On the cover

2

1st Infantry Division Commander:

MG Kenneth W. Hunzeker

1st Infantry Division CSM:

CSM John D. Fourhman

1st Infantry Division PAO:

MAJ William Coppernoll

1st Infantry Division Deputy PAO:

1LT Ryan Gray

1st Infantry Division Public Affairs staff

1st Infantry Division PAO NCOIC:

MSG Cameron Porter

Editor:

SPC Stephen Baack

Staff writer:

SPC Joe Alger

Broadcaster:

SGT Bryant Maude

1SG Carey Immamura of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, fi

Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Feb. 17.

Soldiers from Task

Force 1-26 Infantry

pull security while

conducting a cordon

and search at a Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain site at

Hohenfels, Germany,

March 1.

Photo by SPC Joe Alger
In this issue In this issue In this issue In this issue In this issue In this issue

 Duty First is an unofficial publication produced under the provisions

of AR 360-1, published by Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division. Editorial

views and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the Department of Defense, the Army or the 1st Infantry Division. All photos

are Army photos unless otherwise noted. Circulation is 6,000 per

issue, printed quarterly. Contributions are welcome and should be

sent to 1st Infantry Division, Public Affairs Office, ATTN: Editor, Unit

26222, APO, AE 09036. Telephone numbers are DSN 350-6408 or

350-6409, commercial 0931-889-6408 or 0931-889-6409, fax DSN

350-6591, commercial fax 0931-889-6591, or e-mail

firstid.pao@us.army.mil, or visit Duty First online at www.1id.army.mil.

3

4th IBCT Activates......5

New brigade formed as part of Army transformation

1st ID Transforms....6-7

DIVARTY, DIVENG inactivate

Transition Teams.......10

Dreadnaughts learn MiTT job ‘on the fly’

Sling Load.................11

Big Red One Soldiers get lesson in safety

MOUT Training........16

TF 1-26 trains at Hohenfels, prepares for Iraq

Convoy Ops.........18-19

299th FSB conducts combat logistics patrol training

Lightning Strikes.20-21

1-7 FA conducts live-fire training at Grafenwoehr

Live Fire..............22-24

1-18 Inf. Soldiers react to enemy contact with live rounds

Battlefield View.........25

101st MI Bn. TUAV teams support 2BCT ‘in the box’

Scouts Out.................27

1-4 CAV transforms from heavy to light airborne recon

res an M4 rifle at a target on Range 126 while zeroing his weapon at

Photo by Senior Airman Richard Rose
 4

Think safety during transformation

Exciting times ahead for 1st ID

As you all know, the Big Red One

continues to be incredibly busy. The

last quarter has been filled with great

training, changes in our formation,

and preparations for the Division’s

return to Fort Riley. Each and every

one of you has been critical in

accomplishing these complex

missions.

We continue to aggressively train

and prepare our Soldiers for future

missions. The 2nd Brigade Combat

Team recently completed a very intense gunnery and maneuver

density at Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels. The Dagger Brigade

validated their training with a culminating Mission Rehearsal

Exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in March.

This training was truly world-class and incorporated the realities

of war into the scenarios. As the Dagger Brigade prepares to move

its troops and equipment into theatre and take on a new mission, I

can tell you that they are ready to carry on the legacy of this great

Division in combat. They are trained, ready and disciplined!

As one brigade combat team prepares for combat, the rest of

the Division continues towards transformation and rebasing. Our

Division Artillery and Division Engineer Brigades recently

inactivated as part of this plan. It is a bittersweet feeling to see

these great units and others case their colors and take their place in

yet another chapter of our Division’s history, but it is also very

exciting to be part of the transformation of our Army. Over the

next few months, several other units will also see significant

changes. The 1-4 Cavalry, 1-33 Field Artillery and the 82nd

Engineers are all going through a conversion process that will result

in a RSTA Squadron; Fires Battalion; and Brigade Troops Battalion

all becoming part of the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team.

It is certainly an exciting time to be in the 1st Infantry Division

and it won’t be long before we return to Fort Riley, Kansas and

take on a new mission. Please continue to take care of your Soldiers

and your families and enjoy Germany while you can. I appreciate

all that you do, each and everyday, to make this the greatest Division

in the United States Army. Duty First!

First, I would like to thank all the

Big Red One Soldiers, family

members, and civilians for their continued support and commitment to this

great Division and the incredible effort

put forth to accomplish our many missions. During this season, the 1st Infantry Division continues to reorganize in

accordance with the Army transformation plan and global rebasing.

Many units, including the Division

Artillery Brigade and the Division Engineer Brigade, will inactivate. The 1st Battalion, 4th U.S. Cavalry

Regiment and other units in Bamberg will re-flag and join the 173rd

Airborne Brigade, and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team will move to

the 1st Armored Division to continue their preparation for

deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, the Division

headquarters and subordinate units will shift their focus to preparation for deployment to the continental United States.

As the weather warms and the new season takes shape, many of

you will take this opportunity to travel and enjoy Europe. With this

in mind, I ask each of you to keep safety at the forefront of your

activities.

