July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter

7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter

1/8

Dearest Families, your Soldiers

performed exceptionally during

the June gunnery. Your Soldiers

and Leaders proved their focus,

discipline, integrity and honor in an

eight day gunnery cycle. Gunnery is a

test of endurance as well as individual

and team skills as each table has a day

and a night requirement. Every single

crew that went to gunnery qualified in

their tank or Bradley qualification table. We also retained

the Brigade Top Gun trophies for both the tank - congratula-

tions to SSG Mc Cracken and crew from D Company in Hermiston -

as well as Bradley - congratulations again to SSG Kraus and

crew from B Company. If that wasn't enough, all 26 sections

and 13 platoons qualified on the Platoon Gunnery Table XII as

well as the Mortar platoon qualifying on their indirect fire

table/MORTEX. None of this is possible without the support of F Company and HHC..

In the Active Army, this training plan wouldn't be considered realistic. Not only did your

Soldiers and Leaders accomplish the requirements, regardless of setbacks - they excelled. Please

pat your Soldiers and Leaders on the back for me. This is a team effort and could not have been

done without your support and the team working tirelessly together. They have all proven they

are Eastern Oregon's Own and that excellence is a part of our culture. You should be very proud;

I am.

From the Viper's Den to Fiddler's Green, we serve Without Delay. SINE MORA!

3-116 CAV F AMILY PROGRAM N EWSLETTER

JULY2015

PAGE ONEOn the Cover: Commanders Message

LTC Brian Dean, Commanding

PAGE TWO

Its Finally HereNTC

Jessica Specht, BN FRG Leader

Red Cross Emergency Information

PAGE THREE

Greetings from Military OneSource

LTC Meloni Beauchamp, Ret.

Unit FRG Leader Contact Information

Kids CraftNTC Floor Play Map

PAGE S FOUR-SEVEN

Questionnaire with the Command Staff

3-116 CAV Leadership

PAGE EIGHT

CSMs Corner

CSM Ron Bloker, 3-116 CAV

COMMANDERSMESSAGE

LTC Brian Dean


2/8

During October of last year, in a meet-

ing with the Battalion s leadership,

they briefed the FRG leaders about the

grueling upcoming Training Year

2015 as a tremendous (and somewhat perilous)challenge. We looked at charts of what it

would take to put all the pieces together to

get us to NTC and it looked like a labyrinth.

Months later, the battalion underwent finan-

cial difficultieswould the money come through

to allow us to complete our training as

planned? As the months wore away, however, our Soldiers and Leadership

wore away at the challenges. With the majority of TY-15 behind us and

only two months away from the now-tangible NTC rotation right around

the corner, we can proudly sayWe did it!

And that goes for the families, as well as the Soldiers. You have

endured hardships that, while not the same as our Soldiers , are com-

parable in duration. You have encouraged our Soldiers, had their backs

while they re at home, and helped this year become not just another

quagmire of difficulty, but a great success for our entire force. I m

proud of every one of you.

With NTC on the close horizon, think about and plan for the chal-

lenges that you will have ahead. Your Soldier will be out of communica-

tion rangeeven for emergenciesfor more than ten days. Look around the

house, consider your vehicle, and discuss any bills or payment manage-

ment. We will not be able to turn to our Soldier like we may be accus-

tomed to doing for help. Our

FRG leaders will be there for

you, if you just need to talk

to someone that understands

what you re going through, or

if you need immediate, emer-

gency assistance. Familiarize

yourself with them so that, if

you do need them, you are re-

silient and prepared to makeuse of your resources.

And lastwhile prepara-

tions are necessary, don t

forget to enjoy your Soldier.

You rest up, just like they

should be. Find some time just

for you two, if you re a cou-

ple. Spend some great time to-

gether.

ITSFINALLYHERENTC!

Jessica Specht, BN FRG Leader

Can you spot the

Idaho scorpion?

Kids ...

Major emergencies that require

Soldiers to be removed from

training to return home must be

processed through the American

Red Cross.

If you require this service,

please complete the following

steps to ensure most rapid

processing:

1.Immediately contact your

local FRG leader. If you dont

have an FRG leader, contact Jes-

sica Specht or the units NCOs or

Commander.

(See page 4 of this newsletter for

a complete list of FRG leaders

and their contact information.)

