April may 2013 newsletter

the DEVIL’S CORNERAPRIL/MAY 2013 EDITION

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 2

The ‘devil’ brigade7232 NORMANDY DRIVE

FORT RILEY KS 66442

‘Devil’ PAOEmail: [email protected]

Read the Post paper online! http://www.1divpost.com/

KEEP INFORMED AND UPDATED WITH 1ST BRIGADE BY FOLLOWING US ON THESE WEBSITES:

1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley: www.riley.army.mil.

Click on Units, 1ID Brigades, 1ABCT or just click on this link:

http://www.riley.army.mil/UnitPage.aspx?unit=1bct

Facebook: www.facebook.com/1HBCTDEVILBRIGADE?v=wall&ref-sgm

vFRG website: Family Members and Approved Personal can also go onto the vFRG and log into

their Soldier’s BN’s vFRG site, where more information can be found. www.armyfrg.org

1/1 ABCT CommanderCol. Michael Pappal

1/1 ABCT Command Sergeant MajorCSM Mark A. Kiefer

Public Affairs Officer Public Affairs NCO/Journalist Maj. Tony B. Crumbey Sgt. Kerry Lawson


6D

no mission too difficult. no sacrifice too great. duty first.

devil 6

To all of the Devil Soldiers, Family Members, and Friends:

I am finally taking time to write this note while sitting in the Brigade TAC watching my staff synchronize and coordinate fire missions as part of our Fire Coordination Exercise. This is the culmination of over a year of planning and training with the Brigade’s TOC/TAC conducting mission command, 1-5 FA out shooting the big guns, 101 BSB conducting squad convoy lanes while supporting the units in the field. The 4-4 CAV and COLTS conducting call-for-fire missions, and BSTB supporting the TOC’s communication and flying UAS missions. Everybody is doing a great job and learning at all levels is amazing. This is only one the outstanding training events out of the many across the battalions. The Pale Riders completed their first platoon-level STX, and showed their ability to sneak and peek across the battlefield during the night. Congratulations to 4-4 CAV

Gainey Cup team who represented the Devil Brigade, and the Big Red One at that Army Scout Competition at Fort Benning, GA. The tank companies within the Iron Rangers and Dreadnaughts completed tank gunnery closing out the OPNET. Great shooting by those crews as well as all of the Bradley crews who preceded them. It is good to know that we are an Armored Brigade with lethal, steely-eyed crews. Our Joint Forward Observers had the opportunity to control A-10 Ground support aircraft from the South Dakota Air National Guard last week. This was the first time in over 10 years that anyone has controlled and dropped bombs from Air Force planes on Fort Riley. Be sure to check the Devil Brigade Facebook page for some great pictures. Even with less money we are able to conduct some hard, and valuable training to hone

our perishable warfighting skills. Keep up the great work, stay focused, and disciplined as the weather begins to get nicer (hopefully). Take care of your buddies, your family, and yourself.


D7

no mission too difficult. no sacrifice too great. duty first.

devil 7

As we close out the second quarter, begin the third quarter; and look forward to Spring, the Brigade is getting busy with training and rebuilding long lost skills. Late at night the sounds of artillery from Hamilton’s Own were heard all over the post as they completed Table VI. The Scouts from Pale Riders are completing their NET gunnery and produced some outstanding crews in the process. Now, the tanks are moving into position to begin their final leg of NET and qualify all 58 crews. By the time this goes into print, so I would like to say thanks to all the leaders and Soldiers who put in the time and effort to learn and relearn all the equipment. To all the maintainers and those that provided the fuel, parts, and all the other tangibles to make this all synchronize, thank you for the hard work. The message this installment is geared to the Sergeant and Soldier relationship. Some believe the pairing is one requiring stern leadership, while others rely on a relaxed atmosphere of friendship and a mutual coexistence. The Task Master is often ineffective in building effective teams, while the casual leader approach is easy to take advantage of. So which of

these is the better suited leader? I think it’s better to have these traits, but not necessarily use them unless truly needed. My leadership advice to the most inexperienced in the formation is to learn from those most effective in the unit. The authentic leader is what is needed most today. My description of the authentic leader is that they are R.E.A.L…. RESPECTFUL, ENCOURAGING, APPROACHABLE, and LOYAL. If we do a little self analysis periodically, we might ask ourselves if we are respectful to those we lead and those that command. Respect is as easy to spot as disrespect. Soldiers will gravitate to it. Encourage our sub-ordinates to excel and contribute to the team. A simple pat on the back goes a long way and lets a soldier know they are appreciated. An approachable leader will get more done than anyone else. A leader that is not approachable will find those in their charge going elsewhere for advice and direction. A soldier needs an outlet for all things,

whether personal or technical. Make yourself approachable and see how much busier you get as a result. Loyalty is an Army value and absolutely necessary for success. Any leader who doesn’t exhibit the loyal attributes to the Soldier, Unit, or the Army as an institution will be very transparent to a Soldier; can expect to be marginalized. I am always looking at leaders and talking to Soldiers about what they want. A Soldier wants a credible leader who does what he does and asks nothing of them that they don’t ask of themselves. My final bit of ad-vice is to always ask for feedback from multiple levels since it is way more important that a leader know how they are seen as opposed to how that same leader sees things. You may be surprised at what you learn in the process. If you read this, I would like some feedback on the content and whether or not you found it useful to you in any way.

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 5Chaplain’s Corner

At the age of thirty-eight, Bonnie Booth may have taken extreme measures to solve one of her problems. In February of 1996, the Muncie, Indiana, resident had unsuccessfully tried to remove a callous from her foot with a razor so she resorted to more drastic measures. She drank a bottle of vodka and had two or three beers before doing “surgery” in her backyard with a .410 shotgun. She was afraid the callous was getting infected because of some severe pain so she opted to try shooting it off with a shotgun. Needless to say, she not only ended up in the emergency room, but also the psychiatric center as well. While we might see Ms. Booth’s attempt at problem solving somewhat comical and lacking in the common sense department, I wonder if people examined our attempts at problem solving would they too snicker and shake their heads in dismay at our efforts. Perhaps you have not taken a shotgun to your foot for callous removal but I am sure many of us have done other strange things to get our lives straightened out. The Bible reminds us to turn over our problems to God because He cares for us. The first step in problem solving for people of faith is just that—faith. As chaplains we provide the resources for people to seek spiritual and religious care. We are the person in the Army community that exists to openly and honestly talk about spiritual resilience. Our spiritual resilience is strengthened each time we turn a problem over to God and we discover that He gives us what we need to handle the situation. He might give us a great Behavioral Health counselor (or Military Family Life Consultant, social worker, or chaplain) who is caring and compassionate at just the time we need it. Or a battle buddy who takes the time to show genuine care for our problems. As we see God give us the resolve and strength we need in the situation our spiritual resilience becomes stronger and more vibrant. This in turn instills in us the confidence in our self that with God, we can handle whatever He allows into our corner of the world. Many of you have heard by now that the funding for the Strong Bonds marriage and single soldier retreats has been greatly reduced. It is true. For the remainder of this fiscal year only units returning from a deployment or about to deploy will have funds for Strong Bond retreats. Stay tuned for more developments.

Peace, Chaplain Don CarrothersOffice: (785) 239-2513Cell: (785)307-0514

Unit Chaplains Contact Information

BDE CH (MAJ) Carrothers: 785-239-2513BSTB CH (CPT) Ball: 785-279-6836BSB CH (CPT) Adriatico: 785-239-95301-16 CH (CPT) Ball: 785-240-31112-34 CH (CPT) Parks: 785-240-24441-5 CH (CPT) Jung ---- No Number4-4 CH (CPT) Remy ---- No Number1 EN CH (1LT) Sanders: 785-240-5972

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 6Retention’s Corner

Retention in First Brigade is well on pace for a successful year. Currently, the Brigade sits at 98% completion for the mission ending on 30 Sept 2013. The Army has been trying to get Soldiers to make a decision earlier in their career rather than the last minute and our Soldiers have taken that message to heart. The future of Army retention will be a lesson in aggressively seeking career advancement. The Brigade Retention team just finished identifying Soldiers who would be adversely affected by the Feb. 21 bonus change. Sometimes this results in more reenlistments but the primary mission is to make sure every Soldier understands what is available and what it is changing to. Several bonuses went from $5k+ to $0. The Division Retention program has set us up for success by ensuring that counseling Soldiers is important. Soldiers make their best decisions when they know all the options available to them. One change we are making is to the transfer of the 9-11 GI Bill.

Retention asks that no one goes online and transfers their benefits on their own. See your Career Counselor and inquire to your eligibility first. The Career Counselor can then brief you on the rules for transfer and assist you with transferring your benefits quickly as well as approve the transfer once the requirements have been met.The Career Counselor is the approving official for transfers of enlisted personnel.

1st ABCT, Senior Career Counselor MSG Brian ByingtonOffice: 785-239-8757

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 7Equal Opportunity’s Corner

The United States Congress established the Days of Remembrance as our nation’s annual commemoration of the Holocaust and created the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum as a permanent living memorial to the victims. Holocaust Remembrance Day is Monday, April 8, 2013. The Museum designated Never Again: Heeding the Warning Signs as the theme for the 2013 observance. In accordance with its Congressional mandate, the Museum is responsible for leading the nation in commemorating the Days of Remembrance, and for encouraging and sponsoring appropriate observances throughout the United States.

“STRENGTH IN DIVERSITY”SFC Frank Desario Equal Opportunity Advisor 1ABCT, 1ID Office: 239-0560 Cell: 760-900-7946

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 8Safety Comments

How to use your Safety Officer:

I was the incoming battalion commander and it had been a wonderful couple of days familiarizing myself with what appeared to be a great unit. After reviewing the brigade command-er’s Officer Evaluation Report support form in preparation for my initial counseling, I noted the usual comments about meeting or exceeding standards for the commander’s unit status report, individual weapons qualification, Army physical fitness test and the unit’s successful external evalua-tion. However, what I hadn’t seen before was an objective to “imple-ment and maintain an effective unit safety program supporting unit readiness and combat capability.” During my counseling session with the brigade commander, Col. Green, she asked how I planned to implement and maintain an effec-tive unit safety program. I confi-dently replied that my safety officer would lead that effort. Not satisfied with my response, she asked me if I knew how to use my safety officer. I said that I would simply ask the safety officer to prepare seasonal and holiday safety messages for me, make appropriate comments at command/staff meetings, provide last-minute safety tips and keep me abreast of safety-related issues. That’s when Green offered some guidance and mentorship. I learned that my unit had experienced a rash of accidents both on and off duty during the last seven months. One in particular involved a 21-year-old Soldier killed on a motorcycle. The Soldier ran a stop sign and was hit by a car. Another accident involved a Soldier that sustained a serious

back injury while lifting a heavy pelican case. That Soldier spent more than 3 ½ months on conva-lescent leave and is now pending possible medical retirement. Green made it clear that unit readiness and combat capability depended on the use of my safety officer and their ability to imple-ment and maintain an effective unit safety program. She said safety was a command team responsibility and informed me that I was required to attend her safety council meetings and that I needed to link up with her safety officer. I met with the brigade safety officer and he gave me a lot of valuable information on how to breathe some life back into my safety program. He recommended that my additional duty safety officer serve as a member of my personal staff. He also said that I should appropriately empower the ADSO, allowing him or her to monitor key command support programs; observe and participate in unit operations; participate in the military decision making process; manage the unit safety program; document and track hazards, action officers and suspense dates; and handle accident reporting and trend analysis. Armed with ideas and guidance, I met with my command team sev-eral times and we developed a plan on how to set up and effectively manage a unit safety program. I appointed a new ADSO, Capt. Johnson, and assistant ADSO, Sgt. 1st Class Stevenson. I briefed them on my expectations and, heeding the brigade safety officer’s advice, I let them know they’d serve on my personal staff, reporting directly to

me. Four months later, my unit experienced one Class C, two Class D accidents and some close-call events that could have easily re-sulted in a serious injury or fatality. This definitely wasn’t the precedence on safety I wanted to set. Soon after, the ADSO and assistant ADSO returned from the Ground Safety Officer course with fresh ideas. Before my next safety council meeting, Johnson and Stevenson suggested we administer a safety survey. The survey they explained, along with analysis of unit accident trends, would help validate areas where the unit was performing well and expose the areas that needed improvement. After the unit completed the survey, my executive officer set a date and time for the safety council meeting that happened to conflict with my schedule. I directed the XO to chair the meeting. That’s when Johnson met with me and respectfully requested that I chair the meeting. Then I thought about the brigade commander’s “imple-ment and maintain an effective unit safety program” performance objective. I chaired the meeting. My unit was three weeks out from conducting a field training ex-ercise that included live-fire lanes training. Following the FTX and live-fire lanes rehearsal, Johnson and Stevenson emailed me two DA Form 7566 Composite Risk Management worksheets — one for the FTX and the other for live-fire lanes training — for my review and signature. The FTX and live-fire lanes training went off well with no ac-cidents,

