Desert Bulls. Chaplain's Corner Soldier's story. Couple ties the knot. Supply sections get job done. November 2, 2005

Transcription

1 Desert Bulls November 2, 2005 Couple ties the knot Supply sections get job done Chaplain's Corner Soldier's story

2 Command Sergeant Major's Corner Families, friends, and Soldiers of the Red Bulls. The Holiday season is fast approaching and with that the 1-34 Brigade Combat Team has published its Christmas Exodus plan. There have been a number of questions and concerns that have come up in regards to this plan. Following is information that will assist you in making your travel plans. First of all - travel is not free and any leave utilized is not free. The Army does not pay for your rental car, hotel, food, plane ticket, or any other personal expense if you go on leave. That is the responsibility of the Soldier. One of the biggest questions that has come up is the organization of charter transportation. The Army cannot contract for charter transportation and any charter activities is the responsibility of the person who signs the contract for the charter. A word of caution: Some private groups have raised money for Soldier s travels before or arranged a charter bus or charter flight." That is a private group s idea, initiative, plan, and responsibility. It Quotes from the field It s always nice to see the boss come by and check on things, said Capt. Donavan Neumann of the 34th Infantry Division s Commanding General and his entourage visit to a Ground Attack Convoy range where 1-34 Brigade Troops Battalion Soldiers were training Sunday. It shows they care about the troops. Page 2 is not the Army s idea, initiative, plan, and responsibility. If the private group (or individual) goes back on their word or only takes care of Soldiers from a certain town, that is the responsibility of the private group. The Army cannot (and should not be expected to) control the actions of private individuals or groups. You need to understand this and explain it to your families and friends back home. First line leaders must ensure that each Soldier is counseled as to their responsibilities prior to leave and their actions during leave. Leave is earned at 2.5 days per month. The number of days you take on leave will be subtracted from your total leave balance. This also is the procedure when you take midtour leave while in theater. The amount of leave subtracted from your total leave balance is a one for one transaction. One day of leave taken reduces your accrued leave balance one day. I bring up these facts because: 1.) they are important to you and your family, 2.) some Soldiers and families do not understand them, and 3.) these misunderstandings have You should definitely pay attention during the (Primary Marksmanship Instruction), said Spc. Eric Kreiner after qualifying on paper targets with the Squad Automatic Weapon Friday. The biggest thing is to remember the basics. been the main sources of complaints, letter writing campaigns, and investigations for other units in the past. The one exception to this leave procedure is an emergency certified through the Red Cross. Emergency leave is chargeable leave and emergency travel is free based upon certain restrictions as outlined in the emergency leave policy. There are limits to emergency leave but if you have an emergency the Army will take care of you the best it can. Emergency leave is only in the event of an actual emergency that is identified within the emergency leave policy. In closing, leave is not free and travel is not free for normal leave purposes. We have done a good job on our deployment so far. But the holidays are approaching and expectations can get out of hand. Let s keep up our good reputation by heading these potential misunderstandings off before the start. I wish you well in the upcoming months and appreciate all that you are doing for your country. CSM Julin "This convoy training is extremely important whether you re a signal Soldier an intelligence Soldier or infantry Soldier because you re all going to be doing it, said Maj. Gen. Rick Erlandson, commanding general of the 34th Infantry Division during a visit to a Ground Attack Convoy range Sunday.