2. Call the Red Cross:

(877) 272-7337

Be prepared with the following

information:

Full legal name of service mem-

ber

RankBranch-Oregon Army National

Guard

Social Security Number

Date of Birth

Military Unit Address

Information about the unitin

this case, Soldiers are at Fort Ir-

win in an NTC rotation.

In Case of Emergency ...


3/8

Military OneSource is a confi-

dential Department of Defense-

funded program providing com-

prehensive information on

every aspect of military life at

no cost to active duty, National

Guard, and reserve members,

and their families.

As the Military OneSource Con-

sultant for Oregon, I am avail-able to answer questions about

Military OneSource, work with

your units and volunteers to pro-

vide training on resources or

work with you individually to

access those resources by call-

ing or emailing. To use your

Military OneSource resources,

please call 800-342-9647 or

www.militaryonesource.mil.

Meloni

Meloni R. Beauchamp

Oregon Military OneSource Con-

sultant

Contractor

Phone: (503) 583-0324Meloni.Beauchamp

@militaryonesource.com

HHC & 1/F (La Grande): Kori VanderZanden

Phone: 541-786-6046

Email: [email protected]

A Company (The Dalles): Nancy DeAnda

Phone: 541-720-0215


B Company (Woodburn): Erin Peacock

Phone: 503-550-3321


C Company (Ontario): SFC Donald Clapp

Phone: 541-889-5514


D Company (Hermiston): Rachel Siller

Phone: 509-301-5435


F Company (Baker City): SSG Andrew

Vowell

Phone: 541-519-3792

Email:[email protected]

1/HHC (Pendleton): Lori Brogoitti

Phone: 541-377-0676


2/HHC & 2/F (Hood River): Terri Hansen

Phone: 541-400-0515


Battalion FRG: Jessica Specht

Email:[email protected]

In case of emergency, contact Jessica if

you are unable to reach your volunteer.

FRG LEADERSBYUNIT

Items Needed:

Roughly 1 yard outdoor canvas fabric

Assorted Sharpies, puffy paint, and

acrylic paint and brushes

Outdoor sand (preferably tan-colored)

Liquid Glue

Assorted toy soldiers and military vehi-

cle toys.

Step One: Print the map. (Quality was too

high to include in this newsletter.) If you dont

have the map attachment in the newsletter

email, request it from your FRG leader.

Step Two: Using a grid system and a yard-

stick, decide what portions of the map that

you want to use and mark the areas with a

Sharpie.

Step Three: Paint in land marks, roads, and

apply puffy paint for mountainous areas.

Step Four: Apply a thin layer of glue to de-

sert locations, and sprinkle with sand. Let dry,

and shake remainder off.

Step Five: Use the Sharpie to overlay a grid,

if desired, and mark down location names.

Draw in a compass at the corner, noting the

cardinal directions, and enjoy.

KidsCraft

NTCFLOORPLAYMAP
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


4/8

We're approaching the final stage of our training cycle with our rotation at the National Training Center (NTC). Why is

this training so important?

LTC BRIANDEAN: The focus of NTC and the Combat Training Centersis to train the Brigade staffs in their warfight-

ing skills. It is assumed that your Soldiers and Leaders are trained and ready in the military occupational skills. Thetraining that we provide yearly prepares them to perform their skills in combat, with some refinement just before deploy-

ment. The truly difficult part is training the Brigade level staff in how to utilize those Soldiers, Leaders, teams, squads,platoons, companies, andbattalions and enabling units

such as combat aviation,psychological operations

teams, etc.

CSM RONBLOKER: In doingso, our Soldiers and Leaderswill be developing and test-ing their skills to become

more successful in every-thing we do; from supplyingthe needs of the Soldiers andUnits, to preparing for actionand engaging a smart and

adaptive foe.

What actually happens during our Battalion's rotation?

MAJ JW LUNDELL: The Battalion's NTC rotation will consist of the following:

The first four days, our Soldiers will arrive at NTC and start acclimating to theweather and preparing equipment to move to the field. The following days, theBattalion's Soldiers will participate in a Company live fire exercise, where theywill put all of their training together from the past year and the 11-day gunnery

period. The live fire exercise will be con-

ducted on a firing range against simulated

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle of Detachment 2/HHC conduct

sunrise operations at OCTC, Idaho, in June. (Photo cour-

tesy SPC Cody Rickert.)

Our Soldiers will be

developing and testing

their skills to become

most successful in

everything we do.

The Family Readiness Group of 3-116 Cavalry

sits down with our Command Staff to ask some

questions about what the Soldiers and Families

can expect during our August rotation at the Na-

tional Training Center.