U.S. Army Europe has recently launched two very important

safety campaigns, which we as leaders, need to implement, monitor,

and enforce.

X The Army in Europe Summer 2006 Lifesaving Campaign has

been expanded beyond the scope of previous summer safety campaigns to target a broader range of issues our Soldiers face. In

addition to traditional safety subjects, it includes Soldier wellness

issues, such as high-risk drinking and suicide.

X The Army in Europe Motorcycle Safety Campaign targets motorcycle-related deaths and injuries. It also emphasizes the dangers

of riding motorcycles and implements a composite risk management approach to managing these dangers.

More information on these campaigns can be found by logging

into the USAREUR Safety Website at www.hqusareur.army.mil or

by contacting 1st ID Safety Office at 350-6311.

Additionally, many of our Soldiers will be involved in ISA operations to support the Division’s many deployments and missions.

Ensure we conduct the proper training and have appropriate safety

equipment on hand.

It is our charter as leaders at all levels to protect our greatest

assets, and we can do this by ensuring safety in everything we do.

It is truly an important time for the Big Red One, and we must

continue to work together and take care of each other.

As the Division prepares to return to Fort Riley, deploy, and

transform, please take the extra steps to ensure safety remains at

the forefront of everything we do.

I want to thank our Soldiers, civilians, and their family members

for their continued support and commitment. With your help, the

1st Infantry Division continues to embrace the future of Army transformation and solidify our reputation as one of the Army’s premier

fighting divisions.

Be proud of what you do. Continue to hold our colors high. No

mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty First!

MG Ken Hunzeker

Danger 6

CSM John Fourhman

Danger 7
FORT RILEY, Kansas - This is a big year

of change, MG Dennis Hardy, commanding

general, 24th Infantry Division (Mech) and

Fort Riley, announced Jan. 12 at the 1st Infantry Division’s 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team activation ceremony.

Formations representing the 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 28th Infantry; 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry; 2nd Battalion,

32nd Field Artillery; 4th Brigade Special

Troops Battalion; and 610th Brigade Support

Battalion, participated in the ceremony,

which signified the transfer of the brigade

from inactive to active status.

The 4th IBCT began its lineage as an aviation brigade at Fort Riley in April 1986.

COL Ricky Gibbs commands the 4th

IBCT and CSM Jim Champagne serves as

brigade command sergeant major.

Hardy said the stand up of the “Dragon

Brigade” was a step in the transformation

to widen the Army’s capabilities. The

brigade will be able to operate at the low

end of the military spectrum, including

humanitarian relief efforts, to the high end,

such as high intensity combat missions.

“It’s an organization that can operate in

complex terrains, be it cities or mountains

or forests or jungles,” he said. “It can operate

dismounted. In fact, it’s trained, organized

and equipped to operate dismounted, or we

can motorize it and send the truck and make

it mobile or we can provide helicopters and

we can air assault it. Truthfully, by the time

Ricky Gibbs gets done with it, we might

even be able to airborne it.”

The 4th IBCT is unique in that it is selfsustaining because of its support battalion

and because it has its own reconnaissance,

surveillance and target acquisition unit, the

2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry. Hardy said brigades in the past 20 years didn’t have their

own reconnaissance teams and had to reach

into battalions and steal their scout platoons.

Hardy said the brigade would be combat

ready in 12 months. He reminded his lieutenant colonels and their command sergeants

major to take care of the Soldiers and their

families.

Gibbs said nearly 1,000 Soldiers of the

4th IBCT have arrived at Fort Riley.

Hardy said the 4th IBCT would not be the

only brigade to stand up at Fort Riley this

year. Another 3,400 Soldiers will come to

Fort Riley this summer as part of a combat

action brigade, he said.

To many, the activation of the 4th IBCT

is the first step in bringing the Big Red One

back to Fort Riley, Hardy said. MG Kenneth

Hunzeker, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division, and the 1st ID Band traveled from Germany to take part in the activation ceremony.

When the brigade is fully functioning,

3,500 Soldiers and 1,700 family members

are expected to call Fort Riley home.

Serving with the 4th IBCT will probably

be a three-year tour for everyone in the battalion, Hardy said, urging families to sink

their roots and “get happy.”

“You’re looking not only at a new year,

but you are looking in the face of a new start.

You’re looking in the face of a new organization ... America is moving forward and

America’s Army is moving forward,” he

said. “And I think that is pretty powerful.”

Story and photos by

Amanda Kim Stairrett

Fort Riley Post

Soldiers of the 2nd Bn., 16th Infantry; 1st Bn., 28th Infantry; 2nd Squadron, 4th Cavalry;

2nd Bn., 32nd Field Artillery; 4th Bde. Special Troops Bn., and 610th Bde. Support

Bn. stand at attention during the 4th Infantry Bde. Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division

activation ceremony Jan. 12.

MG Dennis Hardy, commanding general, 24th Infantry Division (Mech) and

Fort Riley, passes the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team flag to COL Ricky

Gibbs during the Jan. 12 activation ceremony. Gibbs assumed command of the

4th IBCT, which is standing up at Fort

Riley.