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 9injuries or damaged equipment. During the after-action review, I was surprised to see both CRM worksheets included on the AAR agenda. Clearly, Johnson and Ste-venson were onto something, and I attribute the success of the mission to them. I firmly believe that implementing and maintaining an effective unit safety program and effective use of my safety officer is the key to a successful command. However, this will require continuous effort by me, my com-mand team, Leaders at all levels, Soldiers and even their Families to maintain readiness and combat capability. At my safety council meetings, the performance metrics reflect an accident rate reduction with zero off-duty privately owned vehicle accidents. My last CUSR submis-sion also showed considerable improvement. Morale seems greatly improved and, most impor-tantly, we haven’t lost anybody to accidents.Editor’s note: The names of the Soldiers in this article are fictitious.


Need to contact your Family Readiness Support Assistant? (FRSA)

1-5 FABarb Stanley785-240-1652

[email protected]

1ABCTHelen Day

[email protected]

1-1 BSTB Helen Day

[email protected]

1-1st ENGBarb Stanley785-240-1652

[email protected]

4-4 CAVHelen Day

[email protected]

101st BSBBarb Stanley785-240-1652

[email protected]

1-16 INLiz Tripp

[email protected]

2-34 ARLiz Tripp

[email protected]

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 11Financial NCO comments

The Thrift Savings Plan has warned its participants against using a free iPhone app being offered through the Apple store, saying it is not an official offering of the 401(k)-style program for federal employees.

The app, called TSP Funds, asks account holders for their account login information, but providing that in-formation “could result in a security risk to your account,” the TSP said. The TSP’s own access portal requires users to enter account identification and a password. It also provides information about steps investors should take to protect their accounts. The TSP last year disclosed that a 2011 hacking incident had been discovered in which Social Security num-bers and other personal information on more than 120,000 account holders were compromised. For more information visit: https://www.tsp.gov/index.shtml (you will find a link to the warning on the right side of the TSP home page)

SSG Airial Dandridge1st ABCT Command Financial NCO785-340-5184

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 12SHARP’s corner

There are SHARP qualified personnel distributed thorughout the brigade. Each company and battalion has a primary and alternate SHARP qualified person. The Brigade Sexual Assault Coordinator (SARC) and Victim Advocate (VA) serve in their positions full time. If someone finds themselves a victim of sexual assualt or sexual harrassment they are free to talk to anyone SHARP qualified. DoD also has a program called Safe Helpline which provides an additional channel where adult Service members of the DoD community can seek sexual assualt resources and crisis support securely and anonymously:

With the DoD Safe Helpline, users have three ways -- “click, call or text” -- to get confidential support.

o CLICK: Logging on to www.SafeHelpline.org allows users to receive live, one-on-one confidential help with a trained professional through a secure instant-messaging format. The website also provides vital information about recovering from and reporting sexual assault. This service can also be accessed via a format for mobile phones.

o CALL: Calling 877-995-5247 allows users to speak with trained Safe Helpline staff for personalized advice and support. Safe Helpline staff can transfer callers directly to installation-based Sexual Assualt Response Coordinators (SARCs)/ On-call SAPR Victim Advocates, civilian rape crisis centers. Military OneSource, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The “warm hand-off” process personally connects the user with a resource representative for furter assistance. Staff will transfer the caller to any resource at the location of the caller’s choice. For example, a caller may want to speak to the SARC at the location where their unit is based, not where they are currently located. If the contact is unavaiblable at the time of the “warm hand-off,” the Safe Helpline staff will offer contact information to the caller to follow-up with sup port personnel at a later time. o TEXT: Texting a location or zip code to 55-247 in the U.S. and 202-470-5546 outside the U.S. allows users to receive contact information for the SARC; medical, legal, spiritual, and military police personnel; and Department of Veterans Affairs personnel at their installation or base.

For more information, questions, or concerns feel free to contact the 1st ABCT SHARP Office:

SARC - SFC Sheryann Omarrow 239-9528

Victim Advocate - SSG Airial Dandridge 785-340-5184 1st ABCT SHARP Hotline (to report a sexual assualt): 785-307-0107 1st Inf. Div. SHARP Hotline: 785-307-9338


SFC Rod AndersonHHC, 1st ABCT

My family, definitely. Without them having my back, life would be a lot more difficult.

SPC Jacob CraigHHC, 1st ABCT

My wife. Also my peers from basic training that are stationed here.

WO1 Katrina DavisHHC, 1-1 BSTB

My religion and family.

MAJ Jenevieve MurphyHHC, 1st ABCT

My husband and son. When times are tough, my family helps me to get through them.

WHAT MAKES YOU STRONG?


courts-martialin 1st abct

Unit: Company B, 1st Bn., 16th INCharges: Articles 129 - Burglary; 121 - Larceny x4; 108 -Destruction of Government Property x2; 86 - AWOL Punishment: Reduction to E1; Confinement for 6 months; Bad Conduct Discharge

Unit: Troop D, 4th SQDN, 4th CAV REGTCharges: Article 86 - Failure to Report; 112 - Drug Use x2Punishment: Reduction to the E1; Forefeiture of $768 for one month, and confinement for one month

Unit: HHC, 1-1 BSTBCharges: Article 120 - Rape; 134 - AdulteryPunishment: Reduction to E1, Confinement for 5 months, bad conduct discharge

Unit: Troop B, 4th SQDN, 4th CAV REGTCharge: 86 - AWOLPunishment: 14 days restriction


Devil Stakes Winners for FY13 2nd QuarterPlace ASIP into Operation

1st Place: HHT, 4-4 CAV (Streamer) SGT Stephen Durall,CPT Nelson Lamb

2nd Place: HHC, 2-34 AR

3rd Place: Company B, 2-34 AR

Call for Indirect Fire

1st Place: HHB, 1-5 FA (Streamer)SGT Alvin Anderson,SPC Leonardo Rubio

2nd Place: Company D, 1-16 IN

3rd Place: Company B, 101st BSB

Hand Grenade Assault Course

1st Place: Battery D, 1-5 FA (Streamer) 2LT Alan Coleman,SPC Timothy Loomis

2nd Place: HHC, 101st BSB

3rd Place: Company F, 2-34 AR

Obstacle Course

1st Place: Company C, 1-16 IN (Streamer) 1LT Alexander Jackson, PVT Zachariah McCoy, PVT Shea Curley, PVT Wayne Jensen

2nd Place: HHC, 2-34 AR

3rd Place: HHC, 1-16 IN

Top Company

1st Place: Company B, 2-34 AR

2nd Place: HHC, 2-34 AR 3rd Place: Company A, 2-34 AR

Top Battalion

1st Place: 2-34 AR

2nd Place: 1-16 IN

3rd Place: (Tie) 4-4 CAV & 1-5 FA

Top Chef Cook Off

1st Place: Company E, 1-16 IN, SPC Ehran Schooler

2nd Place: Company D, 2-34 AR, SPC (P) Thavrith Meas

3rd Place: HHC, 1-5 FA, PFC John Powell

Top Tank Crew

1st Place: Company D, 2-34 ARSFC Jaime Herrera, SGT Scott Richards, PFC Steven Cutler, PFC Cisto Reyes

2nd Place: Company C, 2-34 AR SFC William Coultry, SGT Gregory Scully, PFC Charles Anderson, PVT Christopher Deam

3rd Place: Company C, 2-34 AR 2LT Christopher Brown, SGT David Kapppel, SPC David Schull

Top Bradley Crew

1st Place: HHC, 2-34 ARSSG Toloai Sosene, PFC Thomas Hurley,PV2 Michael Delgado

2nd Place: Company A, 1-16 IN

3rd Place: Company A, 1-16 IN

TOP Paladin Crew

1st Place: Battery D, 1-5 FASGT Casey McGee,SGT Richard Phillips,SGT Michael Hoehn (PCS),PFC Dennis Murry,PV2 Trevor Turner,PV2 Frank Soto

2nd Place: Battery A, 1-5 FA

3rd Place: Battery A, 1-5 FA


Heroes of the BattalionThe following individuals will be awarded a coin for being selected as the Heroes of their Battalions:

Company B, 101st BSB: SPC Jacob Olszanski

Company A, 1-1 BSTB:SGT Craig Buyaki

Company B, 2-34 AR:SPC Norman Decelles

HHC, 1-16 IN:SPC Eduardo Jimenez

Troop B, 4-4 CAV:SSG Logan Johnson

Battery A, 1-5 FAPFC Patrick Hernandez

NCO and Soldier of the 2nd QuarterTroop C, 4-4 CAV: SGT Richard Treanor

HHC, 1-16 IN:PFC Michael Ellis

Division NCO and Soldier of the Quarter

Company B, 1-16 IN:SGT Ian Williams

HHT, 4-4 CAV:PFC Aaron Duncan


AER kicks off to ‘take care of own’By Julie Fiedler, 1ST INF. DIV. POST

The 2013 Army Emergency Relief campaign is set to kick off March 1. The goal of this year’scampaign is two-fold, according to Stacy Johnston, program manager, Financial Readiness and AER. “First and foremost, it’s to raise awareness so that Soldiers know there’s a place that they can go to get some financial assistance, instead of going off post and looking for that quick fix that will end up costing them more in the long run,” Johnston said. The other goal is to help raise money for the Army-wide fund, the sole purpose of which is to help Soldiers, retirees and Family members in need, she said. Fort Riley’s installation-wide goal is to raise $250,000 during the campaign, which runs from March 1 to May 15. Senior leadership is actively engaged in the effort, which will hopefully lead to greater awareness, Johnston said. “Having the senior leaders that involved … Hopefully, that equates to greater awareness … (So) Soldiers know exactly what we can help with and where to find us, and how to go about getting the assistance,” she said. AER provides interest-free loans to Soldiers, Family members and retirees, and has grants available in cases where loan repayment would cause undue hardship. Assistance also can be provided as a part-loan and a part-grant. Last year, $1.8 million in assistance was provided to 1,640 Soldiers, Family members andretirees at Fort Riley alone. Of that sum, $87,000 was provided to help

cover funeral expenses. “Those days where you walk out feeling like you’ve made a difference are tragic cases,”Johnston said, citing examples where Soldiers have lost children or gone through messy divorces. “We can step in and provide that assistance … (So) in the end, it takes some stress off of them,” Johnston said. “Those are the tough days, but the days that you know that that person probably appreciates the help.” AER assistance is offered across a variety of categories, with new categories added each year. Last year, four categories were added, including replacement vehicles, Family member dental care, furniture assistance and rental vehicles. “One of the new categories of assistance that AER opened up is being able to provide assistance for a replacement vehicle in lieu of repairs, in the event that repairs exceed the value of the vehicle. That has made a tremendous difference for a lot of Families,” Johnston said. Furniture assistance can help Families just setting up a household or help tide Families over if they are waiting on insurance reimbursements, Johnston said. Johnston said Soldiers, Families and retirees should never hesitate to ask for help. “Never assume that we can’t help,” she said. “Always ask us. I don’t want Soldiers or Family members to get discouraged if they don’t find exactly their situation on the (AER) website and think that it’s not something we can help with because there are so many different

ways that we can help.” In addition to interest-free loans and grants, AER offers scholarships that provide up to several thousand dollars of assistance per academic year for books, tuition and more. “The scholarship program is fantastic,” she said. “It’s for both spouses and dependent children.” Soldiers and retirees can help other Soldiers by contributing to the AER fund and spreading the word about AER assistance. Donations are tax deductible, and forms are available at ArmyCommunity Service. While the fundraising campaign is focused on Soldiers and retirees to help take care of their own, unsolicited donations also are accepted. For more information, call 785-239-9435 or visit www.aerhq.org.