Continued on Page 4

A tank fires during training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)

Combat Training Centers: Three in

the world, including NTC in Califor-

nia, JRTC in Louisiana and JMRC in

Germany.

Military Occupational Skills

(MOS): A soldiers military job.

Brigade: The 116 Cavalry Brigade

Combat Team, headquartered in

Boise, ID.


5/8

opposing forces (the bad guys). Once this is completed, the Battalion will move on to a force-on-force battle, which is a

simulated attack in a desert environment conducted in a fictitious country against an aggressor force.

Who will we be fighting during our rotation?

CSM RONBLOKER: We will be facing a seasoned adversary with the 11th Armored Cavalry

Regiment (ACR) also known as the Blackhorse Regiment. Blackhorse's purpose is "to providethe US Army the most lethal opposing forcein the world, helping enable US Army BrigadeCombat Teams to better fight and win the first time against any opponent, anywhere in the

world." These Soldiers have developed and honed their skills to provide the tough, realistic

training that will challenge every system we own.

Where is NTC located?

CSM RONBLOKER: It is 37 miles north-east of Barstow, California, in the High Mo-

jave Desert, midway between Law Vegas, Nevada, and San Bernardino, California.

That sounds hot.

CSM RONBLOKER: The extreme max of 114 degrees will feel like

135 due to the heat index, or the perceived temperature due to hu-midity. We should expect average lows in the low 70's to high 50's.

Rainfall can reach as high as 3.2" down to no rain.

What can Soldiersdo to prepare for the

desert heat?

LTC BRIANDEAN:

There are four itemsthat reduce the occurrence of heat injuries. The first is fitness. Soldierswho deploy to NTC in good physical (especially cardiopulmonary) condi-

tion adapt more quickly to the harsh environment. The second is adequatehydration which should begin three days prior to deployment. The third isfood intake. No matter what, Soldiers must continue to eat. The lack of

nutrients in the blood stream is a key contributor to heat injuries. Fourth is

sleep.

CSM RONBLOKER: Getting in shape and staying in shape is the best way to minimize

the impact of limited sleep and extreme heat.

Getting in shape and

staying in shape is the

best way to minimize

the impact of limited

sleep and extreme

heat.

At left, a Bradley

Fighting Vehicle

of Detachment 2/

HHC and the the

crew. Below,

another resident

of the Idaho de-

sert of OCTC.

(Photos courtesy

SPC Cody Rick-

ert.)

Continued on Page 5

Crest of the 11th Armored

Cavalry Regiment.Opposing Force (OpFor):

The enemy force, a military

unit tasked with representing

the enemy, usually for train-

ing purposes in war game

scenarios.


6/8

LTC BRIANDEAN: My leaders will

be assisting with the food, waterand sleep, but only you can help me

with the fitness.

How can spouses and families help

with this?

LTC BRIANDEAN: If they haveroom, help them pack snacks thatwill survive the heat, such as jerky,Gatorade powder and trail mix, andencourage them to snack throughout

the day. Also, it will be critical forthem to be caught up on sleep be-

fore we deploy.

Will our Soldiers be safe?

LTC BRIANDEAN: NTC is a dangerous place. There will be

layer upon layer of safety instructed and implemented over thetraining. Accidents will still happen. Soldiers are aggressive,

selfless individuals who perform so far above expectations thatit is difficult to provide them enough challenge to keep them

fully engaged. Please as-sist me with developing

their patience whenthings seem silly, oroverly safe as it is for

their benefit.

My Soldier kept in touchduring most of the train-ing in Idaho. Will they be

able to do so during the

NTC rotation?

LTC BRIANDEAN: Dur-

ing the first couple daysand the last couple days,

Soldiers and Leaders willhave access to cellular

phones and communication devices. While we are in live fire and simulated

maneuvers, no communication devices are authorized.

CSM RONBLOKER: All communications are monitored and used for learning

purposes during our AARs. Wireless traffic must be limited to the specific

actions related to our rotation and missions.

MAJ JW LUNDELL: [Specifically] Soldiers will not have cell phone access from the 14th to the 26th of August.

LTC BRIANDEAN: Please do not push your Soldier to break that rule. The rule is not

created by me but will be enforced by me. I do not want to be forced to punish any Sol

Mortar tracks of Detachment 1/HHC in position for fire, July. (Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)

Tankers and their vehicles preparing for a day of training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)

Soldiers will not have

cell phone access from

the 14th to the 26th of

August.