4th IBCT activates

5
 6

1st ID continues to tran

Story by SPC Stephen Baack

Editor, 1st ID PAO

During one of the largest transformations in the

history of the Big Red One, two centralized units – 1st

Infantry Division Artillery and the 1st ID Engineer

Brigade – have inactivated on the heels of the

Division’s move from Germany to Fort Riley, Kan.

The nearly century-old DIVARTY, and the relatively

new DIVENG, inactivated during ceremonies at Warner

Barracks in Bamberg, Germany, Feb. 16 and March

31, respectively, after both having been at the post since

1996. Though DIVENG formally activated in 1993,

the engineer battalions within the brigade were considerably older.

While many of both units’ Soldiers will move on to different

formations throughout the Army, DIVARTY’s 1st Battalion, 7th Field

Artillery Regiment, along with DIVENG’s 9th Engineer Battalion,

are slated to support 1st ID’s 2nd Brigade Combat Team during its

scheduled deployment to Iraq within the coming months, while a

portion of DIVENG’s personnel will head to the 173rd Infantry

Brigade Special Troop Battalion. In addition, DIVARTY’s 1st

Battalion, 33rd Field Artillery Regiment will become the Airborne

Artillery Battalion, providing support to the 173rd Airborne Brigade

in Vicenza, Italy – but will remain at Warner Barracks for the time

being.

Originally constituted as the 1st Field Artillery Brigade in 1917,

DIVARTY participated in multiple campaigns and operations

during World Wars I and II, the Vietnam War, and Operations Desert

Shield and Desert Storm. Since its move to Germany, elements

from DIVARTY have also participated in operations in Kosovo

and Bosnia, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

Providing remarks during the DIVARTY inactivation was COL

Walter Gilliam, DIVARTY commander, who gave a heartfelt

goodbye to the unit and his troops. Gilliam is slated to assist in the

Division’s return to Fort Riley later this year.

“It’s one of the toughest things I’ve ever done in the almost 25

years I’ve been serving,” said Gilliam. “I’ve been part of other

organizations that, for one reason or another, were disbanded or

reflagged, but this has clearly been the toughest thing I’ve ever

done. We’ve got tremendous Soldiers here in the organization,

and the good thing about that is these great talents will be going to

other units throughout the Army and continue to do great things.

We just won’t have a DIVARTY Headquarters.”

As DIVARTY’s 63rd and last commander, Gilliam led the unit

through a comprehensive reorganization after its Soldiers

redeployed from Iraq last year, which was a high point for him.

The former commander, COL Richard Longo, is the last one to

have led the unit into war.

“There is a bit of sadness for me because I think of the legacy

that these Soldiers have left over the past 89 years – but their

performance in Operation Iraqi Freedom, if it is the last thing that

they do, then it’s a great legacy they will have left,” said Longo.

“The only consolation I can take out of this is that little pieces of

DIVARTY now will be spread out all over the Army and will

contribute to other

units that carry with

them the spirit of the

Drumfire Team.”

Officially

activated Sept. 2,

1993, DIVENG has

part-icipated in civil

relief operations and

supported 1st ID

training at the Joint

Readiness Training

Center at Fort Polk,

La., before moving

to Warner Barracks

in 1996.

While based in

Germany, the unit’s

9th Engineer Battalion deployed to

Bosnia in support of

Operation Joint

Guardian, and was

soon replaced by the

COL Walter Gilliam, DIVARTY commander, joined by MG Kenneth

Hunzeker, 1st ID commanding general, furl the DIVARTY colors during

the unit’s inactivation ceremony at Warner Barracks Feb. 15.

Inactivation marks

end of history for

DIVENG, DIVARTY

COL Walter Gilliam, 1st Infantry Division

Artillery Brigade commander, gives a

heartfelt farewell to his troops and the

unit during the DIVARTY Inactivation

Ceremony.
 7

nsform

Paying his final respects, Milton Figueroa,

Schweinfurt mailroom director, grasps the

dog-tags of SSG Miguel Santiago Jr. during

his memorial service March 2 at Larson

Barracks Chapel.

CSM John D. Fourhman, 1st Infantry Division command sergeant major,

and MG Kenneth W. Hunzeker, 1st ID commanding general, pay

respects to PFC Dave Robbins at the Larson Barracks Chapel in

Kitzingen, Germany, Feb. 3.

Remembering our fallen Soldiers...

brigade’s 82nd Engineer

Battalion. Also, the brigade

took control of Peace Shield

’98 in Ukraine and Operation

Swift Crossing.

The brigade was instrumental in the construction of

Camp Bondsteel and Camp

Monteith during Operation

Joint Guardian – this time in

Kosovo.

“We’re all a little excited to

get ready to get it done; we’re

kind of apprehensive as the 82nd

(Engineer Battalion) was here

the longest in Bamberg,” said

CPT Burke S. Honzel, battalion

personnel officer, adding that

the personnel and equipment actions required for the transition

has been a year in the making.