Posting on social media sites can be dangerous

By Dena O’Dell, 1ST INF. DIV. POST

What is too much personal information to post on a social media site? Is posting birthdates, addresses, phone numbers, deployments, redeployments or troop locations too much information? Pat Burch, installation antiterrorism officer, Fort Riley, offered the following example of how posting too much information on a social media site can put a Family at risk: A garrison commander cancels classes at an installation school due to inclement weather, but does not close the installation. As a result, parents have to find child care for their children, so they can still report to work. One parent uses a social media site to complain about the situation. In her complaint, she discusses the fact her children are home alone because she has to work and the other parent is deployed. What dangers did the parent just pose? Using information from the parent’s profile, the Family’s home address could be located through people search engines like www.veromi.com, www.pipl.com and www.zabasearch.com. Additionally, more than 900 registered sex offenders live in the local area. Although the children were of legal age to be home alone, the information the parent posted revealed an address and a window of opportunity. In addition to putting her children at risk by her post, Burch said, it also provided a window of opportunity for theft. What resulted from the parent’s

post was: • Critical information concerning Family, lifestyle and location was available on social media websites to adversaries • Family, personal and professional lives could be endangered through the open forum • The apparent desire to be heard combined with the lack of knowledge of the risks inherent with the use of social media sites presents unnecessary risks to Family members Those using social media sites should consider the secondary impacts of posting personal information, Burch said. The following are some tips when using social media sites: • Social media users should never assume only individuals they know are reading their posts • Update social media privacy and account settings; don’t rely on default settings to secure posts • Balance a unit’s use of social networking against the risk of providing information to criminals and adversaries • Educate the workforce and Families of the dangers of social media; it is not about avoiding it, but using it intelligently • Regularly check, and, if necessary, update privacy and account settings on social media websites • Conduct regular operational security reviews of official Department of Defense social media web pages for posted comments by service members and their Families A parent’s reaction to a garrison commander’s decision to close school could have placed the

spouse’s unit and Family at risk. Assume adversaries are monitoring social websites. Before posting anything, assume what would happen if the information is available to adversaries, including terrorists and criminals, Burch said.


Motorcycle season around corner, time to prep

GARRISON SAFETY OFFICE

Motorcycle season is almost here! To steer this riding season in the right direction, review the tips below before hitting the open road.

BEFORE YOU RIDE • Read your owner’s manual, as it will give you many specifics that you will find helpful in understanding and maintaining your bike. Always have your owner’s manual with the bike. It can tell you what to do in emergency situations. • Check the tires – the tires are the most important parts of your bike. Check the surface for cuts, foreign objects, and tire pressure with a good gauge. • Check the controls – cables are strong and rarely break, but check for kinks or stiffness. • Check your lights, turn signals, horn, and mirrors. • Check the oil, fuel, and if your bike is liquid-cooled, the coolant levels. • If your motorcycle has a chain-drive to the rear wheel, make sure that the chain Is properly tensioned and in good shape. • Make sure that the side-stand and center-stand fold up and stay up. • Check your brakes as you roll off. Make sure they work.

WHILE ON THE ROAD • Scan around you for potential hazards. • Evaluate any possible hazards, such as railroad tracks, turning cars, etc. • Make sure you can see others and they can see you, as much as possible. • Intersections are particularly

dangerous. Always check for traffic coming from the side and from behind. Make sure no one is about to run up your tailpipe.

CARRYING A PASSENGER ON YOUR MOTORCYCLE

• Review the motorcycle owner’s manual for tips on preparing for riding with apassenger. • Make sure the motorcycle is designed to carry a passenger. • If you decide to carry a child, make sure the child is mature enough to handle the responsibilities, can reach the footrests, wears a helmet and other protective gear, and holds onto you or the passenger hand-holds. • Instruct your passenger to keep his or her legs away from the muffler to avoid burns and all moving parts. Instruct your passenger to limit movement and talking. • Remember that the extra weight from carrying a passenger can affect braking procedures, starting from a stop, and riding through a corner. • Do not exceed the weight limitations specified in the manual.

PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

CG Policy Letter 13 states, “Anyone who operates a motorcycle on an Army installation, to include government-owned motorcycle, shall successfully complete an approved Motorcycle Safety Foundation Course. It also states the following PPE must be worn while operating or riding as a passenger: • Helmet: Personnel riding motorcycle and ATVs at Fort Riley, their helmets shall be certified to

meet DOT Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 218. All helmets shall be properly fastened under the chin. • Eye Protection: Designed to meet or exceed ANSI Z87.1, reference (z) for impact and shatter resistance includes goggles, wraparound glasses, or a full-face shield – properly attached to a helmet. Amber or clear lens are encourage for night riding. • Foot Protection: Includes sturdy over-the-ankle footwear that affords protection for the feet and ankles – durable leather or ballistic-type cloth athletic shoes that cover the ankles may be worn. • Protective Clothing: Includes long-sleeved shirt or jacket, long trousers, and full-fingered gloves or mittens made from leather or other abrasion-resistant material. For full details on PPE, refere to the policy letter. Remember, CG Policy Letter 13 directs that all motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, dirt bikes, specialty vehicles, and ATVs be licensed and/or registered by appropriate civilian authority in order to operate at Fort Riley. Per the Senior Commander’s directive, it states service members who have not properly registered their motorcycle will not permitted entry to Fort Riley. The Fort Riley Garrison Safety Office offers rider courses to all active duty personnel and reservist free of charge. For more information about enrollment, please contact (785) 239-3391.


USAEC

WASHINGTON – The Department of the Army has completed a final Programmatic Environmental Assessment and draft Finding of No Significant Impact for Army force structure reductions and realignments that may occur from fiscal years 2013 to 2020. The Programmatic Environmental Assessment, known as a PEA, evaluates and assesses the environmental impacts of potential adjustments to Army forces at 21 installations. The Army has completed the analysis to support future anticipated changes and reductions to its forces that are necessary to reduce spending, while maintaining critical national defense capabilities. The Army’s proposed action evaluated in the PEA is to reduce the Army’s active-duty end-strength from 562,000 at the end of FY 2012 to 490,000 by FY 2020. The PEA analyzes two primary alternatives – Alternative No. 1: Implement force reductions by inactivating a minimum of eight brigade combat teams, or BCTs, and realign other combat, combat support and service support units between FY 2013 and FY 2020; and Alternative No. 2: Implement Alternative 1, inactivate additional BCTs and reorganize remaining BCTs by adding an additional combat maneuver battalion and other units. The PEA also analyzes a No Action alternative, under which the Army would not reduce the size of the force. The implementation of Army force realignment will occur during the course of several years to arrive at an optimally configured force in 2020. Reductions in Army Soldiers also will be accompanied by some reduction in civil service

employees. These actions are being undertaken to reshape the Army’s forces to meet more effectively national security requirements, while reducing the Army’s end-strength. Force realignment and some level of force reduction will impact most major Army installations. The implementation of this force rebalancing is necessary to allow the Army to operate in a reduced budget climate, while ensuring the Army can continue to support the nation’s critical defense missions. After more than 10 years of war, the nation is facing new challenges and opportunities that call for reshaping defense priorities. Concurrent with a reduction and realignment of the force, the Army proposes to reorganize and restructure its forces using lessons learned during the past 10 years, information about what the future global security environment will be like and results of previous brigade combat team studies to reshape the Army into a force capable ofsupporting the full spectrum of military operations. In the PEA, the Army has evaluated the environmental impacts that may occur at 21 installations that will likely experience changes in Soldier populations as part of Army’s 2020 force structure realignments and force reduction decisions. Force reductions that may occur as part of the proposed action include the inactivation of Army BCTs andcombat support and combat service support units at Army and joint base-stationing locations. The decisions on how to best implement Army force reductions and force structure changes from FY 2013 to 2020 will be made over the course of several years to arrive at an optimally configured force in

2020. Alternatives considered in the PEA evaluate the largest growth potential scenarios at installations that may occur from BCT restructuring, as well as the greatest force reduction scenarios that could occur as a result of Army force drawdown. The range of potential installation reduction and growth – ranging from maximum losses of 8,000 military personnel to maximum increases of 3,000 at the Army’s largest installations –was chosen for the environmental analysis to provide flexibility as future force structure realignment decisions are made. The PEA is designed to inform decision-makers of potential socioeconomic and environmental impacts associated with proposed actions, as the stationing decisions are made in the coming years. The specific locations where changes will occur have not been decided. Stationing sites that were included in the PEA are those sites that could experience a change in Soldiers and civilians that exceeds t total of plus or minus 1,000 military personnel. Sites considered in the PEA include: Fort Ben-ning, Ga.; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Campbell, Ky.; Fort Carson, Colo.; Fort Drum, N.Y.; Fort Gordon, Ga.; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Irwin, Calif.; Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va.; Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash.; Fort Knox, Ky.; Fort Lee, Va.; Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; Fort Polk, La.; Fort Riley, Kan.; Fort Sill, Okla.; Fort Stewart, Ga.; U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii; and U.S. Army Garrison Fort Wainwright,Alaska. Environmental impacts associated with implementation of alternatives evaluated in the PEA

See Impact, page 28

Army assesses impact of changes to force

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 21PEA. Members of the public can review the PEA and draft FNSI and submit comments on the draft FNSI until Feb. 19. An electronic version of the PEA and draft FNSI will be available for download at http://aec.army.mil/usaec/nepa/top-ics00.html. Comments or questions on the PEA should be submitted to: Public Comments USAEC, Attn: IMPA-AE (Army 2020 PEA), 2450 Con-nell Road (Building 2264), Fort Sam Houston, TX 78234-7664 or emailed to USARMY.JBSA. [email protected]. For questions or additional information about this PEA, call 210-466-1590 or [email protected].