3 Chaplain's Corner During the Fourth of July weekend, Tammy and I took Remington, our 3- year-old son, to a puppet show at the African American Museum, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This historical fiction depicted the flight of a 6-year-old runaway slave named Gerty, making her way along the underground railroad through Iowa from her life as a slave on a farm in Missouri to a new life into Canada. As I sat there tearfully holding Remington, thanking God that he doesn t have to face seeing his mother sold out of his life forever like children in past days and applauding the heroic efforts of the conductors of the underground railroad, I couldn t help but think of all the children across the world still caught in slavery, oppression, and poverty. Gerty rejoiced when two Quaker women helping her on her way to freedom gave her a coat and her first pair of shoes. She sang about these freedom shoes, symbols of the end of her bondage and practical tools for her new life of freedom. It brought to mind the efforts of our National Guard Soldiers abroad. As we all know, these women and men are to helping to provide the manpower in the war effort against those who would continue to attack innocent civilians on trains in Spain, towers in the United States, in dusty villages in Iraq, in subways in London, and in any of countless other ways in which terrorists have used destruction and suffering to further their cause. What seems to be less publicized are all the ways our Soldiers are helping fight oppression and slave-like conditions in the lives of very real people with very real children and very real needs. Like underground railroad conductors, our sisters and brothers, fathers and mothers, our young women and men are heroes, providing schools, hospitals, communications networks, electricity and running water, and yes, coats and freedom shoes to little ones like Gerty. Page 3 Thank you for your desire to support those in our community who have chosen to serve this great nation. Thank you for your efforts to encourage and provide comfort for Soldiers as we fight terror across the world. We are in a unique position, blessed of God with power and resources like no nation ever before us, in a position to give freedom shoes, both literal and figurative to those who desperately need our help. Yes, this is a battle that serves America and our particular desire for security and prosperity. Yes, it also gives us a chance to offer ourselves to God s purposes of bringing God s kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven. My prayer is that the very heart of our nation will continue to be changed to desire to use our resources, when necessary through military might, and when possible through peaceful missions of care and equipping of those less fortunate. May our desire to see America be a nation where people can live free and follow their dreams flow beyond our borders in ways we never imagined. May us Americans young and old be inspired by the things we see and hear in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to give our lives to others of every nationality, just as Christ did for us. It may be that your desire or the wish of your community group is to support the chaplains of the 1-34 th BCT in our mission. In the past, many gracious givers have brought together and sent supplies that sometimes end up not being very practical for the setting into which we are heading. Instead, please consider working with your local veterans organizations. Channel funds in their direction and designate it possibly for one of the two following uses: 1. A fund that chaplains from 1-34 Brigade Combat Team can tap into to help Soldiers with crisis issues, like assistance in purchasing airfare home for emergency leave. 2. Funds to pay for cell phones and services for 1-34 th BCT chaplains while overseas. This will allow us the ability to give troops an immediate contact with home as a part of our ministry. For God & Country, Chaplain (1st Lt.) Raymond W. Leach Catholic Mass Saturday 1400 GREER CHAPEL Bldg The Sacrament of Reconciliation Sunday 1400 is offered 30 minutes prior to Catholic Service. Protestant Worship Sunday 0900 and 1100 Contact the Post Chaplain for assistance regarding the following off post worship opportunities: Episcopal Sunday 0800 Jewish Friday Transportation departs Bldg 2103 at 1715 on 1 st Friday of the month, and 1815 during the remainder of the month. Muslim Friday Transportation departs Bldg 2103 at 1315 each Friday. Latter Day Saints Sunday Missouri Synod Lutheran 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 Sabbath Friday 1900 Musician/ Soloist Rehearsal Friday 1900 Catholic Mass Saturday 1800 The Sacrament of Reconciliation Sunday 0900 is offered 30 minutes prior to Catholic Service. Alcoholics Anonymous Saturday 2000 Protestant Worship w/ Weekly Communion Sunday 1900

4 Desert BullS 1-34 Brigade Combat Team Commander: Col. David Elicerio 1-34 Brigade Combat Team Command Sergeant Major: Command Sgt. Maj. Doug Julin The Desert Bulls Staff: OIC: Capt. Mark Lappegaard NCOIC: 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 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 which you are responsible. Do not speculate. It s ok to say: I don t know. Refer specific recruiting questions to your recruiter. 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. 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. Page 4 Day in Red Bull history Week of Nov. 10, 1943 Our CO and Lt Harned returned and gave the Close station and march order. Lt Harned had a very narrow escape, as he stepped on one of the wires leading to a Bouncing Betty or S Mine, but discovered it before he came to the mine. This area we moved into is covered with booby traps and mines, and all the men are cautioned not to move around once it is reached. From Unit Journal, Cannon Company 133rd Infantry Regiment Frisbee league forming All units of the 1-34 Brigade Combat Team are encouraged to field an Ultimate Frisbee team and join the 1-34 BCT league. Games will be played noon every Sunday at the parade field. For more information or questions, Capt. John Flor at john.flor@us.army.mil. Just the facts PX hours: Monday through Saturday 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) Desert Bulls November 2, 2005 Issue 5 8 seconds Wear your Kevlar I will be the first to tell you to wear your Kevlar (helmet) in any type of Army vehicle. If I wouldn t have been wearing mine while driving a four-wheel drive pickup, disaster could have struck Saturday. Seconds after leaving a range where I qualified with a Squad Automatic Weapon and on the Camp Shelby Range Control road, I met a Humvee traveling at a high rate of speed. This Humvee kicked up several rocks, one which hit the left side of my Kevlar with a loud thud. I'm not exaggerating. The four Soldiers riding in the back on the pickup witnessed this strike. I can't help but think about several scenarios, including if the window would have been up, the rock could have shattered the window; the hit could have caused me to loose control of the steering wheel for a split second, enough time to loose control and possibly roll the truck over. So next time you think your Kevlar is too heavy or hot to wear, please remember this story. Accidents happen but being prepared can truly save your life. -- Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood On the cover: Cpl. Bill Capecchi (left) and Spc. Tanner Gilbertson lift Pvt. Perry Stone into a humvee during an extraction drill Tuesday. All Soldiers are from the 2nd Platoon, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood, 1-34 BCT PA.