“Rather than mourning the ‘end of an era,’ this moment is, to

the contrary, a moment for celebration — the celebration of a job

well done and the celebration of an opportunity to be part of the

transformation of our entire service,” said MG Kenneth Hunzeker,

1st ID commanding general, who provided the opening remarks at

the DIVARTY inactivation ceremony.

“This is transformation right before your eyes,” said Hunzeker.

“The Big Red One is changing its structure to meet new challenges,

but we are committed to holding the legacy of the entire Division

close to our hearts.”

Photo by SPC Joe Alger

Soldiers of the 1st ID Engineer Brigade stand in formation for the last time.
 8

SPC Carlos Luna, a 1st Infantry Division automated logistics specialist, fires a German 9mm pistol while trying to earn his

German Schutzenschnur in Bruck, Germany, Feb. 1.

Soldiers with Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 1st Infantry

Division and the 101st Military Intelligence

Battalion braved cold, icy conditions to earn

the Schutzenschnur German marksmanship

badge in Bruck, Germany, Feb. 1.

The Schutzenschnur medal is awarded

for qualifying on two German weapons —

usually a pistol and machine gun. Soldiers

can earn the Schutzenschnur award in

bronze, silver and gold. The award can be

worn by Soldiers on the dress uniforms.

SSG Larry Gormley, 1st ID

noncommissioned officer in charge of civil

military operations, said the 22 Soldiers

who made the trip to Bruck to qualify for

the Schtuzenschnur was the best turnout

he’s seen yet.

“We usually only have about 10 Soldiers

come out for this,” Gormley said. “It’s a

great event for Soldiers, and it’s an award

that looks great on their uniforms that they

can wear and be proud of.”

Since HHC, 1st ID is scheduled to move

to Fort Riley, Kansas, this summer, this was

the last opportunity for many of the Soldiers

to earn the award. Because of this, Gormley

said the 13th Panzer Division did everything

Story and photos by

SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

1st ID Soldiers earn German marksmanship badge

possible to ensure maximum participation.

“Usually, we share the range with the

German Soldiers, but this time out our

partnership unit reserved the range for us

for the entire day,” Gormley said.

Luckily for the Soldiers participating in

the event, they had plenty of time to fire

because qualifying on the German weapons, especially the MG-3 machine gun,

proved to be a difficult experience.

“I’ve never fired a weapon that puts

rounds downrange so quickly,” said SGT

David Pierce, 1st ID intelligence analyst. “If

you don’t learn how to maintain trigger

discipline and put your full body weight

behind the weapon, you will never qualify.”
 9

Pierce said it was also difficult to get

used to maintaining focus on the target when

firing the German-made machine gun, but

it’s important not to give up after the first

try.

“The German Sergeant Major told us it

takes a great deal of training and discipline

to learn how to effectively fire that weapon

system,” Pierce said.

In addition to learning how to fire

German weapons, Gormley said the event

also gives Soldiers the chance to interact

with their German counterparts.

“They get to live with German Soldiers

in their barracks and see how they live and

train,” Gormley said. “We get to see that

they (the German Soldiers) don’t really do

things much differently than we do.”

The Soldiers said they enjoyed the

overall event and hope it isn’t the last one.

“I thought the event was a lot of fun,”

Pierce said. “Later on down the road there

will be very few Soldiers who will get to

have this experience. I think anyone who

gets this opportunity should definitely

participate.”

With German soldiers there to help coach and assist, Soldiers from HHC, 1st Infantry Division fire the MG-3 machine gun at

a Schutzenschnur qualification range in Bruck, Germany, Feb. 1.

Soldiers from the 13th Panzer Division and the 1st Infantry Division warm up next

to a fire during a German Schutzenschnur qualification range in Bruck, Germany,

Feb. 1.
 10

FORT RILEY, Kansas – The “Dreadnaughts” learned firsthand about Military Transition Teams, commonly referred to

as MiTTs, shortly after arriving in Iraq in February 2005.

Higher headquarters ordered the battalion to assemble a MiTT

and help the local Iraqis assume more responsibility for

security in Baqubah.

While they conducted military security and patrol missions common in Iraq, members of the “Dreadnaught”

battalion partnered with the 4th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 5th Iraqi

Division, to train the Iraqis in the full spectrum combat operations taking place in their area of responsibility.

The past military experience that 2nd Battalion, 34th Armor

Regiment Commander LTC Oscar Hall IV possessed appeared to be a plus for the new mission, one traditionally the

responsibility of U.S. Special Forces units but more and more

a mission undertaken by a variety of U.S. military units. Hall

had served as a U.S. military advisor to a Saudi brigade,

helping them to train and to field equipment.

While in Iraq, “We had to take this new MiTT out of hide,”

Hall said. He had no extra manpower to use for the new mission, so he assigned 10 of his key staff members to dual responsibilities. “By day they were my staff. By night they were

the MiTT leaders,” he said.

The MiTT commitment didn’t remain a “night” operation.

Training and equipping the Iraqi forces while simultaneously

fighting combat operations was continuous. “It was like building a plane while it is in flight,” he said.

