Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 135 December 6, 2013

Competition brings unit together Story and photos byStaff Sgt. Andrew Porch2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Sweat drops hit the floor as the countdown to 500 weighed heavily

on Staff Sgt. Anthony Vasquez, but hearing the cheers “row, row, row” would give him what he needed to finish strong.

Vasquez, an infantryman assigned to HHC, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg, 2nd ABCT, along with the rest of the Soldiers in his battalion, competed in the “Death Dealer” Challenge on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 29.

Staff Sgt. Anthony Vasquez, infantryman, HHC, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., 2nd ABCT, completes 500 meters on a rowing machine during a Cross Fit competition on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 29,. “Competing made me feel great because we sped through everything and I didn’t stop for anything, so that made me feel good,” said Vasquez.

The Death Dealer Challenge, an organized sports competition, aimed at bringing the unit together and providing Soldiers with some well earned time away from work.

“The Death Dealer Challenge was a series of physical and mental events that were designed to inspire Soldiers, and instill esprit de corps and morale throughout the unit,” said 1st Lt. Rick Dickson, assistant operations officer-in-charge, HHC.

Soldiers competed in multiple events, which included a 5K run, football, basketball, Cross Fit competition and a video game tournament.

“There was a good level of healthy competition, and they (the Soldiers) got to interact with each other, and other companies that they don’t normally see because we have been in the midst of a rigorous training cycle,” said Dickson, who was also the event’s organizer.

Soldiers enjoyed the time away from work, and gave it their all during the competition.

“Competing made me feel great because we sped through everything and I didn’t stop for anything, so that made me feel good,” said Vasquez.

Vasquez, who plans to go Special Forces, See COMPETITION, Page 5

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commanders columnwarhorse 6 sends

Warhorse Soldiers, Friends, and Families!

I wish all of you a happy and safe holiday. As we come to the end of 2013, which has been an incredibly busy year for our team with training and our deployment, I want to personally thank each of you for your support to your Soldier, our Brigade, and our Army. The strength of our Soldiers truly is our Families.

I am immensely proud of the great work your Soldiers are doing across the Middle East. They volunteered to serve, have deployed to further our national interests, and are making an incredible impact every day. Every Soldier in this brigade can proudly, and justifiably, be called a combat veteran.

Our Soldiers have worked hard this past year to ensure we are the best trained Brigade in the Army. We started our journey at Fort Carson and formed our Brigade, Battalion, Company and squad teams, and then we internally validated them at Pinon Canyon preparing us for our capstone exercise at the National Training Center where we proved our readiness.

But training and validation was just the beginning of our journey; moving a brigade combat team half-way around the world is a massive operation and because of the unmatched teamwork and support we received at Ft. Carson and from the Raider Brigade in Kuwait, our Soldiers

have the skills and equipment they need to be safe and successful in any mission.

After almost two months of operations here, we have accomplished a lot. Five of our six organic battalions have conducted patch ceremonies recognizing the deployed service of our Soldiers. 1-10 Cavalry is conducting deployment operations and will complete their ceremony later this year. We have conducted numerous partnered events including joint training, planning sessions, and leader development classes with our Kuwaiti partners. 1-67 Armor just completed gunnery with their Abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles resulting in the re-qualification of all our crews and renewed Soldier confidence in their assigned equipment. Our response forces have conducted nearly a half-dozen rehearsals demonstrating their ability to react to any contingency directed by our higher headquarters. The brigade conducted our first Joint Air Attack training with forces from U.S. Air Force, Army Aviation and our Kuwaiti partners where we rehearsed and executed joint fires on simulated targets. JAAT will be executed monthly to further hone our joint operating skills. Lastly, we trained and certified teams from 2-8 Infantry to conduct Noncombatant Evacuation Operations.

While it is not like being at home, we are taking time here to celebrate the holidays. For Thanksgiving, all Soldiers received an opportunity to enjoy a wonderful thanksgiving feast and a number of holiday

sponsored events like a pie eating contest, the Turkey Trot 5K and various other team activities. And for Christmas and New Year’s, Camp Buehring hosted their Winter Wonderland Carnival with carols and a tree lighting ceremony on Dec. 4. A special meal will be served for Christmas dinner, and Soldiers will have an opportunity to participate in the Reindeer Dash 5K and various other team activities during the holiday season.

Last month, we conducted our first Facebook town hall in which we received more than 30 requests for assistance or information from Family and friends of the Warhorse brigade. We have our next Facebook town hall scheduled for Jan. 18, 2014. I hope you can join us.

Please stay in contact with your Family Readiness Liaisons and Family Readiness Group leaders. They are ready to answer your questions and ensure you have the support you need while your Soldier is deployed. Also, we constantly monitor the BCT Facebook page and this is a great venue to post any questions you may have.

We trained as one team, and we will continue to build on our past successes with our Kuwaiti partners as one team. We believe that we are the right unit, at the right time, going into the right place to make a difference. We all wish you and yours a wonderful holiday!

Omar

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded news-letter 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 Armored 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:andrew.a.porch.mil@mail.mil

Col. Omar Jones IV......................2nd ABCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen 2nd ABCT CSMMaj. Chris Maestas.................................................PAO OICStaff Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOICSgt. Matt Waymire.............................Layout and DesignStaff Sgt. Andrew Porch............................................Editor

Warhorse Pride

Warhorse PridePage 3 Issue 135 December 6, 2013

Col. Omar Jones IV, left, commander, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., and Staff Sgt. Lamsteen Morris, right, combat engineer, Company C, 2nd STB, 2nd ABCT, slice into a cake during the Brigade’s National American Indian Heritage Month observance on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 26

Remembering Native AmericansStory and photos byStaff Sgt. Andrew Porch2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The beat of a drum sounded as Native American Indians stood tall,

saluting the American flag during a National American Indian Heritage Observance on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 26.

