THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE 3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM, 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION

JANUARY 2015 EDITION

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Panthers train for advise, assist mission

Paratroopers from across the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division put their

collective skills to the test Jan. 12-16 during a Culminating Training Event at Fort Bragg, N.C. The exercise, facilitated by the 82nd Abn. Div. and the 3rd Battalion, 353rd Armor Regiment’s Security Force Assistance Training team from Fort Polk, Louisiana, focused on refining the brigades’ capabilities to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces. About 1,000 Paratroopers from 3rd BCT are slated to deploy in the coming weeks and will work with the ISF to instruct them in a range of military skills to enable them to fight ISIL. Maj. Odelle “Jibriel” Means, one of the lead planners for the CTE with 3rd BCT, said to prepare the Paratroopers for the advise and assist mission, the 82nd Abn. Div. and the SFAT team offered training that was tough and realistic. He said the most important component of the exercise was the key leader engagement training, which partnered each 3rd BCT SFAT team with a group of Iraqi army role players. Means described the KLE training as tremendously important in helping prepare leaders to effectively coach, teach and mentor their Iraqi military counterparts. “It’s [about] building that rapport to be able to build that trust,” Means said. Lt. Col. Bryan L. Babich, commander of 1st Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd BCT, and an SFAT team leader, agreed. “All the battalion’s SFATs are

made up of just the absolute best noncommissioned officers and staff officers,” Babich continued. “You’re playing with the all-stars, they’ve got the right attitude, they come together and to get [this] one week of training that we had, all it does is boost that confidence that we work well together as a collective.” Col. Curtis A. Buzzard, commander of 3rd BCT, said the KLE training was critical to preparing his Paratroopers for the mission ahead. “It helped our experienced leaders refresh on the steps necessary to plan, prepare, rehearse, execute and assess the engagement and also required us to exercise basic negotiation skills, mediate conflict and use a linguist,” Buzzard said. “Scenarios also included staff partnering across the SFAT, which provided our more junior leaders a chance to practice these same steps and make mistakes here rather than overseas.” Babich said he is confident the training prepared his SFAT team, as well as the teams across the brigade. “We’re optimistic [because] we understand what our mission is, we understand that part of what we’ll need to accomplish up front is understanding what we can provide and how that’s different from when we were there before,” he said. “We’ll be able to communicate and develop some sort of common operational picture for Col. Buzzard and his chain of command—you can really see that’s where we can truly make a difference.”

BY STAFF SGT. MARY S. KATZENBERGER3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. Army photo by Sgt. David T. Blocker/ReleasedLt. Col. Hermon L. Johnson Jr. (middle), commander of 82nd Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division meets with a role player portraying a leader from the Iraqi Security Forces during a training exercise, Jan. 15, 2015, at Fort Bragg, N.C. Leaders from 3rd BCT will deploy to Iraq in the next few weeks to advise and assist the ISF to enable them to defeat ISIL.

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Panthers receive training on AK-47 riflesU.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence teaches Paratroopers how to disassemble, reassemble weapons

Paratroopers assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Air-borne Division took advantage of

a unique opportunity to learn about the AK-47 rifle, Jan. 22, during a hands-on class at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg. Special Forces Soldiers with the USA-JFKSWCS, the Army’s Special Operations Center of Excellence, taught the Para-troopers about AK-47 rifles in prepara-tion for Paratroopers deploying to Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces.Approximately 1,000 Paratroopers from 3rd BCT are slated to deploy in the com-ing weeks and will work with the ISF to instruct them in a range of military skills to enable them to fight ISIL. The Paratroopers, a mix of noncom-missioned officers and junior Paratroop-ers, learned the characteristics of the AK-47 rifle, how to disassemble and reas-semble the weapon, and how to perform a functions check. The Special Forces Soldiers also taught the Paratroopers how to sight the weapons, priming them for their upcoming mission with the ISF. An instructor with the USAJFKSWCS said he appreciated having the oppor-tunity to teach the Paratroopers as they prepare to deploy. “When we are able to exchange knowl-edge we’re more than happy to do it,” he said. “As a Special Forces weapons ser-geant it’s my job to teach them.” Sgt. Thomas D. Pedigo, a Paratrooper assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battal-ion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, said the class was very benefi-cial because he had no prior experience

handling foreign AK-47 rifles. “If we’re training host-nation forces, it’s good to know what type of weapons they use,” Pedigo said. “Just learning a different weapon system [was great].” Spc. Anthony D. Jones, a Paratrooper assigned to Headquarters and Head-quarters Company, 1st Bn., 505th PIR, is optimistic the knowledge will help him and his fellow Paratroopers perform their advise and assist mission to the best of their ability. “The most valuable part [of the class] is the level of knowledge the instructors have about this weapon system,” Jones said. “I’m glad these guys let us come down here and get the opportunity to get some hands-on training.”

