So expect to start seeing some of those tasks and drills passed down through the Chain of Command soon.

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1 Desert Bulls NOV. 16, 2005

2 Page 2 Col. David Elicerio 1/34 BCT Commander Great BCT Warriors - Greetings from VIKING 6. You have absolutely impressed me with your great attitude and motivation this past week. As I move about the Brigade Combat Team area and into the field I am reminded time and again just how good you all are. I have been most impressed with the 134 Brigade Support Battalion Charlie Medics at the Ground Assault Convoy lanes, the mortars from 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Ironman Battalion, and the numerous Soldiers I have seen doing physical training on a Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin 1/34 BCT Command Sergeant Major Soldiers of the RedBull 1/34 BCT - For most of us, we have been on the ground for a month and or longer, so everyone s Leave and Earning Statement should be showing what your statement should be on a regular basis. To view your LES go to mypay.dfas.mil. Current LES statements usually show up about seven days prior to the first and 15th of each month. In viewing your LES there are some important things to look at to understand the various categories that could be listed. First, ensure your base pay is correct, this is based upon your current rank and number of years in service, to include any time spent in Individual Ready Reserve. The number of years of service is listed at the top of your LES. Second, SUBSISTENCE ALWS is an entitlement received for food. Third, pay attention to the type of BAH you are entitled to receive. In daily basis. We have reached the time when many of you start to wonder what is left to accomplish - seeing how you have all done things once. The trick now is to practice, rehearse and talk through all of your training you have received. Identify the tasks that need some reinforcement and get after them. Do it until you develop that muscle memory for the task. I have been talking with the command sergeant major about developing more tasks and battle drills that you will need incountry. So expect to start seeing some of those tasks and drills passed down through the Chain of Command soon. the lower section of your LES there are description sections that explain most of the various categories. BAH is listed under the title BAQ Type. This should read either W Dep which means with dependents or W/O Dep which means without dependents. If you are required to pay child support you will see this category listed as W/ O dependents. Depending on how much you are required to pay for child support you may see in your entitlements column a category BAH Diff which is in addition to your pay to help off set your support payment. This difference is based on the difference between BAH with dependants and BAH without dependents. Fourth, FAM SEP is an entitlement received based upon your dependency type. Any questions pertaining to this entitlement should be discussed with your S1 section. Deductions include Federal Income Tax and FICA Tax deductions and most State Tax deductions. This is also the section where your SGLI payment for the month is deducted. SGLI is taken out once a month on the 15 th of each month only. Remember, SGLI These will cover tasks like Combat Loading a Gun Truck, pre combat checks/pre combat inspections for convoy operations and others that we must develop for ourselves. Also, by the time you are reading this letter visitors from across the Army and our home states will be here to see how you are doing. Be proud to tell them the story of what you have accomplished, the great accomplishments of your unit and your individual sections. If we don t tell them how well we are doing - no one else will. You make me proud to Command this fine organization Redbulls! ATTACK!! benefits changed from the original amount of $250,000 to $400,000. This increase in benefits would change your deduction amount from $16.50 per month to $26 per month. If you elected to not authorize SGLI and it is being deducted you must contact your S1 section to correct. If you elected to have spouse SGLI this would be taken at the same time as your SGLI payment. Another category that arises periodically is a category entitled Debt Payment which will also be taken out on the Deductions side of your LES. A description of what this Debt Payment is for should be listed in the Remarks section of your LES. This is not all inclusive of the types of entitlements and deductions you may have listed. If you have any questions or if you have any pay issues please see your S1 section. If they are unable to correct they will complete a pay inquiry form (DA Form 2142) and bring this up to the BDE Finance office to be handled at the appropriate level. Again thanks for being part of the RedBull team.

3 Desert Bulls Nov. 16, 2005 Issue 6 1/34 BCT Commander: Col. David Elicerio 1/34 BCT CSM: Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin The Desert Bulls Staff: OIC: Capt. Mark Lappegaard Editor: Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood Broadcast journalist: Sgt. Kent Westberg Print journalist: Pfc. Brian D. Jesness For more information on the 1/34 BCT go online to On the cover: Sgt. Troy Olson, 1st Bn., 125th Field Art., practices firing a Javelin from the kneeling position during a train the trainer Javelin class last week. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood, 1/34 BCT PA. The Desert Bulls is an official publication of the 1/ 34 Brigade Combat Team. It is produced by the 1/34 BCT Public Affairs Office. This Soldier newsletter is in compliance with the provisions of AR Any questions, comments, photos, story ideas that you would like to present should be forwarded to the 1/ 34 BCT Public Affairs Office. Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood at clinton.wood@us.army.mil. Day in Red Bull history Wednesday, Nov. 24, 1943 Near the town of Colli a Volturno, Italy hours. The Captain and Lt Harned have returned and told of their experiences across the river. They met an old man who had lived in the USA for 20 years. One expression he used was, The Germans retreat and they eat all my big chickens, the Americans come through and eat all my little chickens, what s the use? When they asked him about the positions of the Germans he said he didn t know.and told them he told the Germans the same thing, he said, It is best not to take sides in this thing. Just the facts PX hours: Monday through Sunday Main gym hours: Monday through Friday; Saturday, Sunday Sewing Center Hours: Monday through Friday ; Saturday (pay in advance) Book of stamps sold at PX Laundromats open 24 hours Post Office at Building 2490 (near Paxton Hall) Media awareness Always tell the truth. Assume that everything you say will be used and attributed to you. Avoid Off the record conversations with reporters. If you don t want to see it in print or on television, don t say it. Stay in your lane; talk only about things for whichyou are responsible. Do not speculate. It s OK to say: I don t know. Refer specific recruiting questions to your recruiter. 8 seconds Desert Bulls using AP style book It has come to my attention that Soldiers are questioning how their rank is written in this newsletter. For example Capt., instead of CPT. The reason is that I use the Associated Press style book (the style Bible to every civilian newspaper). The Department of Defense also requires military publications to utilize this style book. I have two other reasons for this usage. This newsletter is published for not only Soldiers but their families. Most families don t know what SFC stands for but they do understand Sgt. 1st Class. Also this newsletter is not a Memorandum or an order. Military ranks also aren't the only differences you will see in this newsletter. State abbreviations are also written different in AP style. But if you read Soldiers magazine, you will notice another way or writing rank and other military terms. The magazine has its own style book. - Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood If you can t answer a reporter s question, explain why. For example, if the incident is under investigation, just let the reporter know. Always remain calm and professional. Practice what you want to say in front of a mirror or a friend to become more comfortable. Be yourself. You have a great story to tell and your community wants to hear it! Discuss what you know, provided OPSEC is not violated. Page 3