Hosted by the 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf Div., the observance aimed at honoring the 48 “Warhorse” Soldiers with an American Indian background.

“We wanted to pay homage to Native American Indians and their culture by putting on an observance that was enriched in the culture and traditions,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Harry Deboise Jr., brigade equal opportunity advisor, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.

With 566 federally recognized American Indian and Alaskan Native tribes, and more than 100 state recognized tribes, the Brigade wanted to show thanks to Native Americans from all over.

“No matter what background you come from, whether it’s Native American or Alaskan American, we want you to feel that you matter and that you made some kind of contribution or self sacrifice,” said Deboise.

With a history full of significant events, it was a time to look back and remember.

“Rich customs and traditions have ensured the preservation of their people in society,” said Warrant Officer Shane Chisholm, target acquisition platoon leader, HHB, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., 2nd ABCT.

Chisholm also spoke about how the “Ivy” Division leads the way in support of Native Americans.

“Fort Carson is very fortunate to have a religious facility located on post for Native American Soldiers and their Families to practice their faith,” said Chisholm.

“I trust that in time, other military installations will follow Fort Carson and the 4th ID’s example with similar facilities for Native Americans.”

Guest speaker and a member of the Navajo Tribe, Staff Sgt. Lamsteen Morris, combat engineer, Company C, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd ABCT, relished the turn out for the event.

“It was great to get up here and see so many Soldiers of different ranks, said

Morris. “I always envisioned something like this and representing Native Americans across the country.”

Morris who serves with his wife, Sgt. Tonietta Morris, signal system support specialist, HHT, 2nd STB, knows he is lucky to be close to his wife, in both traditions and work.

“I think it all comes together and really makes us a better couple,” said Morris. “We understand each other; where we come from, who we are and who we can be.”

As representatives of their people, Morris and Chisholm both take on the task of carrying on long-standing traditions.

“As an American Indian, I feel responsible to be a steward for my people,” said Chisholm. “It is my job to uphold the warrior traditions and customs of fighting for my family, people, culture and protecting the lands. As a Soldier, I am also a part of a warrior society, and my job as a Soldier mirrors those as an American Indian.”

In the future, the Warhorse Brigade equal opportunity team plans to observe a different culture each month.

“Beginning in January, we will try to capture every ethnic group so everyone will have their special observance and feel a part of something,” said Deboise.

Warhorse PridePage 4 Issue 135 December 6, 2013

‘Warhorse’ celebrates Thanksgiving

Soldiers of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., eat their Thanksgiving meals at the Camp Buehring, Kuwait, dining facility on Nov. 28. The choice of food included turkey, stuffing, rolls, a large assortment of cakes and pies, and of course, cranberry sauce.

Patch ceremonies around the brigade(left) Col. Omar Jones IV, right, commander, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., places a shoulder sleeve insignia on Lt. Col. Joseph Mouer, commander, 2nd STB, 2nd ABCT, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 30. The shoulder sleeve insignia, also known as a combat patch, is presented to Soldiers who serve in a combat theater of operations.

Lt. Col. Keith Jarolimek, left, commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Benito Perez, right, senior elisted leader, both of 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., give shoulder sleeve insignias to the command team of Battery A, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., during their patching ceremony on Kuwait Naval Base, Kuwait, Dec. 2.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

Photos by Sgt. Matt Waymire2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.

From COMPETITION, Page 1

Warhorse PridePage 5 Issue 135 December 6 2013

always takes the opportunity to challenge himself.

“I’m trying out for something bigger and better, so I am using this as training,” said Vasquez. “Every time there is any kind of event, I try to compete and see where I stand with everybody else.”

Support meant a lot to the competitors.

A lot of Soldiers came out to support even if they were not competing, said Vasquez. It is always awesome to have your Soldiers cheering each other on, saying you can make it.

When it was all said and done, HHC came away the victors, by winning three out the five events, and finishing second in another.

The leadership of Death Dealer Battalion plans on doing at least one more challenge while in Kuwait.

Sgt. John Johnson, left, armor crewman, Company D, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., attempts to tackle Sgt. Dustin Roth, Bradley fighting vehicle system maintainer, Forward Support Company, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., during a game of flag football on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 29. “Death Dealer” units competed in basketball, football, a 5k run, Cross Fit competition and a video game tournament throughout the day making up the Death Dealer Challenge.

Formation gets new leader Soldiers receive awards

Col. Omar Jones IV, left, commander, 2nd ABCT, presents Soldiers of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., with Army Achievement Medals on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 30., for outstanding service during the units training exercise earlier in the month.

Command Sgt. Maj. David Clark, incoming senior enlisted leader, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., lead more than 200 noncommiossioned officers during a run to build “esprit de corps” on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 27.

Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch Photo by Sgt. Matt Waymire

3-16 FARDyanne Beckman.........................................................526-1635dyanne.m.beckman.civ@mail.mil

1-67 ARSGT James Riggs...........................................................524-1476James.g.riggs.mil@mail.mil

204th BSBMSG Nolan Johnson....................................................526-4172nolan.j.johnson.mil@mail.mil

2-8 INUrsula Pittman...........................................................526-0727ursula.t.pittman.civ@mail.mil 2 STBSGT Tanisha Scott.....................................................503-2602tanisha.m.scott2.mil@mail.mil

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2nd ABCTValarie Adams............................................................524-4797valarie.a.adams.civ@mail.mil

1-10 CAVFrancy Arvizu..............................................................526-1946francy.arvizu.civ@mail.mil

FRSA Information

Family Readiness GroupPage 6 Issue 135 December 6, 2013

Better Opportunities for Single SoldiersPage 7 Issue 135 December 6, 2013