IMPACT Continued from page 27

include impacts to air quality, airspace, cultural and biological resources, noise, soil erosion, wetlands, water resources, facilities, socioeconomic impact, energy demand, land use, hazardous materials and waste, and traffic and transportation. No significant environmental impacts are anticipated as a result of implementing either alternative associated with the proposed action, with the exception of socioeconomic impacts. Socioeconomic impacts are of particular concern to the Army because they affect communities around Army installations. Therefore, the PEA has a comprehensive analysis of the socioeconomic impacts to inform the decision makers and communities. Impacts could include reduced employment, income, regional population and sales and some of these impacts could be significant. The completion of an environmental assessment results in one of two outcomes – either significant environmental impacts are identified and a Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement, or EIS, is issued, or, no significant environmental impacts are identified and a FNSI is signed. Significant socioeconomic impacts alone do not require preparation of an EIS. The Army study finds there are no significant environmental impacts with either alternative evaluated in the PEA; accordingly, a draft FNSI has been prepared. Final decisions as to which alternative to implement and which installations will see reductions or unit realignments have not yet been made. Those decisions will be made based on mission-related criteria and other factors in light of the information contained in the


Soldiers compete in Devil Stakes cookoffBy Amanda Kim Stairrett1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The pace quickened when it was announced that just six minutes remained. The stress level seemed to increase, and the chatter decreased. Spoonfuls of peas splashed onto plates, and chicken was peeled off baking sheets. The cooks rushed to make sure their four plates were on the judges’ table, as Sgt. 1st ClassDenise Felton counted down the final seconds. The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division hosted its first cookoffFriday, March 1, as part of its regular Devil Stakes series to recognize top Soldiers. Spc. Ehran Schooler, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment; Spc. Tara Erickson, Special Troops Battalion; Spc. Michael Couto, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment;Pfc John Powell, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment; and Pfc. Charles Anfield, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, represented their units in the competition at Devil’s DenDining Facility. Participants were required to prepare meals made of a starch and vegetable of their choice and chicken in one hour, 10 minutes. A panel of judges, including the food service noncommissioned officers and Maj. John Casiano, the brigade’s Executive Officer, then sampled the plates. Anfield’s secret weapon was his homemade barbecue sauce, which he first created at his first duty station in Korea. Developing the recipe started as a hobby, he said, but the more he tasted it, the more he liked it, and experimentation

followed. It got so popular at the dining facility that diners would ask for it, even when he wasn’t at work. “I love to cook,” Anfield said after the competition. “It’s a lot of fun.” He enjoyed the cook-off, he said, because “it felt good to go in the kitchen and cook freely.”Schooler’s dish, which included a cheesy potato, honey/orange/barbecue-flavored chicken breast and broccoli, was the cook-off’s most garnished plate. It included a large flower cut from a tomato. Casiano said the dish had the best presentation of the five. Schooler, who often cooks for his mother and grandmother, considers himself an all-American kind of cook. His favorite thing to make? Steak. Schooler’s commander, Capt. Erik Anthes, attended the cook-off to watch his Soldier compete. Army cooks are often underappreciated, he said, though they work the longest, most

difficult hours. “They do a lot of hard work, and we tend to take for granted,” he said. Casiano said he was impressed with the cooks’ work, adding it was what they enlistedto do. “You clearly have excelled at it,” he told them. Cooks rarely get to show off what they do, and the cook-off was their opportunity, Felton said. It also was a way to recognize the Soldiers. When others may get days off because of weather, Army cooks still have to work just as hard to make sure their fellow Soldiers can eat, she said. She said she wanted the cooks to know they were important – key even – to the brigade. Competitions like this also show the cooks and other Soldiers there is more to food service than just working in a dining facility, Felton said, adding she has spent 17 years in Army food service, which has

See COOK, page 55

Amanda Kim Stairrett, 1ST INF. DIV.Pfc. John Powell of 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., plates his chicken March 1 at the Devil’s Den DFAC during a cookoff, which was part of the brigade’s regular Devil Stakes series to recognize top Soldiers.

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 23COOK Continued from page 54

been fueled by her passion and love of the craft. In that time, Felton said she has participated in nine cookoffs, and said she hopes to continue hosting similar competitions at the brigade level. The cook-off’s winner and run-ner-up will be announced at a later date, and those Soldiers are set to be recognized by brigade leaders.

Soldiers don’t have to leave the ‘hoo-ah’ behind

By Lt. Col. Delwyn MerkersonUSARC

It may be time, but sometimes it’s hard to leave the hoo-ah behind. Military skill sets gained and deployment experience, along with the camaraderie built with fellow Soldiers can make the prospect of transitioning to civilian life daunting. And that’s even before you factor in the struggling economy and job market. Even if “one weekend a month, two weeks a year” isn’t what you had in mind, you can still maintain your Soldier-connection and hone your military proficiency and hard-earned skills, while striving for the career of your dreams through the Individual Mobilization Augmentee Program. A unique aspect of the program is you aren’t locked into a “drilling reservist” schedule. You can continue Soldiering on a part-time basis – earn pay and credit toward retirement, receive benefits and entitlements,all while maintaining the flexibility to pursue your career and Family aspirations. In the IMA Program, how you serve can be tailored to your work and school schedule, giving you greater

flexibility to plan your service around your busy schedule.

WHAT IS THE IMA PROGRAM? The IMA program is designed to facilitate the rapid expansion of the active-Army wartime Department of Defense structure and other government departments or agencies. IMAs help the Army meet military manpower requirements in the event of military contingency, pre-mobilization, mobilization, sustainment and/or demobilization operations. Soldiers are currently serving on a part-time basis in more than 73 Army Agenciesthroughout U.S. and overseas in Europe and Korea. IMA Soldiers serve in Special Operation Command, Intelligence and Security Command, Central Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, just to name a few. IMA Soldiers are required to perform a minimum of 12 annual training days each fiscal year and may be authorized to perform up to 48, four-hour periods of inactive duty for training. The IMA Soldier coordinates directly with the agency IMA coordinator to schedule the AT and IDT periods.

While serving in the IMA program,you can work with your coordinator to do all your training requirements at one time, or spread them out over the year. For more information about the IMA program, visit www.hrc.army.mil/STAFF/IMA%20Program%20Overview. Search available IMA position vacancies using the online search tool on the HRC My Record website by visitingwww.hrcapps.army.mil/portal/; logging in and clicking on the “Tools” tab on the top right of the screen; choosing the “VACANCY SEARCH” link; and selecting “Vacancy Type: IMA” and inputing your desired filter criteria. Every Soldier making the transition from active duty needs to think about the value of their service. You don’t have to leave the hoo-ah behind. The Army Reserve allows you to continue your service to the nation and derive all of the benefits that compelled you to join in the first place.


K-State ROTC seniors gaining new perspective from Fort Riley

By Amanda Kim Stairrett1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

MANHATTAN – Nine officers and noncommissioned officers met with seniors in Kansas State University’s Army ROTC program last week to give them a brief dose of what they could expect once arriving to a unit. Maj. Karl Butler, executive officer, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, brought leaders from companies A and B to talk about administrative and tactical platoon leader expectations, physical training, resiliency and how to resource, train and be prepared for operations. K-State’s Army ROTC works with units from Fort Riley every year, which includes amentorship program for senior cadets who have received their branch assignments, said Lt. Col. Robert B. Dixon, professor of military science and military science department head. “The cadets are partnered with field-grade officers and open a line of communication that can extend well into their careers,” Dixon said. Interaction with senior noncommissioned officers and officers in leadership positions during events like these are profound, he said. “The impact of a first sergeant of a unit passing on his/her knowledge based on current experience is priceless, in my opinion, and reinforces everythingwe teach our cadets,” Dixon said. Because of its proximity to Fort Riley and its relationship with the post and 1st Inf. Div., K-State is one of only a handful of more than 270 ROTC programs across the country who have these kinds of opportunities, Dixon said. The visiting officers and NCOs

talked about planning and resourcing training, and gave the cadets a dose of reality: Some of them will have all the fun stuff to play with, Butler said, but some of them would not. Bottom line is, he said, platoon leaders will have to find other ways to train their troops, and creativity and innovation will be key. “Simulations are becoming more and more a prominent part of training,” Butler said. First Sgt. Phillip Madrigal told each of the cadets the importance of relying on his or her platoon sergeant. “He’s there to set you up for success. I’m going to lead you down the right road, and I’m going to set you up for success,” he said. He told the soon-to-be platoon leaders they and their sergeants have each others’ best interests in mind. When a pair disagrees, they must close the door, and as soon as that door opens, they must be best buddies. Keep those arguments inside the office, Madrigal said. Lieutenants’ first experiences with their platoon sergeants will shape how they view NCOs for the rest of their careers, according to Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Sorton. Cadet Lawrence Moss, a seniorin psychology who is set to commission as an armor officerin May, said the visit helped prepare him for what to expect once he arrived at his first unit. Innovation regarding training is something he will have to use, he said, with the Army’s downsizing and budget issues. Moss also took to heart the visiting NCOs’ advice. “You don’t want to take you being in charge over their experience,” he said. Also during the visit, Maj. David Ward, executive officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Field ArtilleryRegiment, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div.,

Amanda Kim Stairrett, 1ST INF. DIV.

Maj. Karl Butler, executive officer, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., speaks to Army ROTC cadets March 6 about what they can expect when they arrive at their units during a visit to K-State, Manhattan.

presented cadets Jacob Gardner and Anthony Maganelles each with a congratulatory letter from Brig. Gen. Brian J. McKiernan, commandant, U.S. Army Field Artillery School. The two assessed the field artillery branch. Maganelles is set to serve on active duty, and Gardner is set to commission with the Kansas Army National Guard. Both will attend the Field Artillery Officer’s Basic Course at Fort Sill, Okla., this summer. Manganelles and Gardner also received Fort Sill welcome packets to provide them with information to assist with their first moves in the Army.


Fort Riley catching the spirit of EasterBy Julie Fiedler, 1ST INF. DIV. POST

Looking for a special way to celebrate Easter? The hunt is over. Fort Riley will offer an egg-stavaganza of activities including a special sunrise service, brunch and egg hunt.

EASTER SUNRISE SERVICE An Easter sunrise service will be from 7 to 8 a.m. March 31 at the Outdoor Chapel, which is located just off 1st Division Road. “The glory of Easter morning is that, for all who believe, we have a Savior who has overcome sin and death,” said Chap. (Maj.) Michael McDonald, Family life chaplain, Garrison Religious Support Office. “The very first disciples of Jesus discovered at dawn’s first light … that the tomb that Jesus was buried in was empty. “Many believers all over the world participate in sunrise services to re-experience that glorious revelation – that the true Light has come into the world,” he added. In addition to providing a beautiful view, the Outdoor Chapel is an ideal location to watch the rising sun, McDonald said. “It provides a beautiful view and the opportunity to watch the rising of the sun as we sing hymns of celebration and receive a special message from our Installation Chaplain Chap. (Col.) Harry A. Rauch ... The sight of the rising sun adds special emphasis to the celebration of the Resurrection.” Blankets will be available as the temperature might be chilly. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be at Morris Hill Chapel. “Rain or shine – we will celebrate at 7 a.m.,” McDonald said, adding, “all installation services will hold their

regularly scheduled services that day as well.”

EASTER BRUNCH A buffet-style Easter Brunch will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 31 at Riley’s Conference Center. “The brunch is a modestly priced meal that gives Families an opportunity to do something different that is not always available on post,” said Chris Downs, manager, Riley’s Conference Center. The menu selection will feature a mix of traditional and more eclectic fare, Downs said. The menu includes breakfast items such as sun-dried tomato and asparagus frittata, biscuits and gravy, French toast, cheese blintzes and an omelet station. Lunch options include pot roast, chicken picatta, salads, sides and assorted desserts. New this year is an ice cream station. “This year, we’re going to feature a soft-serve ice cream sundae station with a variety of toppings,” Downs said. The cost is $13.95 for adults, $7.95 for children 5 to 1 years old and free for children 4 years old and younger. Downs said he encourages patrons to make reservations no later than March 29. “Reservations are highly, highly recommended and encouraged,” Downs said. “We will accommodate walk-ins as best we can.” The brunch is open to the public. For more information or to make a reservation, call 785-784-1000.