Continued on Page 6

After Action Reviews (AARs): Agroup setting that discusses the good

and bad actions that were conducted

during a period of time or mission.

AARs are done after each mission.


7/8

diers or Leaders for failing to follow that instruction. Small

lapses in integrity have huge costs.

Is there any way, then, to follow what is happening?

CSM RONBLOKER: Fort Irwin (home of NTC) keeps a pagededicated to rotating units. You can find the link under the"Rotations" tab and then click on "Current Rotation". You are

directed to a Facebook page with photos from the current ro-tation. If you'd like a preview of what to expect, this is a great

place to look.

How can I get in contact with the other

spouses and family members in my unit?

JESSICASPECHT: Contact your local FRGleader! We will have a list in this newslet-ter [page 3]. Our units are all having FRG

Family Picnics in either July or September.This is always the best way to get to knowother families in your Soldier's unit. Even

better, volunteer to assist with the picnic -you'll get to meet a wide range of the Sol-

diers and families that way. As well, someof our units have FRG Facebook pages (orunit pages) that can be a great way to con-

nect.

Will anyone be staffing the armories?

MAJ JW LUNDELL: All local armories will be closed. If families need assis-tance, the Battalion's rear-detachment Officer-in-Charge (OIC) will be MAJ

Musgrove and he will be located and reached at the La Grande Armory.

JESSICASPECHT: Also, your FRG leaders are available at any time. Their con-

tact information will be listed in the newsletter if you don't already have it.

What action should I take in case of a major problem or

emergency?

LTC BRIANDEAN: I fully understand that two days after we

leave will be when the garage door breaks, the refrigeratorstops working, the dogs gets hit by a car and the son breaks

his arm. Please become familiar with your Family ReadinessGroup Coordinator [see page 3] at your unit. They will beable to quickly get resources for you and your family to miti-

gate those crisis when they develop. The goal is that you canresolve the issues back home and inform your Soldier how

you did it. Emergencies will be coordinated through the RedCross and we should be able to reach your Soldier within a

couple hours of notification.

Become familiar with

your FRG Coordinator

at your unit. They will

be able to quickly getresources for you to

mitigate crisis.

Sun setting over Charlie Company at OCTC. (Photo courtesy SGT Delaine Singleton.)

F o r t I r w i n W e b s i t e :

w w w . i r w i n . a r m y . m i l / p a g e s /visitorstab/comrel.html#

In case of emergencyMAJ Mus-

grove (La Grande Armory):

(541) 963-4221 or (503) 884-3176.

View from inside while on the move, Detachment 1/HHC.

(Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)


8/8

CSMSCORNERWith the Battalions Own Command Sergeant Major Ron Bloker

Greetings families, friends and

service members. As we head back

to work after another weekend,

with Memorial Day a month ago, I

d like to take a moment to thank

the friends and families that have

lost so much as we continue to

live in this great nation because

of the sacrifices of those that

have paid the ultimate price for

our freedoms while in uniform.

I also want to take a moment to

thank each and every one of you

for your commitment and sacrifice

as we continue to train for the

world s greatest armor training

center, the National Training Cen-

ter. As you know, we are scheduled

to complete a rotation in August.

Our Soldiers will experience frus-

tration and adversity to say the

least. On top of that, they will

be out of contact with friends and

families for two weeks or more as

cell phones are not allowed in thetraining area. This may seem like

a meaningless hardship; however,

it is due to the method by which

we receive feedback. Please under-

stand, our Soldiers cannot have

any phones, tablets or computers

in the training area.

In closing, I want to thank each

one of you again for the sacri-

fices of time, birthdays, anniver-

saries, and graduations that you

have endured and will continue to

endure in this road to the Na-

tional Training Center. The Bat-

talion Commander and I recognize

the burden this places on each

family. Our Soldiers must also

prepare for the environmental and

mental stresses. I encourage you

to share your concerns and hopes

for the training ahead.

Take care of each other, at home

and in the field. I look forward

to the challenges and adventures

ahead.

Sine Mora! (Without Delay!)

CSM Ronald Bloker

THEIMPRESSIVE

STRENGTH

of the combined force of the

units of 3-116 Cavalry, at

right. Below, the familiar

Sine Mora patch of the

116th, the Snake River Bri-

gade, worn by 3-116 CAV

Soldiers.

July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter

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