At first, the MiTT conducted training in a classroom environment, he said, teaching such things as planning for operations, the military decision-making process, how to organize

information so the commander can make rapid decisions,

battle tracking (keeping track of all the unit’s forces,

disposition and capabilities) and even detainee operations,

said MAJ Randy Judd, MiTT leader.

After the classroom training, the MiTT began including

the Iraqis in U.S. military operations.

At first, platoon-sized Iraqi units were added to U.S. company-sized operations, Judd said. That was to give the Iraqis

a chance to see how operations should look.

Later operations included an Iraqi company with a U.S.

company. Finally, the Iraqis assumed the major role in operations while the U.S. forces’ presence was minimal, Judd said.

Early combined operations usually were cordon and search

operations, he said.

Some of the training took place at checkpoints the Iraqi

battalion manned, Hall said. “It was like going from a classroom to running,” he said, “because it was a real situation.”

Before that training, insurgents often got the best of the

Iraqis; at best, the Iraqis held their own, Hall said. Not long

after training with the MiTT, the Iraqis began beating the

insurgents, he continued. “We went from arriving with body

bags for dead Iraqis to counting the number of dead insurgents,” he said.

Story by Mike Herronemus

Fort Riley Post

Dreadnaughts learn MiTT job ‘on the fly’

WASHINGTON – The Army is innovating its approach to

developing foreign security forces, in response to a mission

support request from United States Central Command, with

small unit transition teams by assigning this mission to one

specific division, the 1st Infantry Division, at Fort Riley, Kan.

Rapidly enhancing the capabilities of Iraqi Security Forces

and the Afghan National Army to enable them to assume the

leading role in counterinsurgency and security missions is a

vital element in CENTCOM’s strategy for success in Iraq and

Afghanistan.

The 1st Brigade, 1st ID, assisted by the 3rd Brigade, 1st AD

until its modular conversion, will temporarily reorganize for

this mission. Together, the two brigades will have a permanent

force of 800 Soldiers who will annually organize, train and

deploy approximately 3,500 to 4,000 Soldiers over the course

of a year to serve on transition teams.

The size of each deployed team will vary based on its specific

mission; however, they are generally composed of

approximately 10-15 personnel. When the transition teams have

completed their pre-deployment preparations, they will deploy

and help develop Iraqi and Afghan forces under the command

of the coalition headquarters for each country.

The 1st ID headquarters, which is preparing to relocate from

Germany to Fort Riley, will oversee the training and deployment

of the transition teams. The Division will continue to transform

to its ultimate end state as a modular, full spectrum formation.

Consolidating this transition team mission at Fort Riley under

a single commander enhances the care of Soldiers and their

families, better supports Army personnel management, and

provides highly trained, fully manned, fully equipped, and

cohesive teams.

1st ID to develop foreign

security force training teams security force training teams

LTC Oscar Hall IV, 2-34 Armor commander, MAJ Randy Judd, MiTT

leader in Iraq, and MAJ Khalled, 4th Iraqi Army Bn. executive officer,

inspect security at the Baqubah Govt. Center.

Courtesy photo
 11

Story and photo by SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

When a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter swoops in

and drops an essential piece of military equipment

or a cargo net full of re-supplies onto a battlefield, most people don’t realize what goes into a

mission such as this.

But recently, 26 Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division learned just what it takes when they attended a

Sling Load Inspector Certification Course at Camp

Robertson in Schweinfurt, Germany, Feb. 7-10.

During the SLIC course, students

learned to prepare, rig and inspect supplies

and equipment for sling load under rotary

wing aircraft. They also learned to select,

prepare and control pickup and landing zones during sling

load operations.

“While Soldiers may not think learning to sling load is

as exciting as airborne or sniper school,” according to SSG

Jason Brown, an Aerial Delivery Field Service Department SLIC course instructor, “in today’s Army, it’s just as

important.”

“There are a lot of sling load operations going on right

now with the war in Iraq,” Brown said. “Soldiers need to

be able to get cargo or vehicles to a destination as quickly

and safely as possible.”

During the SLIC course, the Soldiers learned how to do that and

much more.

According to Brown, the first two days of the course consisted

mainly of classroom instruction in the morning

where the Soldiers learned about the terms, equipment and forms needed for a sling load operation.

In the afternoon, the Soldiers were taught the

proper way to “rig” the equipment and the 16 different hand-and-arm signals needed to communicate with the crew of an aircraft.

The Soldiers were also taught proper inspection sequences and what a correct sling load looks like.

Day three of the course involved mostly hands-on practice so the Soldiers are prepared for day four, which is test

day, Brown said.

Day four, the final day of the course, is “mission day.”

During this day, the Soldiers were required to complete

a 50-question written test and inspect four different

types of sling loads, searching for deficiencies with

a strict five minute time limit.

Once the Soldiers complete these tasks and

display their applied knowledge, “They’ll be

sling load inspector certified (and they’ll each)

receive an inspector certified card that’s good

for life,” said Brown, who travels around the world

with a team of six SLIC instructors.