EASTER EGG HUNT The annual Easter egg hunt has become a tradition at Fort Riley. “We blow the horn and they go off,” said Duane Clayton, recreation programmer, Directorateof Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation.

The hunt starts at 1 p.m. March 31 outside Riley’s Conference Center. A hunt time is scheduled for each age group, and times will be staggered every 20 minutes to allow children of all ages the opportunity to hunt for eggs. “The egg hunt itself will be about two hours,” Clayton said. “(Age groups will) each havetheir own hunt time window.” More than 15,000 eggs filled with candy and prizes will be hidden for the event. Additionallyinflatable play stations, face painting, games and other activities will be offered to keep children entertained during the free outdoor event. “Every year, we have activities that are available for kids while they’re waiting,” Clayton said. In case of inclement weather, eggs will be made available to Families to hide at home. Check the DFMWR website at www.rileymwr.com or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/rileymwr for updates and details in the event of rain or severe weather.


‘Devil’ Brigade honors fallen Soldier, friend at memorial

By Sgt. Kerry Lawson1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

The 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley honored Spc. Mark Blakey Jr. in a memorial ceremony March 14 at Morris Hill Chapel. Blakey died Feb. 23.

SPC. MARK BLAKEY JR. Blakey was a cannon crew member for Battery D, 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div. “We, in (Btry. D), remember Mark as a Soldier who desired nothing more than to cheerfully do his duty,” said Capt. Andrew Giesey, Btry. D commander. “He established his presence wherever he was; standing at 6 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing around 250 pounds, it’s not hard to. But Mark had an immense personality to match his physical size, with boundless good humor and a ready smile, which always brightened up the room or made the mission just a little bit easier.” Blakey’s dedication to the guys on his left and right was unwavering and didn’t go without matched loyalty, said Staff Sgt. Leonard Caligiuri, Btry. D. He was assigned to Btry. D, 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt. in July 2010, where he served as a crew member for an 150-mm Paladin tank. He deployed to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn, from June to December 2011, where he conducted mounted and dismounted patrols in and around Kirkuk city. “In Iraq, he was personally

selected by the battery commander to be the gunner on the battery commander’s personal security detail.” Caligiuri said. “His attention to detail with the commander’s vehicle had the battery commander out of the gate on a mission with any patrol, at any time.” It is safe to say without Blakey’s presence, Btry. D wouldn’t have operated as smoothly, and the deployment wouldn’t have been as enriched if he were absent, Caliguiri said. While Blakey is deeply missed, his positive energy remains with all whose lives he touched, especially his comrades in arms, and he will not be forgotten, Giesey said. All his brothers-in-arms will carry his memory with them fondly, no matter where the Army or life may take them, Caligiuri said. “Spc. Blakey will not be forgotten and will long be loved,” he said. Blakey’s awards and decorations include: the Army

Commendation Medal; Army Achievement Medal; Good Conduct Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Iraqi Campaign Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon; Army Service Ribbon; and Meritorious Unit Citation. Blakey, a native of O’Fallon, Mo., is survived by his wife, Shertreashiwa Blakey; his stepson,Ja’Von Richbow; his father, Mark Blakey Sr.; and his mother, Cynthia Blakey.

Spc.Blakey Jr.


‘Devil’ Soldiers shoot for certification

By Sgt. Kerry Lawson 1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Soldiers with companies C and D, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, and 2nd Battalion,34th Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted qualification training on the M1A2 Abrams tank March 12 at the Digital Multipurpose Range Complex. The purpose of the training was to prepare crews for certification March 20 to 21. “This is to qualify the crews and prepare them to be certified for future training events,” said Capt. Jeremy White, Co. C commander. The Soldiers conducted night and day-fire exercises, White said. “This is the first time for a lot of these crews and Soldiers to fire live-rounds, aside from their annual requirement for their individually

Sgt. Kerry Lawson, 1ST ABCT

An M1A2 Abrams tank with 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt. fired its main gun, the 120-mm smoothbore gun, at a mock-enemy target during the unit’s M1A2 gunnery range March 12 at the Digital Multipurpose Range Complex. The training was in preparation for platoon-level, live-fire training in the near future.

assigned weapon,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew McCready, senior enlisted noncommissioned officer for the brigade. The training the unit conducted was very beneficial, said Pfc. Michael Cline, main gunloader for the commander’s tank. “It’s a little hard, but I love it,” he said. “The training is designed to build the proficiency of the crews within the unit,” McCready added. “The firing that the crews are doing now during tables III and IV will prepare them for when they try to become certified next week during Table VI.” The gunnery range began Feb. 28 and will end about 30 days later for each company. The training is in preparation for platoon-level live-fire training in the near future.


Gold Star Family members can receive access ID cards

By Flavia Hulsey1ST INF. DIV. POST

Eligible survivors of fallen Soldiers can now qualify for a military identification card to ease access to Army installations, including Fort Riley. Since March 14, installations Armywide began issuing Gold Star installation access cards to eligible survivors, who do not otherwise qualify for a military identification card. Gold Star Family members are those who have lost a loved one killed in action or in hostile conditions. Eligible survivors include spouses, parents, children, siblings, grandparents, foster oradoptive parents and half-siblings of fallen Soldiers. “It will help survivors access (Army Community Service), (Survivor Outreach Services) and post events like memorials. They’ll be able to more easily participate in other post activities. Our Families like to come out for special events like concerts and carnivals – even bingo,” said Christina Gary, survivor outreach coordinator, SOS. SOS provides Families with long-term support after the death of a Family member, Gary said, and the new ID card is just one more way to help Families stay connected to their loved one’s military service. “The Army still takes care of the Families,” she said. “It lets the Family know that the Army doesn’t stop thinking about them. When a Soldier dies and a Family moves away or even if they stay in the area, they may think that they are forgotten. This is a way or a means for the Families to feel like they’re staying connected.”

The Fort Riley SOS is responsible for survivors in the state of Kansas and parts of Nebraska. Gary said SOS staff members interact with survivors several times throughout the week, and that many visit the post often. An Armywide Survivor Outreach Vehicle Decal was established in January 2011, as a way to expedite entrance to Army installations. As of February 2013, Fort Riley SOShad issued 49 decals. Through Army Family Action Plan conferences, survivors across the U.S., however, reported difficulties accessing installations when they were not in their decaled vehicles. While Fort Riley is an open post, requiring only a valid photo ID at access control points, other installations, including some in Kansas, have heightened security requirements for access. “Our post is an open post, but there are a lot of other installations that are not like that, and Family members have had issues getting into other installations with just a decal,” Gary said. “At other installations, Family members were frequently required to obtain a visitor or temporary vehicle pass after showing things like their license, registration, insurance to access the post, and, more importantly, its services – ACS, SOS.” Survivors requested an alternate means to access the installation – a more convenient, transportable method. “That’s why the Army implemented the ID card that would give them easier access without having to go through a security checklist,” Gary said. “(The ID card) is also a transportable method. If a Family

member doesn’t have their vehicle with the decal on it, they can still accessthe post.” The decal program will continue. Now, Families will have both a Gold Star decal for their vehicle and an identification card, Gary said. The card does not confer any new or additional benefits. Survivors who did not previouslyhave Commissary or Exchange privileges, for example, will not gain these privileges with the new Gold Star installation access card. To receive a card, an individual’s eligibility will be verified by SOS, based on their eligibility to receive a Gold Star lapel button or the lapel button for next of kin of deceased personnel. Gary said an SOS staff member can guide survivors through the entire ID card process. SOSverifies information, and then works with the local Directorate of Emergency Services to conduct a Crime Information Center Check. Once the check is complete, within usually less than 30 minutes, SOS will make an appointment for the survivor at the ID card center, where his or her new ID would be made. For more information or to verify eligibility, call SOS at 785-239-5979/1709.


Army to continue sustaining, preserving forceBy Gen. John F. CampbellARMY VICE CHIEF OF STAFF

Teammates, The Army has played a central role in the nation’s efforts during the past 12 years of war. Our Soldiers, Families and civilians have demonstrated selfless service and teamwork, and they have carried us through these challenging times. We are humbled by sacrifices made. We are duty-bound to honor our commitments – to those who have served, as well as to those who continue to serve. We continue to support the 66,000 service members deployed to Afghanistan and thousands of others serving at home and abroad. All of us can take pride in the work we have done and what

we have accomplished together. As we transition in Afghanistan, the Army will continue to face an operational environment characterized by complexity and uncertainty. We will continue to operate under fiscal constraints for the foreseeable future. We will continue to face events and circumstances that will challengeour Soldiers, Families and civilians. While I acknowledge these challenges, I am convinced there are just as many opportunitiesfor the Army to seize that will prepare us for today and tomorrow. We are serving at a critical time in the history of the Army. Our efforts will sustain and preserve the strength of our All-Volunteer Army – the most decisive land force in

the world. There is much work to be done, and it will require commitment and teamworkto do it. I am confident and optimistic about what we will accomplish moving forward as a team. It is my honor and privilege to serve with you as the 34th vice chief of staff of the Army. I thank you for what you have done, what you do every day and what you will continue to do for the Army and our great Nation. Army Strong!

Fiscal uncertainties will not alter ‘BRO’ commitmentBy Brig. Gen. Donald MacWillieDEPUTY COMMANDING GENERALFOR SUPPORT, 1ST INF. DIV.

During the past several weeks, I have been meeting with post and community leaders, as well as our regional media members to discuss our fiscal challenges and offer a clear picture of where we are today and where we may be going tomorrow. As the “Big Red One” faces a period of fiscal uncertainty, I want to assure every member of our team we will remain as transparent as we can as we move forward and make decisions that touch our whole 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley Family. The worst thing that could ever happen is for us to allow rumors to fester. We simply will not allow that to happen. While there are still many uncertainties in our current environment, there are a few things that I do know for certain.

First, we will never compromise the readiness of our Soldiers or the support of our Families. We will never put our Soldiers in harm’s way if they are not properly equipped, properly trained or properly led. We will slow things down and focus on our fundamentals, including developing our Soldiers, civilians and future Army leaders and sustaining a high level of esprit de corps in our organization. I also know we are doing some things right. Col. Jeff Broadwater and Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Gilpin recently brought their team from the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team to the National Training Center and home again, all under the constraints of our smaller budget. Despite the tightening belt, our “Dagger” Brigade had one of the most successful rotations in the Army’s recent history. I am incredibly proud of every member of the 1st Inf. Div. team

and how they came together to get our Soldiers the training they need to remain ready for any mission. For more than nine decades, the Big Red One has been the first for our nation, the go-to formation to fight the good fight on battlefields around the globe. The current fiscal environment will not change this. We will change, but we will remaina successful organization and a vital piece of America’s defense structure. Together with our community partners, civilians and Family members, the Soldiers of the Big Red One will strive to honor the legacy of the division far into the future. We are a team and we will get through this together.