4 Foundations for Faith I was recently taking time to reflect on the meaning of Veterans Day, which was celebrated Nov. 11. My thoughts led me to those who stood for freedom at the beginning of our great nation and the sacrifices that they made so their families and subsequent generations may live a life of freedom. Here are some of their stories: Fifty-six men signed the Declaration of Independence. Their conviction resulted in untold sufferings for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured by the British and tortured before they died. Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army. Another had two sons captured. Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in poverty. At the battle of Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson s home for his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered Gen. George Washington to open fire on his home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt. John Hart was driven from his wife s bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed. For over a year, he lived in forest and c a v e s, returning home only to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later, he died from exhaustion. The Bible in 1 John 3:18 says, Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. The founders of our country understood that words alone were not going to change the future of this country but rather action. Likewise, we cannot maintain our vigilance, our safety, and our freedom merely by words. It continues to require the sacrifices of this nation s greatest sons and daughters and their families. This day we should all say thanks to those who demonstrate their love for this great nation not just by words, but rather by the actions of their sacrifices. Thanks to those warriors and their families who put everything on the line everyday so that we may continue to enjoy all the blessings that freedom brings. Pro Deo et Patria! Chaplain (Maj.) Thomas Behling GREER CHAPEL Bldg Catholic Mass Saturday 1400 Sunday 1400 Protestant Worship Sunday Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Sunday 1600 November 13, 27; December 04, 18 Contact the Post Chaplain regarding these Off-post worship opportunities: Episcopal Sunday 0800 Jewish Friday Transportation departs Bldg 2103 at 1715 on 1st Friday of the month; and 1815 during the remainder of the month. Muslim Friday Transportation departs Bldg 2103 at 1215 each Friday. Latter Day Saints Sunday LCMS Sunday Transportation departs Bldg minutes prior to Service. RED BULL RELIGIOUS SUPPORT CENTER Bldg Meditation/ Prayer Room Daily Anytime Bible/Prayer Fellowship Tuesday 1900 Women s Bible Fellowship Wednesday 1900 Prayer Warrior s Thursday 2000 Juma Prayer Friday 1330 Jewish SabbathFriday 1900 Musician/ Soloist Rehearsal Friday 1900 Catholic Mass Saturday 1800 Sunday 0900 The Sacrament of Reconciliation is offered 30 minutes prior to the Catholic Mass. Alcoholics Anonymous Saturday 2000 Page 4 Protestant Worship Sunday w/communion

5 Squeeze the trigger WASHINGTON (Army News Service) Just in time for Veterans Day, the Army launched a new Army Outreach Web site last week designed to help it better connect with the public - and vice versa. The new Web site ( is the latest tool to help achieve Army Outreach s overall goals of building and sustaining relationships of trust between Soldiers and Americans, said Col. Garrie Dornan, director of the Army Outreach Division, a part of Public Affairs. He said the site connects Soldiers with the American public to continue telling the Soldier story. Spc. Matthew Capko, 1-34 BTB, sights his M-16 rifle equipped with laser tag gear Thursday near his battalion headquarters. Army launches new Web site The American public understands we are a nation at war, Dornan said, and that the linchpin to our success is the American Soldier. By placing emphasis on each Soldier s individual story, citizens across the country have embraced the American Soldier in a show of support not matched since World War II. Serves as two-way tool The Army Outreach Web site not only serves as a valuable tool for Army public affairs officers as they plan and carry out activities with the American public, but it also gives the public an easy way to learn about the gamut of Army activities taking place, Dornan said, enabling them to learn more about their Army and how to support their Soldiers by attending and participating in these events. The site also provides the entire Army family Soldiers, leaders, civilians and family members with a view of the enormous amount of community relations and outreach initiatives taking place Army-wide, including activities they may wish to include in their own schedules. Calendar shows nationwide events One of the main features of the Outreach Web site is its comprehensive, searchable and interactive calendar of outreach events. By clicking on Nov. 11, for example, one can see a listing of 110 Veterans Day events. A further click on any individual event, such as Nation s Parade (New York City s annual Veterans Day Parade) gives the reader a description of the event. its time, location, sponsor and contact phone numbers to obtain additional information. Page 5

6 IN OUR SIGHTS Sgt. Jeff Connelly (kneeling) assists Sgt. Jeff Tucker (right) in drawing a panoramic sketch Tuesday near the 1st Squad., 167th Cav., headquarters. Spcs. Kip Slaymaker (at left) and Dennis Sedlacek also drew sketches that would be used at listening posts and observation posts. Chaplain (1st Lt.) Matt Larson, 2nd Bn, 136th Comb. Arms Bn., was the presiding chaplain during the Protestant Service Sunday at the Red Bull Chapel. Spc. Michael Fosness was among the 2nd Bn., 136th Comb. Arms Bn., Soldiers road marching Tuesday near the PX. Page 6