While the class conducted at Camp Robertson lasted for only

four days, Brown said the class is normally five days long.

“We had to cut it short by one day, but there’s no less information. The days are just a little bit longer,” he added.

Soldiers participating in the course, like SFC Timothy C.

Crutchfield, a medical sergeant with 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry

Regiment, felt the course would be a good way to expand their

units’ capabilities and combat-readiness.

“The 1-4 CAV is transitioning to a light airborne cavalry unit, so

with airborne operations, there’ll probably be opportunities for our

equipment to be sling loaded,” Crutchfield said. “Any Soldier could

benefit from this course. With the diversity of our missions, a Soldier may never know when he’ll be employed in a different capacity.”

SSG Christian Orellano, a treatment platoon sergeant with C

Company, 299th Forward Support Battalion, said he is looking

forward to not only having an opportunity to display his new

knowledge, but also to teach others.

“The sling load class teaches you to teach others how to properly do the operations. I plan to pass it on to my Soldiers during

sergeant’s time training to make the unit more effective and broaden

our mobility,” Orellano said.

For these reasons and others, Brown thinks the SLIC course is

one that should be taught to every Soldier.

“The more Soldiers we get involved, the more we lower the risk

of injury and reduce damage to government equipment,” he said.

SSG Jason Brown (wearing a red rigger’s hat), an Aerial

Delivery Field Service Department Sling Load Inspector

Certification Course instructor, gives a class on the sling load

inspection sequence for a Humvee during the SLIC course

at Camp Robertson in Schweinfurt, Germany.
 12

Drill sergeants teach new recruits in

Basic Training that every Soldier in the

Army is an infantryman first. And apparently that holds true for artillery Soldiers, as well.

To prepare for an upcoming deployment to Iraq, Soldiers from 1st Battalion,

7th Field Artillery Regiment conducted

three days of infantry training at

Hammelburg German army Kaserne beginning Jan. 10.

The training consisted of several difStory and photos by

SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

ferent basic infantryman tactics such as

clearing a building, proper operation of

a vehicle security check point, dismounted foot patrols, and Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain.

According to CPT Scott Emmel, B

Battery, 1-7 FA commander, it’s important for artillery Soldiers to be proficient

in infantry tactics because once they’re

deployed there’s no telling when they

may need those skills.

“We’re responsible for shooting artillery rounds,” Emmel said, “but if the

mission changes when we go to Iraq,

we have to be prepared to fill an infantry role so we’re starting to train on

those tasks.”

While the 1-7 FA Soldiers had been

training on their artillery tasks in previous months at Grafenwoehr and

Wildflecken Training areas, this is the

first time many of them have had a

chance to practice basic infantry skills

in some time.

“We trained on artillery tasks right

up until block leave, and when we got

back we started with the infantry training. Essentially, it’s like starting at

ground zero,” Emmel said. “We’re

starting with low-level tasks like

movement (techniques) and reacting to

fire.”
 13

Operating vehicle security check points was one of several infantry tactics taught

to 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment Soldiers at Hammelburg German army

Kaserne.

(Above) Infantry tactics, such as Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain, were taught to Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 7th Field

Artillery Regiment Jan. 10-12. Pictured here, artillery Soldiers enter and clear a room at Hammelburg German army Kaserne.

And the infantry tactics were not something the 1-7 FA Soldiers were able to learn

overnight.

“It’s a lot different than what we’re used

to,” said PFC Samuel Emard, B Btry., 1-7

FA.

One of the biggest differences between

infantry and artillery is the communication,

Emard added.

“Using hand signals is a little hard to get

used to, especially for the guys who have

been (in the artillery field) for a long time,”

he said.

Despite the learning curve, Emard said

he is confident the training will help “keep

them alive,” once they deploy.

Since infantrymen operate in a mostly

urban environment in Iraq, the MOUT training was an especially important aspect of

the training.

“We’re trying to maximize the use of the

training site here in Hammelburg. “It’s a

very good MOUT site,” Emmel said. “It

gives the Soldiers a good idea of what it’s

like to walk around in an urban environment.

That’s hard to get in Schweinfurt.”

While the infantry training gives the 1-7

FA Soldiers an added dimension to their Soldiering skills, they haven’t forgotten they’re

primary role as artillery Soldiers.

“At the end of the month we’re going to

Grafenwoehr for more training, and we’ll

have to be prepared to do both artillery and

infantry tasks there,” Emmel said. “There’s

a wide range of tasks we need to execute.”

(Left) Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 7th Field

Artillery Regiment conduct a dismounted foot patrol inside

Hammelburg German army Kaserne’s

MOUT site.
 14

(Above) PV2 Alex Gurley and CPL Eric Gonzalez from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment

fire a 50-caliber machine gun at a target on Range 301 at

Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 17.

Photo by Air Force SA Richard Rose

(Far Right) PVT Jared Guzman and SPC Thomas Reep, Service

Battery, 1-7 Field Artillery, react to an ambush during a combat

logistics patrol at Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 18.

(Right) Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment clear

a building as part of their Mission Rehearsal Exercise at Hohenfels

Feb. 27.