Mayville heading to DC, Funk to assume command

SPECIAL TO THE POST The Army chief of staff announced March 20 that Maj. Gen. William C. Mayville Jr., commander, 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, will next serve as the assistant deputy chief of staff for U.S. Army operations and plans in Washington, D.C. Mayville took command of the “Big Red One” and Fort Riley in May 2011. He recently returned from a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan, where the division led operations in Regional Command-

East. It was announced in January the next 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley commander is Brig. Gen. (promotable) Paul E. Funk II, the division’s deputy commander for operations. He will assume command of the Big Red One from Mayville this spring.

Law Enforcement Academy to begin enhancements in April

By Julie Fiedler1ST INF. DIV. POST

Beginning in April, the 10-day Law Enforcement Certification training is set to undergochanges to enhance its curriculum. “In April, we’re starting a new (period of instruction),” said Capt. Kurtis Mohlman, training officer, Directorate of Emergency Services. “The course has been redesigned inorder to train a more effective military police patrol officer on the road to make them morecomfortable in their training, and to provide them the knowledge that they need to handle the situations they’ll have in front of them.” A new culminating exercise at the end of the training will test Soldiers on what they learned during the course. “The highlight of it’s going to be a patrol incident at the end, which

is an encompassing exercise where the officers in two-man teams will respond to a scenario that will … Test their grasp of the knowledge, skills and abilities they learned during the course,” Mohlman said. The mix of classroom versus practical hands-on training also will change. Starting in April, more than half of the training will be practical exercises, including role playing, as well as the culminating event. “The things that we’ve added (include) more practical exercises and evaluations, actual testable ‘go/no go’ events (Soldiers) have to get through before continuing on with the course. That includes being able to respond to and process various violators,” Mohlman said. The updated training plan also includes new classes, like emergency vehicle operations. “One of the things that is new is

we’re going to start teaching our officers vehicle operations, conducting a vehicle operations course, where we teach them how to drive the cars,” Mohlman said. The overall mission of the course does not change; however, the ap-proach has been refined to follow a case from start to finish. “We call it ‘catching a case,’” Mohlman said. “They catch that case, and they have to take it all the way through to the case being done. That would includeidentifying what charges are applicable … apprehending (violators) … and then completing all the required paperwork.” Having reworked the curriculum, the training team is prepared for the upcoming changes, Mohlman said. “We’re ready to execute the new POI,” he said.


Duncan, Williams earn NCO, Soldier of Year

By Amanda Kim Stairrett1ST INF. DIV. PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Pfc. Aaron Duncan was at a loss for words. That’s saying a lot for a guy who had an answer to every question five of the 1st Infantry Division’s senior noncommissioned officers threw at him March 11 to 14. He and seven other Soldiers from across the division competed for the noncommissioned officer and Soldier of the quarter titles at Fort Riley. Two of the Soldiers – Sgt. Jacob Tunnel and Spc. Andrew Lee, both with the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, traveled from Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Duncan, combat medic, 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Inf. Div., and Sgt. Ian Williams, infantryman, 1st Bat-talion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., were named the winners during a March 25 ceremony at division headquarters. The competition began with a

physical training test and included day and night land navigation courses, an M4range and appearances in front of a board of the installation’s top command sergeants major. Duncan, a 29-year-old native of Tallahassee, Fla., said the hardest part of the competition was believing in himself, but he had Army leaders and friends who did. Williams, a 24-year-old native of Lititz, Pa., said it felt good to win, but it was a little shocking. His path to the division competition started in September when he won his battalion’s NCO of the month title. He encouraged Soldiers interested in participating in future competitions to remain confident and calm.


From left, Pfc. Aaron Duncan, 4th Sqdn., 4th Cav. Regt., 1st ABCT, and Sgt. Ian Williams, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., 1st ABCT, are congratulated after being named the BRO’s Soldier and NCO of the second quarter, respectively, during a ceremony March 25 at division headquarters. They and six others from across the division competed for the titles March 12 to 14 at Fort Riley.


Technology prepares ‘Big Red One,’ Fort Riley for missions


Fort Riley’s state-of-the-art Integrated Training Environment, or ITE, campus located on Custer Hill represents more than just cool technology. It provides a way for the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley to prepare for tasked, as well as contingency missions at a significant cost savings. Years ago, the training campus concept was integral to the growth of Fort Riley’s training environment because it combined diverse capabilities – virtual, gaming and constructive technologies – in a central and connected location, according to Tim Livsey, director, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security. In addition to connecting facilities on the campus, the ITE merged with live training on the ranges and in the maneuver areas, making training easier and more efficient as the various systems interface, Livsey said. In the current fiscal climate, the ITE’s advantage is two-fold. First, the technology enables Soldiers to prepare for tasked missions more effectively. Second, it enables units to retain flexibility by training for contingency missions that are not currently tasked. Most importantly, it achieves both of these goals with significant cost savings, said Bill Raymann, chief, Training Division, Directorate of Plans, Training, Mobilization and Security.

FIRST TIME “GO” Units are resourced to train for their assigned missions, and going to the field is a critical component of that preparation, Raymann said.

When units leverage Fort Riley’s ITE in combination with live exercises, their time in the field runs much more efficiently, he said. “When (Soldiers) do go to the field, they’re at a much higher level of proficiency when they execute the live training. The higher the level of proficiency, the more effective and efficient the live-training event is,” Raymann said. “(By doing) this in a simulated environment, they’ve already been raised to a level of training that helps ensure first-time ‘go’ when they go into a live environment.” Feedback from squad leaders has been very positive, Raymann said, because units are able to exercise both individual and collective tasks in a simulated environment before ever hitting the field.

FLEXIBILITY Commanders will always have to prioritize training. Contingency missions, which take a back seat to tasked missions, can still be exercised by leveraging ITE technology, Raymann said. “The resources are there to meet the missions (units) are assigned to

go do,” he said. “More contingency missions – levels above what’s required – (have) not been resourced, and that’s the part that (ITE) helps us get to.” In the current fiscal climate, the ITE can still deliver training to maintain a flexible Army, by enabling units to train for contingency missions not currently tasked that they may be called upon to perform down the line, Raymann said. “They can train for those other contingency missions here very cost effectively,” he said. “Should they be asked to get ready for a new mission, they’re already partway there. They’ll already be able to leverage this stuff and stay full spectrum of the missions that could come down.”

ITE TECHNOLOGY The ITE’s approach involves three key elements – gaming, virtual and constructive technologies, according to Raymann. Gaming technology is just that

See TECHNOLOGY on page 69

DPTMS

Soldiers execute a mission in the Dismounted Soldier Training System, a state of the art training that combines gaming and virtual technology. Soldiers can train together in real-time using the DSTS as commanders watch and evaluate from monitoring sta-tions.

APRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 33TECHNOLOGY Continued from

page 68

– video gaming technology that introduces Soldiers to environments and tasks using controller devices. Virtual technology leverages a physical environment with simulation pieces. The most common example is a flight simulator, which recreates a physical cockpit combined with virtual imaging of what the pilot would see outside the windows. New technology is morphing the two. Recently Fort Riley received a Dismounted Soldier Training System, or DSTS, which represents the latest technology that combines the gaming and virtual pieces. Soldiers wear sensors and move throughout a physical space, while watching their images projected as avatars in a virtual environment – all linked to one another. “It’s really cool,” Raymann said. The constructive piece ties all of the elements together in an integrated environment, which enables commanders to see all of the different moving parts at once. “The big difference with our gaming is all the machines are tied together under the control of the leadership,” Raymann said. “We’re able to create and construct a con-temporary operating environment, where (commanders are) now able to interface with all levels of mission command.” Additionally, trainers record everything done in the simulated environments, so units can playback and review entire missions. “A commander can now look down to an individual Soldier and point out the things he did right or wrong, which is part of the collec-tive task. Then they can go right back into the devices again and initiate the mission over again in a matter of minutes,” he said.

“Where it could takehours to come back out of a training event, bring everybody in, conduct an after action review, determine what went right and what went wrong, reset, rearm, refuel and go back out and do itagain can take hours. In the virtual world, it’s minutes.” The review and repetition instills the training more deeply, so Soldiers are better prepared for time in the field, as well as deployments, he said. “You could run seven or eight iterations of a mission in a day in a simulation device, where you may only get one or two in the field,” Raymann said. Additionally, by clocking more hours in the ITE, rather than in the field, the technology also can help maintain Soldier resiliency with less time spent away from home.

SPRINT PHASE Raymann said he would liken each of the different technologies to a phase of the crawl-walk-run training methodology. The gaming piece provides that crawl training, Raymann said, by exposing Soldiers to environments without physically putting them in those environments. The virtual and constructive elements represent the walk phase, when Soldiers are rehearsing in concert with one another, as well as leadership. The live exercise represents the run phase. “The Soldiers still have to go to the field and execute these tasks in the environment they’ll be expected to do, but this helps them prepare to make that much more efficient,” Raymann said. The ability to leverage these technologies and repeatedly rehearse missions takes the live training to a new level – the sprint phase. “By the time they’re hitting the field, if they’ve leveraged this other technology, they’re not only at their

run, but they’re ready to sprint,” he said.

INVESTMENT IN SAVINGS The Army’s investments in the ITE are already paying off considerably, Raymann said. “Fortunately, the Army is investing in these technologies that help us get better and help us meet the needs of the current fiscal reality,” he said. “It saves fuel. It saves wear and tear on the equipment … In the long term, it pays great dividends in saving taxpayer dollars.” In addition to the DSTS, new technology also provides route-clearance training similarto flight simulators. The new technology is incredibly versatile and provides training for route clearance, as well as different vehicular training. “The Army has already invested in these technologies to support the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley,” Raymann said. “We’re hopeful that the Army will see the value of virtual and constructive systems, and continue to invest in them in the future.” The training campus concept is being replicated at other installations as a model. “The versatility of the technology and ability to rapidly spiral it, allows for replicating the myriad of contingencies facing our Soldiers and units in the future,” Livsey said. “The bottom line is Fort Riley is very well postured to help commanders meet the training objectives of both their assigned missions and training for those contingency- type missions that may come up in the future,” Raymann said. For more information, visit http://riley.army.mil/UnitPage.aspx?unit=DPTMS Train.


Fire support specialists train on new softwareBy Sgt. Kerry Lawson1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Fire support specialist Soldiers with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st InfantryDivision attended a training class on the Forward Observer Software March 18 to 22 at the Training Support Center. About 26 Soldiers with the 1st ABCT attended the weeklong class, which was the first class to receive the new software training in the Army. The first three days was unclassified training, learning the software. The last two days wasclassified training, learning how precision strikes using the computer for simulated training. “I work out of Fort Sill, Okla., where we produce the software that the 13 Fox Soldiers use,” said Randy Meece, new software in-structor, CGI Federal. “I travel all over the world to teach active-duty, National Guard and Reserve Soldiers.” This is new software training on the FOS software that is loaded on fire specialist’s tactical equipment like the advanced field artillery tactical data systems, standalone computer unit and ruggedized handheld computer. “Over half of the class has never used this hardware and software before,” Meece said. “It’s a new experience for them, but they’re picking up so fast that it is amazing.” The fire support specialists are the primary students focused in this class, he said. But a few field artillery automated tactical data systems specialists can take the class as well.


Pictured from left to right, Pfc. Eric Nickels, Spc. Joseph McElfresh and Pvt. Matthew Cristo all with Co. A, 1st Bn., 16th Inf. Regt., look over the new software program during the brigade’s training over the new forward observer software March 19 at the Training Support Center, Fort Riley.

