

41st Fires Brigade, FECC OIC

The 1st Cavalry Division hosted a Red Team Fire Sup-port Conference at Fort Hood’s Club Hood on Sept. 2. Key participants included Maj. Gen. Dan Allyn, Division Commander; Col. Scott Efflandt, 1st Brigade

Combat Team commander; Col John Peeler, 2nd Brigade Com-bat Team commander; Col. Doug Crissman, 3rd Brigade Combat Team commander, Col. Brian Winski, 4th Brigade Com-bat Team commander; Col. J.T. Thomson, 41st Fires Brigade commander; Maj. Shawn Hug-gins, 1st Air Cavalry Brigade Operations Officer, all accompa-

nied by their Fire Support Co-ordinators, Artillery Battalion Commanders, and the 1st Cav. Div. Fire Support Ele-ment.

The conference was the first division level Fire Support Conference in recent memory since the 1st Cav. Div. DI-VARTY ―Red Team‖ inactiva-

tion on June 30, 2005. During the conference, Maj. Gen. Al-lyn and his subordinate com-manders discussed current Fire Support trends in both the Iraq and Afghanistan theaters of operation, reviewed full spectrum Fire Support training initiatives, and concluded with approval of the 1st Cav. Div. ―Redbook.‖

The Redbook is a collection of shared Fires knowledge and standards that govern 1st Cav. Div. Fire Support training and applies to all Fires units across the First Team, including can-non, rocket, and mortar delivery units, forward observers, and fire direction centers. Addition-ally, it also applies to critical ele-ments that ensure accurate,

timely, and decisive fires such as coun-terfire radars, mete-orological stations, and survey teams. According to its in-troduction, ―The First Team Redbook is a product of the lead-ers of Fires units as-signed to the divi-sion. It is a compila-tion of standards that provide tactics, techniques, proce-dures and standards to be used by First Team leaders to ef-fect fire support training.‖ It identifies not only the training requirements and strategies, but also the frequency with

which the training must be con-ducted.

Historically, Redbook stan-dards impacted the way a bri-gade trained and functioned. With today’s on-going conflicts and complex operational envi-ronments, the Redbook takes into consideration the needs of today’s modularized Brigade Combat Teams to adapt and

A multiple launch rocket system team from the 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, fire rockets from a MLRS during a field

exercise located at Fort Hood, Texas, July 19. The unit went out for a few days to train up new crews on the unit’s equipment and

how to conduct and receive fire missions.


manders and staff had the op-portunity to receive an update on the Army’s latest family of smart munitions currently util-ized in combat. Representatives from the TRADOC Capabilities Manager Team for Cannon Systems (TCM-Cannon) pro-vided commanders with an up-date on the 155mm Excalibur precision munition that has been successfully employed in both Iraq and Afghanistan. They also briefed commanders on a new 120mm mortar "Advanced Preci-sion Mortar Initiative" scheduled for fielding in early 2011.

The new 1st Cav. Div. Red-book was signed and published on Sept. 9 and has been pro-vided to the Fires Center of Ex-cellence at Fort Sill, Okla. While primarily intended for use by 1st Cav. Div., it also offers best practices and lessons learned for our greater U.S. Army Fires community.

support. The icing on the cake is that today’s Fire Support Con-ference was led by our Maneu-ver Commanders. Their partici-pation served as confirmation that they understand their re-sponsibility to effectively prose-cute all the warfighting functions - not just movement and maneu-ver."

―The current forum will bring the fire supporters on Fort Hood all together on a common ground in order to conduct train-ing, integration, and synchroni-zation so that everyone under-stands what the standards are,‖ said Lt. Col. Patrovick Everett, deputy commander of the 41st Fires Bde. ―Additionally, it makes sure that we as fire sup-porters understand everything it takes to get fires integrated into the combined arms fight.‖

As a conclusion to this year’s Fire Support Conference, com-

Maj. Gen. Daniel Allyn, a native of Berwick, Maine and commanding general of 1st Cavalry Division, briefs the room

during the Fires Support Conference at Club Hood located on Fort Hood, Texas, Sept. 2. The conference discussed

the Redbook, a collection of standards to help leaders understand training requirements and strategies.

FIRES cont. from Page 8

dominate in any operational en-vironment. Additionally, it ac-counts for the demanding Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) cycle and the requirement to prepare units for full spectrum operations. The Redbook pre-scribes minimum Fires training standards up to crew level (Table VI qualification) to ensure solid grounding in the basics of all fire support tasks, and also describes collective fires training strategies for platoon-level and higher operations based upon the Brigade’s wartime mission.

As part of his opening com-ments, Maj. Gen. Allyn stressed the importance of having a well-trained fire support element and its ability to be a decisive com-bat element on the battlefield. He noted the importance of lev-eraging the 41st Fires Brigade, which is under the training and readiness authority (TRA) of the 1st Cav. Div., for expertise in training and mentorship of Fires training at all levels across the formation, similar to what the Division Artilleries (DIVARTY) used to provide. Only two other active duty divisions have a co-located TRA Fires Brigade, so the First Team has a unique op-portunity in this regard.

"Crosstalk among artillery-men, especially Fires command-ers, is vital to the overall health of the Field Artillery as a branch,‖ stated Lt. Col. Miles Brown, commander, 1st Battal-ion, 82 Field Artillery Regiment, 1st BCT. ―The Redbook is a sig-nificant step. While promoting this vital crosstalk, it also pro-vides a gold standard for training across the full spectrum of fire

To MSG

Sgt. 1st Class John M. Terry

To SGT

Spc. Derick J. Grantarthur

Spc. David T. Hemingway

Spc. Steven Lowe

Spc. Cornelius Shelby

Cpl. Jeremy M. Wolff

1-21 FA

Staff Sgt. Bryan Tremaine Edwards

HHB

Staff Sgt. Tiffiny Amanda Bryant

Want more news and information, become a

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VOLUME 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 13

october edition for the rail gunner monthly

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