Photo by PFC Ethan Anderson
 15

PVT Thomas Lincoln, HHC, 1-18th Inf., prepares to reload a MK19 grenade launcher.

Photo by Navy PO1 Richard Brunson

SGT Ianclaire Mallari from C Company, 1-77 Armor, applies a bandage to a patient

who was hit by simulated sniper fire during an exercise on Range 118 at

Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 24.

Photo by Air Force SA Richard Rose

Photo by CPL Bertha Whipkey
 16

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s

Task Force 1-26 Infantry prepared for their

upcoming deployment to Iraq by conducting

cordon and search training in Hohenfels,

Germany, March 1.

According to CPT Jared Purcell, TF 1-

26 fire support officer, the training was

conducted by “Team Alpha,” which consists

of a mix between mechanized infantry and

a tank platoon.

There are Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 26th

Infantry Regiment’s A and C companies and

Soldiers from B Company, 1st Battalion, 77th

Armor Regiment participating in the

training, Purcell said.

The training began when the TF 1-26

Soldiers received intelligence that a highvalue target was inside one of the buildings

in the fictitious city of “Tikrit,” one of

several Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain sites set up to

resemble Iraqi villages in the Hohenfels Training Area.

Once the Soldiers arrived in the city, they set up an outer cordon

with their M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles to seal in the city and

then conducted a cordon and search on foot to locate the highvalue target.

Once the high-value target was

located, they checked the rest

of the town for a possible

second high-value target by

conducting house-to-house

searches, Purcell said.

PVT Ryan Owens, a

squad automatic machine gunner with Team

Alpha, TF 1-26, was

one Soldier involved

in the raid and

helped capture one

of the targets.

“After we cleared

the first floor, we

moved down to the

basement. There was a guy

down there with a weapon

under a couch. We captured

him and pulled security on

him while the other team went

upstairs and cleared the rest of

the house,” Owens said.

The cordon and search

training is the culmination of

Task Force 1-26 prep ask Force 1-26 prep ask Force 1-26 prepares for Iraq ares for Iraq ares for Iraq

Story and photo by

SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

weeks of platoon-level training and is

the final training mission the TF 1-26

Soldiers needed to complete before

the start of their Mission Rehearsal

Exercise, which completed March 12.

“That was the first company-level

mission they’ve done,” Purcell said. “We

started small in Grafenwoehr, working on

squad, crew, and individual weapons training

and building up to the squad- and platoon-level

training, which we’ve done the last two days.”

Purcell said the Soldiers did a fine job

considering it was their first time conducting

training at this level.

“It went really well,” Purcell said. 

“They captured the high-value target with

limited casualties on our side. Overall it

was a very good experience.”

For CPT Adam Wojack, Team Alpha

commander, the training brought back

memories of the last time he was in

Iraq.

While in Iraq, Wojack said he

conducted daily missions with the

Iraqi security forces such as patrols

and raids.

“There’s nothing more fun

than a raid and a cordon and

search,” Wojack said.

Task Force 1-26 Infantry Soldiers enter a house while searching for a high-value

target during training at Hohenfels, Germany, March 1.
 17

One of the tactics used by insurgents in

Iraq is attacking supply and fuel convoys

with improvised explosive devices and

roadside bombs. Because of this, the job

of engineer Soldiers who patrol the streets

every day searching for these devices is very

important.

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s

9th Engineer Battalion prepared for this task

in March by conducting route clearance

missions in Hohenfels Training Area in

support of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team

during its Mission Rehearsal Exercise.

“This training is getting us ready to clear

routes, basically the same way we’ll be

doing in Iraq,” said 1LT Andrew Maxa, 1st

Platoon leader, A Company, 9th Engineer

Battalion. “The mission of route clearance

is to get out there before fuel trucks and

other personnel get on the road so we find

PVT Eric Herrera, a 9th Engineer Battalion gunner, scans his sector during a route clearance mission in Hohenfels Training

Area, Germany, March 8.

Engineers conduct route recon training Engineers conduct route recon training

Battalion practices protecting supply, fuel convoys

Story and photo by SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

IEDs that are laid overnight prior to them

getting on the route.”

According to Maxa, during the route

clearance training, the Soldiers are trained

on everything from scanning their sectors

for IEDs, searching cars, interacting with

Iraqi people, dealing with casualty

evacuation if necessary, and any other

situation that could present itself over the

course of a route clearance mission.

Maxa said since many of his Soldiers are

new to this, they were a “little rusty” at first,

but have been improving vastly each day

they conduct the missions.

One example of their new-found

proficiency was the discovery of two

different IEDs along their route, while on

patrol.

“We found an IED, and they knew

exactly what to do,” Maxa said.

Once an IED is discovered, according

to PVT Benjamin Baum, a 1st Platoon IED

spotter, the Soldiers must cordon off the

road and determine what class of IED they

are dealing with.

If it is a “class one” or “class two” IED,

the engineers can destroy it in place and

continue on with their mission. If it is a

“class three” IED, which Baum said can be

identified by protruding wires, they must put

in a call to explosive ordnance disposal

personnel, who are specially trained in

disposing of such devices.