“This software deals with send-ing digital fire missions,” said Jaime Santos, fire supportnoncommissioned officer, 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment, 1st ABCT. “It allows the 13 Fox’s to communicate with the 13 Del-ta’s. The software is already compatible with all the equipment the 13 Fox’s work with, Santos said. Learning the software is pretty easy, said Spc. Joseph McElfresh, forward observer, Company A, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st ABCT. “As I’m keying in the data into the fire direction center, it’s already receiving the information. It means that they can start sending rounds downrange a lot sooner. We have roughly 45 sec-onds to plot a grid coordinate and relay that information, so that we can send those rounds downrange. It’s my job to send those

rounds in a timely manner.” The software also allows Soldiers to indentify friendly forces a lot easier, he said. This is the fourth generation of forward observer software systems, Santos said. “This new software enables our 13 Fox’s to send rounds downrange to get within 10 meters of the target,” Meece said. “These Soldiers will only see me again if there is a new update to the software.”



The pilot of an A-10 Thunderbolt of the Air Force National Guard’s 303rd Fighter Sqdn. from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., flies low over a Fort Riley range March 27, as he provides close air support to artilleryman with the 1st Bn., 5th FA Regt., 1st ABCT.

SPECIAL TO THE POST

Artillerymen with the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division were at the range recently for their Table XV gunnery. Training March 27 included close air support from four A-10 Thunderbolts of the 303rd Fighter Squadron from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo. The squadron is an Air Force National Guard unit. The joint training also included Airmen from Fort Riley’s 10th Air Support Operations Squadron. This is the first time in more than 10 years a Fort Riley unit has integrated artillery and A-10 support. The pinnacle point of the training allowed the battalion’s joint fires observers to talk directly

with the Air Force. A training plan for integrated artillery and A-10 support didn’t exist, and brigade, division and Air Force planners worked for six months to create one. The battalion’s gunnery continues with Table XVIII, which is taking place in conjunction with the brigade’s fires coordination exercise.

‘Hamilton’s Own’ looks to skies for joint ops training


Maj. Josef Hatch, fire support officer, 1st ABCT, 1st Inf. Div., oversees operations in the tower March 27 at Fort Riley during the brigade’s Table XV gunnery.


Hagel announces fewer furlough days for civilians

By Nick Simeone,AFPS

WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense has revised the number of days – from 22 to 14 – that hundreds of thousands of civilian employees could be furloughed this year because of the budget sequester, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced March 28. Additionally, a senior DoD official speaking on background told reporters the start of the furloughs will be delayed until mid- to late-June, after more than 700,000 DoD employees receive furlough notices, now set to go out in early May. Furloughs would happen during seven two-week pay periods until the end of Septem-ber, when the current fiscal year ends, the senior official said, with employees likely to be told not to come to work for two days during each of those pay periods. DoD officials said they are still working to determine which employees might be exempted. Hagel characterized the reduced furloughs, as well as a revised estimate of sequestration’s impact on the defense budget as good news. The changes follow recent Congressional approval of a defense appropriations bill that prevented an additional $6 billion in cuts, ordered under sequestration, from taking effect. “It reduces a shortfall at least in the operations budget,” the secretary told reporters at a Pentagon news conference. “We

came out better than we went in under the sequester, where it looks like our number is $41 billion (in cuts) now versus the $46 billion.” But despite a Congressional reprieve, Hagel said the Pentagon is still going to be short at least $22 billion for operations and maintenance, “and that means we are going to have to prioritize and make some cuts and do what we’ve got to do,” including making sharp reductions in base-operating support and training for non-deployed units. More critical in the long run, he said, is how budget cuts will affect readiness and the DoD’s overall mission. Because of that concern, he said he has directed Deputy Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, to conduct an intensive DoD-wide review of U.S. strategic interests, including how to protect the nation with fewer resources. “How do we prioritize the threats and then the capabilities required to deal with threats?” he said. “There will be some sig-nificant changes; there’s no way around it.” Dempsey said the DoD has already exhausted 80 percent of its operating funds halfway through the fiscal year and characterized the current budget situation as “not the deepest, but the steepest decline inour budget ever,” and warned it will affect military readiness into the future. “We will have to trade at some level and to some degree our future

readiness for current operations,” the chairman said. He called on elected leaders to give the Pentagon the budget flexibility it needs to carry out institutional reforms. “We can’t afford excess equipment,” Dempsey said. “We can’t afford excess facilities.We have to reform how we buy weapons and services. We have to reduce redundancy. And we’ve got to change, at some level, our compensation structure.”


‘Devil’ Brigade MPs protect post streetsBy Sgt. Kerry Lawson1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Military Police with the Special Troops Battalion, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted military occupational specialty training with Soldiers of the 97th Military Police Battalion March 26 at Fort Riley. During March, the MP platoon patrolled the roads on post and acted as watch commander in support of the law and order commitment at Fort Riley. “This serves as a two-fold purpose,” said 2nd Lt. Jason Jordan, platoon leader for the company. “First and foremost, for our Soldiers, it gets them experience with the primary purpose of their MOS, and it gives them the opportunity to learn and develop as military police professionals, which is something that has become lost to most BCT MPs. For us, we feel as though it is an important skill that needs to be developed to ensure that theSoldiers we are leading are fully trained and prepared for when they are leading Soldiers in an MP battalion.” The second purpose it serves is it helps to relieve the pressure a little bit for the MP battalion and allows the MPs the opportunity to do more training and give their Soldiers a break, while ensuring the safety of the 15,000 men and women at Fort Riley is maintained, Jordan said. “For the month, we are providing five to six Soldiers a day to each of the three eight-hourshifts, and, on occasion, a watch commander to provide oversight over the entire police force,” he said. “The watch commander is similar to a platoon leader or sergeant.” By patrolling Fort Riley, the MPs with STB also are fulfilling a training requirement for their

MOS. “We’re helping out the 97th MP Bn., partly because they’re shorthanded,” said Sgt. Sean Smith, MP, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, STB. “Plus, we’re required one month of MOS service-related training and time on the road a year. Twenty-five Soldiers with the platoon assisted on the three shifts, Smith said, with the noncommissioned officers who had road-experience spread out throughout the shifts. Some of the NCOs also provided on-the-job training for some of the less-experienced Soldiers, by having them right-seat ride with them to learn the ropes, he said. “This training also acts as a refresher for those that haven’t been on the road as much,” Smith said. “When we come on shift, we draw weapons, conduct a guard month, ensuring that we have all our gear and equipment that we

wear and have with us in the patrol car. We also conduct a debriefing and assign the vehicles in relation to the designated areas that we are assigned.” Every time the team is assigned their vehicle, they will conduct a preventive maintenance service checklist before rolling out, he said. “I love this training and wish that we could do it more often,” said Pfc. Bridgette White Hummel, MP, HHC, STB. “Last month, I did my (on-the-job training), which prepared me for this month when we integrated into the shift rotations. I like the job definitely.” Jordan said he hopes they continue the program. “We are happy to be able to assist the 97th MP Bn. and to get our Soldiers more experience, so hopefully, with continued positive relationships between us, we can continue this program in the future,” Jordan said.

Photos by Sgt. Kerry Lawson, 1ST ABCTTOP: MPs with HHC, STB, 1st ABCT and the 97th MP Bn. prepare to rollout after they conduct weapons draw, debriefing and preventive maintenance service checklists as part of the oncoming dayshift.

BOTTOM: Pfc. Bridgette White Hummel, MP, HHC, STB, 1st ABCT, double-checks her information as she prepares to depart for her patrol area March 26 as part of the on-coming dayshift at the MP station, Fort Riley.


‘Devil’ Brigade conducts fire coordination exerciseBy Sgt. Kerry Lawson1ST ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Soldiers with the 1st the Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division conducted a fire coordination exercise from April 2 to 5 at Mission Training Complex grounds, Fort Riley. “This exercise validated the training that the brigade has conducted up to this point,” said Col. Michael Pappal, Brigade Commander, 1st ABCT. The mission command’s intent was to enhance and improve the brigade’s fires support readiness and decision-making skills on the battlefield. It also will prepare the brigade for future operations. A tremendous amount of work was put into getting all the assets from the battalions, as well as air assets, Pappal said. The exercise was scaled down, however, the unit adapted to the changes with simulated training incorporated into the exercise. “The fires and plans guys had to really change things up when the financial uncertainty started happening,” Pappal said. “They put a lot of long hours over the last six months in getting everything ready for this exercise, adjusting to losing what close air support we wanted to what we have now.” The simulated training gave the Soldiers the ability to cover down with better ease on the changes, Pappal said. “This exercise is a big deal because it’s the first time the brigade has done a full-up decisive-action training event since its return from deployment to Iraq in 2011,” said Maj. Josef Hatch, Brigade Fire Support and Plans Officer. “In Iraq, the focus was stability. And that is why this is sounique – because it’s a decisive-action exercise.” In preparation for the exercise,


Soldiers with the 1st ABCT conduct a communication checks within the tactical command post during the fire support coordination exercise April 2 on Fort Riley.

the unit set up a tactical operations center and a tactical command post on the grounds outside the MTC. “We first put this on the calendar when we were in Kirkuk in August 2011,” Pappal said of the training. The exercise highlighted the coordination of different types of fires assets on the battlefield, Hatch said. That was why there were several rehearsals before the actual exercise. “This exercise is the culmination of those rehearsals and the units that participated in those training exercises,” Pappal said. “The rehearsals showed the readiness of where we were at and where we needed to be.” Each battalion provided key information that fed the exercise itself, Hatch said. The units conducted live-fire, virtual and constructive training during the exercise, Pappal said. The first two days consisted of live-fire training, and the last two days were simulated missions in the brigade TOC. Each battalion had a role during the exercise, Pappal said. The shooting was provided by Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment. They, along with Soldiers from the 4th

Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, set up a tactical command post. The 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor Regiment participated in the simulated portion of the exercise. The simulated mission scenarios and the close air support were conducted from the brigade’s operation center and command post, Hatch said. “We’ve integrated and synchronized the CAS with the mission command,” said Air Force Master Sgt. Brandon Peterson, Joint Tactical Air Controller, 10th Air Support Operations Squadron, who is assigned to the brigade. The live-fire exercises conducted were the Paladin, Abrams tank and Bradley gunnery ranges. The simulated CAS was provided by A-10s of the 303rd Fighter Squadron Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., and F-16 Fighting Falcons.


Traffic circle construction to begin April 15 on post


Construction of a traffic circle at Trooper Drive and Rifle Range Road will take place from mid-April to mid- October. The first phase of construction is scheduled to begin April 15, weather permitting, and will include two major aspects. The biggest change is the closure of Venable Drive from Trooper Drive to Rally Point Bingo, which will impact residents of Colyer Manor. Those residents must access Trooper Drive from McCormick Road once construction begins, said David Scruggs, chief, Engineering Services Division, Directorate of Public Works. “That’s probably the biggest impact of the whole thing,” Scruggs said. “That will be a permanent change.” Closure of Venable Drive will enable the second major aspect of this phase: Construction of a north-bound bypass lane along Trooper Drive. “The intersection will still have traffic going through it and access to Rifle Range Road, just like it currently does now,” Scruggs said. Construction will mainly be located off the road on the east side. However, with equipment, workers and flagmen present, drivers should follow all speed postings and exercise caution during the construction. “Drive with caution,” Scruggs said. “Watch out for construction workers.” Drivers may also experience slower speeds and temporary delays, especially when the bypass

lane’s access points are tied in to Trooper Drive. “To make things better sometimes we have to inconvenience the customer a little bit,” Scruggs said. “We ask for everybody’s consideration.” Designers have taken future growth into account as well as increased use once the traffic circle is fully installed, said Robert Norick, civil engineer, Engineering Services Division, DPW, who is managing the improvement project. Using the traffic circles on Williston Point and Huebner Road as models, designers opted for a circle over a traffic light. “A traffic light doesn’t accommodate (peak flows) as well as this traffic circle does,” Norick said. Norick noted that the bypass lane will be used as a through-lane once the project is completed, an extra feature that will help alleviate the morning, lunch and evening rush hours. “The overall goal is to eliminate the traffic congestion and increase traffic flow, so that it decreases the commuter’s time to get to work and increases their safety,” Scruggs said. Phase one of the project is scheduled for completion in mid-June. Relocation of several electrical poles will also occur in the first phase, but will not impact traffic, Scruggs said. “The ultimate goal is to have (the whole project) completed around the end of October beforewinter driving season goes into place,” Scruggs said.