BY STAFF SGT. MARY S. KATZENBERGER3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Mary S. Katzenberger/ReleasedAn instructor with the U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence assists a Paratrooper assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division with a foreign AK-47 rifle, Jan. 22, 2015, during a class at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C. Special Forces Soldiers with the U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence taught the Paratroopers about AK-47 rifles in preparation of the Paratroopers deploying to Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces.

LEFT: Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division disassemble a foreign AK-47 rifle, Jan. 22, 2015, during a class at the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School on Fort Bragg, N.C. Special Forces Soldiers with the U.S. Army Special Operations Center of Excellence taught the Paratroopers about AK-47 rifles in preparation of the Paratroopers deploying to Iraq to advise and assist Iraqi Security Forces.

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BY STAFF SGT. MARY S. KATZENBERGER3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Do you know what to do if someone puts you in a chokehold or charges at your core to knock you off-

balance? Female Paratroopers assigned to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division learned how to counter such threats during two self-defense classes, Jan. 9 and 20, at the 82nd Airborne Division Combatives and Advanced Tactics School on Fort Bragg, N.C. While instructors at the school regularly teach self-defense techniques, this was the first time classes have been solely focused on the skills female Paratroopers can use

to defend themselves, said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hopper, an instructor at the schoolhouse. “I’m glad this unit took this initiative to do this,” said Hopper. “Sometimes you have to isolate certain issues or certain techniques just for one person, and having an all-female class is one way of doing that; isolate just the techniques that work best for them.” Paratroopers learned how to break their fall if pushed, to maintain defensive body positions once on the ground, to counter choke holds if grabbed from behind, and how to strike an opponent’s body to effectively end an encounter. Hopper said he hopes the classes gave the Paratroopers the confidence that comes

from knowing that if a negative situation presents itself, they know some techniques to employ that can help prevent them from becoming a victim. 1st Lt. Melissa Owens, a Paratrooper assigned to Juliet Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, said the training was realistic. “When they attacked you it was [in] the same way anyone would,” Owens said. “You never know when something can happen. I definitely learned a lot; I thought initially coming here it was going to be like combatives and I was surprised that it was a lot of new stuff.” Pvt. Jessica Rutledge, a Paratrooper assigned to Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, said the most important component of the training was learning the methods aggressors use to subdue a victim and how to posture oneself to address that threat. “You never know what situation you’re going to be in,” said Rutledge, echoing Owens. Hopper said he and his instructors are available to train Paratroopers from units throughout division, and the training can be tailored to meet specific objectives. “The combatives program is put in place so we can give our troopers the necessary techniques that they can use if attacked or engaged by an enemy force.”

Panthers focus on self-defense

TOP LEFT: Female Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division sharpen their skills during a self-defense class at the 82nd Airborne Division Combatives and Advanced Tactics School at Fort Bragg, N.C., Jan. 9, 2015.

CENTER TOP: Sgt. Tania Calderon and Sgt. Jesse Hertzog, instructors at the 82nd Airborne Division Combatives and Advanced Tactics School, demonstrate a self-defense technique for Paratroopers assigned to 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Abn. Div. during a self-defense class for female Paratroopers.

CENTER BOTTOM: Spc. Kiara Griffin, left, and Spc. Lasundra McKenzie, Paratroopers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division sharpen their skills during a self-defense class.

BOTTOM LEFT: Pvt. Jessica Rutledge, a Paratrooper assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division flips 1st Lt. Melissa Owens, a Paratrooper assigned to Juliet Company, 1st Battalion, 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd BCT, over her shoulder during a self-defense class.

U.S. Army photos by Staff Sgt. Mary S. KatzenbergerSpc. Angelina Eich, left, and Pfc. Sophia Pyle, Paratroopers assigned to 307th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division sharpen their skills during a self-defense class at the 82nd Airborne Division Combatives and Advanced Tactics School at Fort Bragg, N.C., Jan. 9, 2015.

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FEBRUARY

1SUPERBOWL (MONDAY 0900 WORK CALL)

6PAYDAY ACTIVIEIS

13-16PRESIDENT’S DAY FOUR-DAY WEEKEND

23-27TROOPER/NCO OF YEAR COMPETITION

6PAYDAY ACTIVITIES

13-15CORPS TRAINING HOLIDAY

MARCH

22ALL AMERICAN MARATHON

Calendar ofEvents

sudu

ko

3RD BRIGADE COMBAT TEAM82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION

“H-MINUS!”Brigade CommanderCol. Curtis Buzzard

Deputy Commanding OfficerLtc. Albert Paquin

Command Sergeant MajorCmd. Sgt. Maj. Brian Severino

Public Affairs NCOICStaff Sgt. Mary Katzenberger

Broadcast NCOSgt. David Blocker

Public Affairs OfficerMaj. Fred Hair