5 Couple decides to tie the knot at Shelby Company first sergeant wedding planner By Pfc. Brian D. Jesness 1-34 BCT PA Deploying to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom changed one of the most important moments in the lives of Staff Sgts. Bill Grobman and Angela Binstock of Coon Rapids, Minn. Instead of waiting to be married Jan. 22, 2006, the couple decided to tie the knot Oct. 25 in the presence of their fellow Soldiers at Camp Shelby, Miss. The wedding formation included a majority of the Company A, 134 Brigade Support Battalion Staff Sgts. Angela Binstock and Bill Grobman cut their wedding cake last week in the Company A, 134 Brigade Support Battalion's dining facility. The cake was made by six Soldiers from the battalion's headquarters and headquarters company. Page 5 Soldiers in two formations near the company headquarters with an aisle down the middle, a wedding party of the company staff noncommissioned officers and officers and Chaplain (Maj.) Erik Feig who performed the wedding. The head of the formation was showcased by two Humvees with gunners in the 50 caliber machine gun turrets and the company banner in between the Humvees. The wedding was planned by 1st Sgt. Michael Mettile, the company s first sergeant. Mettile also walked the couple down the aisle at Binstock s request. He should be a wedding planner when he gets home, said Binstock. The wedding cake was made that day by six cooks from the battalion s headquarters and headquarters company. Spc. Bethany Dick furnished the recipe and decorated the white cake. The couple intends on renewing their marriage vows on their second anniversary in Fiji with their families. It will be on the beach and it won t be green, Binstock said. She said green meant there will be no camouflage in this renewal of their vows. The couple met a on a previous deployment to Aviano Air Base, Italy, from August 2002 until April They didn t start dating until they returned home. Earlier this year, Photos by Spc. Deborah Fideldy, 134 BSB Chaplain (Maj.) Erik Feig married Staff Sgts. Angela Binstock and Bill Grobman Oct. 25 at the Company A, 134 Brigade Support Battalion's headquarters. Grobman and Binstock said they considered their options and decided to remain in the same unit and pursue the same Military Occupational Specialty. This decision would ensure that they would serve in the same company in preparation for the OIF mission. When asked what she is looking forward to about this mission? Binstock replied, Coming home, bringing home my troops and bringing home by husband. This isn t the first time that Grobman, who has 10 years experience in the active Army and twoand-a-half years in the Guard, will be deployed to Iraq. He served there during Operation Desert Storm in Binstock, who has served in the Minnesota, Texas and Kentucky National Guard for the last 17 years, begin her career in the Minnesota Guard. She also intends to end her career as a Minnesota Guardsman with 20 years of service.

6 Staff Sgt. Lachele Beachem (right) listens as Staff Sgt. Kelly Ninabuck verifies items for his unit, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 161st Field Artillery. Beachem and the Property Book Office were the final verifiers of the equipment. Rapid Fielding Initiative lethality equipment filled this large parking lot on Camp Shelby as Soldiers from the 34, 1-34 Brigade Combat Team units picked up the equipment last week. The equipment was worth more than $6 million BCT supply sections get the job done Story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood 1-34 BCT PA Company A, 134 Brigade Support Battalion Soldiers were the first to put eyes on the equipment. They unloaded the gear in one day and placed it in a large tent. Bruns, a member of the company, said about 15 of the company s Soldiers inventoried the equipment several times. We check it three times to make sure all our numbers come out, Bruns said. The equipment also was separated by each unit. There were 34 units that received the equipment. He said every two hours; six units arrived to pick up their equipment. On the last pick up, there were eight units. The 1-34 Brigade Combat Team supply sections demonstrated their efficiency last week. They unloaded, inventoried, distributed and received more than $6 million of Rapid Fielding Initiative equipment in less than three days. Eleven semi trailers hauled the lethality equipment, which included assault packs, waist packs, hydration systems, binoculars and weapon modification kits. (This undertaking) is normally a three to four day mission, said 2nd Lt. Matthew Page 7 Bruns, officer in charge of the RFI. We got it done in 36 hours." The equipment from Program Executive Office Soldier, Fort Belvoir, Va., will equip more than 4,100 Soldiers. All requests for RFI equipment are funneled through the Infantry School at Staff Sgt. Frank Oswald (left) and another Soldier carried boxes of the RFI equipment to a 1-34 Brigade Troops Battalion pickup. Fort Benning, Ga. Page 6

7 In our sights Photo by Sgt. Kent Westberg, 1-34 BCT PA Sgt. Dan Halan (left) and Spc. Aaron Schmidt provide rear security during training last week. Both are members of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 136th Combined Arms Battalion. Photo by Sgt. Kent Westberg, 1-34 BCT PA Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Clinton Wood, 1-34 BCT PA Capts. Brian Thiele, (left) and Donavan Neumann talk with Minnesota National Guard's Assistant Adjutant General, Brig. Gen. Jon Trost, during Trost's visit Sunday to a Camp Shelby range. Thiele is a member of Company A, 1-34 Brigade Troops Battalion and Neumann is a member of the battalion's Company B. Sgt. Paul Bramsen (right) was the assistant gunner for Spc. David Kocholek during a Squad Automatic Weapon Primary Marksmanship Instruction last week. Both Soldiers are from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-34 BCT. Page 7