New food truck offers healthy

lunch options on Main Post

By Calun Reece1ST INF. DIV. POST

Looking for a healthier alternative for lunch? A new Fort Riley food truck will be out and about from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays throughout Main Post. The food truck is operated by Riley’s Conference Center. It of-fers a lunch venue for employees on Main Post, while also provid-ing a healthier lunch option, said Chris Downs, manager, Riley’s Conference Center. “The first day out on the road was pretty successful,” Downs said, adding that about 60 patrons visited the truck to purchase food. The food truck is now offering salads, tacos and sandwiches to those around Main Post. “It’s a great healthy alternative within walking distance, just in time for the spring and summer,” said Shyreese Moncivais, management analyst, Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation, and one of the food truck’s customers its first week open. The food truck will be at different locations each day. “We’ll publish our locations and any specials we’ll have on Facebook and Twitter,” Downssaid. “Come try it out.” The menu will vary as the seasons change, and it will be based on feedback from custom-ers,he said. Food sold at the food truck is on a cash-only basis. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/rileymwr and www.twitter.com/rileymwr.


In 2014, Soldiers get 1 percent raise, 3.9 percent BAH increase

By C. Todd LopezANS

WASHINGTON – Soldiers will see a one percent pay raise in 2014. Their untaxed paycheck will also benefit from a 3.9 percent increase in basic allowance for housing and a 3.4 percent increase in basic allowance for subsistence as well. The Army announced April 10 its fiscal year 2014 budget request, which amounts to $129.7 billion – that’s part of the president’s $3.03 trillion total government budget request for thefiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, 2013. During a briefing at the Pentagon, Maj. Gen. Karen E. Dyson, director of the Army Budget, and Davis S. Welch, deputy director of the Army Budget, discussed components of the Army’s proposal, including how much is marked for supporting personnel, how much is marked for facilities maintenance, and how much will go toward buying or modernizing war-fighting equipment. The new budget represents a continued adaptation to the Department of Defense’s 2012defense strategy, Dyson said. “Adapting to the 2012 defense strategy means we are refocusing our training away from the emphasis that has been there on counter-insurgency – (which) was so key and critical in the Iraq War and remains critical today in the war in Afghanistan – and refocusing our training to go more toward core competencies, combined arms maneuver and wide area security.” Dyson also said the Army, despite fiscal difficulties, demonstrates in its budget proposal that it remains committed to those Soldiers currently involved in the war, those Soldiers who are preparing to go to war, Soldiers engaged in Korea or going to Korea, and Soldiers that are part of the Army’s Global Response Force. For other Soldiers, she said, there is a reduction in training dollars. “We are starting to see readiness slipping away from some of those units,” she said. Noticeably absent from this year’s budget briefing were numbers related

to the “overseas contingency operations” budget – which is separate from the Army’s proposed “base budget.” The base budget supports the training, equipping and sustaining of the “generating force,” while the overseas contingency operations budget supports the war-fighting effort overseas and is usually presented at the same time, but as a separate request. Dyson said planning for the fiscal year 2014 overseas contingency operations is not yet complete. This year’s total fiscal year 2014 base budget for the Army comes to about $129.7 billion. Of that, about 44 percent, or $56.6 billion, is for military personnel; about 18 percent, or $23.9 billion is for procurement research, development, testing and engineering; and about 35percent, or $45.5 billion, is for operations and maintenance. This year’s base budget request is approximately $5 billion less than last year’s request.

MILITARY PERSONNEL This year’s military personnel budget provides for Soldiers a one percent pay raise for 2014. It also increases basic allowance for housing by 3.9 percent, and increases basic allowance for subsistence by 3.4 percent, Dyson said. The budget also supports incentives for the all-volunteer force, to include recruiting and retention bonuses. For the active Army, the budget asks for $41 billion, a slight increase over last year’s request. The military personnel budget request for the Army Reserve also increased slightly to $4.5 billion, and the Army National Guard request went down – coming in at $8 billion.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

The O&M budget request this year took a cut of about$1.54 billion. It funds everything from 21 training center events in fiscal year 2014, to six mission command exercises and combatant commander engagement activities.

The O&M budget also funds normal operations at 158 Army installations, family and Soldier programs and training miles and flying hours. The O&M budget also pays for the training of new Army recruits.

MODERNIZATION “Our [fiscal year] 2014 president budget request demonstrates a cost-effective decision to modernize many of our existing platforms – to maintain the technological edge over potential adversaries,” Welch said. “Our approach integrates mature technologies and incremental improvements.” Welch told reporters that the current fiscal environment requires “smaller procurement objectives” for the Army. Critical modernization efforts include continued development of equipment designed to protect the Soldier, as well as development of the Army network. The Army’s network strategy sees about $1.8 billion in funding to provide continued support to technologies such as the Warfighter Information Network – Tactical, the Joint Tactical Radio System, the Joint Battlefield Command Platform, Nett Warrior and the Distributed Common Ground System – Army. The Army network, Welsh said, remains “critical to empowering our Soldiers and leaders with the right information at the right time, to make decisions essential for mission success.” This year, the fiscal year 2014 budget proposal requests funds meant to complete fielding of Increment 1 of WINT-T, for instance, and, additionally, supports fielding of Increment 1A, and Increment 2 – the “limited on-the-move” capability. Funding requests this year also support advancements in Nett Warrior, Welsh said. Finally, Welsh said, the fiscal year 2014 budget request funds two Network Integration Evaluations. “These exercises are critical as they integrate and validate the Army as fielding platforms, components and software that are interoperable,” he said.


Reducing stress, fostering stronger relationships key

points to resiliencyBy Col. William ClarkGARRISON COMMANDER

Our Soldiers and Family members face stressors every day that most Americans do not – separations, deployments, moves and transitions. These stressors can sometimes cause challenges in our personal relationships. Every relationship has its ups and downs; every relationship has different boundaries because every relationship is different. There is one that every relationship should be – and that is safe. Domestic violence, child abuse, mental health issues and legal implications may all result in problematic relationships. But no one should have to live in fear of abuse or neglect. Reducing stress and finding ways to promote stronger relationships – at work, on the battlefield, and, often most importantly, at home – is a key component to resiliency. Fort Riley is committed to the resiliency of our Soldiers and Families. If our Family lives are intact, we can focus on the military mission. To aid in building this resiliency, the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley will take a day off from regular operations April 19 to focus on maintaining healthy and strong relationships. The purpose of the stand-down day is to raise awareness of relationship problems including domestic violence, to educate the force about the signs and impacts of relationship discord and domestic violence, and to provide

resources to Soldiers and leaders in order to prevent, stop and treat this type of behavior. Domestic violence is a serious issue, which can often be linked with other high-risk behaviors, including suicide. We do not want to lose anyone in our Army Family to domestic violence or suicide. Domestic violence can happen in any home, regardless of rank, age, gender, race or socioeconomic background. But it is unacceptable, and, bottom line, it is a punishable crime that could result in loss of pay, rank or even loss of Family. We must take action now to break the cycle of poor relationships and domestic violence. The only way to do so is to take action now – the sooner the better. So join us April 19 as we focus on what each of us can do to improve our personal lives or to support those who may be facing abuse. Units at Fort Riley will observe the day with informational discussions in the morning and various activities determined by their leadership in the afternoon. For information on domestic violence or to seek help, call 785-239-9435. For emergencies of adult victims of domestic violence, call the 24/7 hotline at 785- 307-1373.

MAC to present ‘Cabaret’ during April, May shows

MAC

John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical “Cabaret” is the fourth show of the Manhattan Arts Center’s 2012 to 2013 season. It opens April 26. Penny Cullers, director of MAC productions,“Amadeus” and “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” will direct this spicy musical comedy set in 1931 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power. “Cabaret’s” story focuses on the nightlife at the seedy Kit Kat Klub and is centered on cabaret performer Sally Bowles and her relationship with the young American writer Cliff Bradshaw. Cabaret can be seen April 26 to 28 and May 2 to 5 at the MAC. Featured in the play are Dianne Paukstelis as Sally Bowles, Evan Tuttle as the Emcee and Tyler Cochran as Cliff Bradshaw. Ra-chel Koch, Frank Siegle, Jacob Belden, Lauren Brown and an en-semble of Kit Kat Klub members round out the cast. A pre-show lunch and lecture, offered by UFM and MAC, will be April 28. Cullers and Kansas State University history profes-sor Brent Maner will be speaking prior to the pre-show about pro-duction elements and the climate in early 1930s Germany. Tickets for the performances are $17 and $15 for adults; and $12 and $10 for military and students. Thursday through Sunday performances begin at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday performances begin at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the MAC, 1520 Poyntz Ave., Manhattan; by phone at 785-537-4420 or online at www.manhattanarts.org. The MAC box office is open from noon to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.


Soldiers returning home need familiarity in livesDCOE PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Whether or not you know the iconic 1980s TV show “Cheers,” the show’s tagline and theme song, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” captured the longing of being with people who know who you are and where you come from, in other words, “know your name.” You may be among returning service members having a hard time finding that feeling of familiarity again. The post-deployment excitement of seeing friends and Family may be tempered by loneliness and feelings of isolation that come from realizing those who once knew you so well can’t relate

to your war experiences. They haven’t worn the uniform and don’t have the shared experiences only another military member may understand. But, there are other people who do know your name and can relate to your experiences. Support groups connect you with others who have gone through similar experiences and struggles. I urge anyone who is feeling isolated after deployment to seek help from local support groups. Not only will you gain from connecting with other people who understand you, but others will likely benefit from you sharing. There’s something very healing in this exchange with others who

know who you are. Find local support groups at the following: • Department of Veterans Affairs: Make the Connection: www.maketheconnection.net/resources • National Center for PTSD: Peer Support Groups: www.ptsd.va.gov/public/pages • Military OneSource: Non-medical Counseling: www.militaryonesource.mil/non-medical-counseling • Defense Centers of Excel-lence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury:24/7 Outreach Center: www.dcoe.health.mil/247help.aspx

New map shows places of interest, beautyKDOT

There’s no place like Kansas as the new 2013-14 Official State Transportation Map illustrates by highlighting things to see and places of interest that are unique to the state. From the Kansas Cosmosphere to the Flint Hills Discovery Cen-ter, the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, and all the landscapes featured along the Kansas Byways, the map showcases many places of interest the state has for its citizens and visitors.

In addition to the basic state map on one side and city insets on the other are listings of recreation areas, museums, cities and counties. There is also information about accessing road conditions, visitor resources, a distance map and other helpful phone numbers and websites. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) works with several state agencies to create the map. About 800,000 copies of the maps will be distributed in Kansas and across the U.S. in the next two years. Maps are available free of charge

at Kansas Travel Centers, at KDOT Headquarters and District offices and at various hotels, attractions and other locations across the state.

ApRIL/MAY 2013 the Devil’s Corner 49

April may 2013 newsletter

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