Finding the IED in the first place is often

the difficult part, but Baum said there are

several telltale signs to look for when

scanning a sector.

If an IED is placed in the ground, Baum

said it can be identified by the dead

vegetation around the area because of the

chemicals from the IED. Also, when

looking for roadside bombs, Baum said he

checks for areas where the dirt is a little bit

higher than other areas or places where fresh

see Engineers, page 24
 18

Most Soldiers are taught, no matter what

their job specialty, they’re an infantryman

first. With deployments to Iraq becoming a

fairly common occurrence for many Soldiers, that saying certainly holds true. With

those thoughts in mind, Soldiers from the

1st Infantry Division’s 299th Forward Support Battalion conducted combat logistics

patrol training at Grafenwoehr Training Area

Feb. 22.

Over the course of the training, the 299th

FSB Soldiers were given first-hand experience on a situation they could very well encounter in Iraq in the near future.

“The scenario involves the platoon getting a mission to deliver supplies,” said LTC

Keith Sledd, 299th FSB commander. “They

go along their prescribed route and encounter a complex attack involving improvised

explosive devices and small arms fire from

multiple locations.”

Over the course of this engagement, the

Soldiers are faced with several different incidents they must overcome.

“As part of the scenario, the IED will

cause a vehicle to break down, and we will

also incur a casualty,” Sledd said. “This

forces the convoy commander to react to the

situation.”

The reaction, Sledd said, involves suppressing the enemy attack and then arranging the convoy vehicles in a “box formation,” which allows them to put security

around the disabled vehicle and injured personnel.

While the Soldiers negotiated these obstacles, there was also additional assistance available for them if the situation

warranted it.

“We had coordinated to have AH-64

Apache helicopters available if the convoy

requested it,” Sledd said. “In both scenarios,

the convoy commander requested air support, and we had two Apaches fly in and engage the far targets.”

Certain elements of the scenario were difAs part of their combat logistics patrol training at Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb.

22, Soldiers from the 299th Forward Support Battalion use teamwork to safely

remove a casualty from the kill zone.

Story and photos by

SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO
 19

Soldiers from the 299th Forward Support Battalion return fire while being engaged by enemy small arms fire during combat

logistics patrol training at Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 22.

ferent each time the Soldiers went through

in order to keep them on their toes.

“In the first convoy, we blew off the front

of a vehicle and forced them to use a

wrecker. In the second one, we destroyed a

5-ton, which forced them to use a heavier

vehicle to tow it,” Sledd said.

Soldiers involved in the ambush had several things to keep in mind, according to

SGT Gary Butler, B Company, 299th FSB

personal security detachment.

“The main thing is making sure I go for

cover first,” he said. “Also, 360 degree security is very important and watching my

flanks making sure nobody gets in my line

of sight.”

In addition to that, Butler said he was

charged with the mission of ensuring each

Soldier had sufficient ammunition to return

fire.

Butler knows firsthand that this type of

training is not to be taken lightly.

“I’ve already done a tour over there

(Iraq), and I can tell you from experience

it’s no joke, so this training needs to be as

realistic as possible and the Soldiers need

to take it very seriously,” he said.

Despite not being a “combat unit,” Sledd

said the 299th FSB Soldiers have to be prepared for combat as much as anybody else.

“The greatest threat in Iraq is attacks on

combat logistics patrols that move along the

Soldiers from the 299th FSB conduct realistic training in preparation for their training

in Hohenfels and their upcoming deployment with 2nd Brigade Combat Team to

Iraq later this year.

various main support roads,” he said. “Last

year when we were there, we experienced a

significant number of attacks.”

Sledd went on to say that enemy insurgents tend to single out combat logistics

patrols because they seem to think they are

weaker targets. With this training, Sledd

hopes to prove them wrong.

“What this kind of training does is reinforce to our Soldiers that they have the ability to engage the targets, defeat the enemy

and repel the attack. Also, it builds the Soldiers’ confidence in their abilities as they

prepare to deploy,” Sledd said.

Following the conclusion of their training at Grafenwoehr, the 299th FSB continued

preparing for its future deployment during

its Mission Rehearsal Exercise in Hohenfels.
 20

Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division’s 1st

Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment only

need two words to make the winter weather

at the Grafenwoehr Training Area seem like

a trivial thing – FIRE MISSION!

A quick yank of a lanyard and the business end of a 155 mm Paladin erupts like a

bolt of lightning as it launches more than 90

pounds of hot steel down range.

“That’s what it’s all about,” said SGT

Alexander Morales, a cannoneer from the

battalion’s D Battery. “You can’t deny the

thrill of shooting rounds.”

Nicknamed “First Lightning Battalion,”

the unit rolled into the cold muddy training

area in early December and conducted a twoweek live fire exercise designed to prepare

its Soldiers for upcoming missions, primarily a return to Iraq this year. This was also

the first time the entire battalion has fired

From his observation post overlooking the impact area, 2LT John Moriarty, a fire

control officer with 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment, calls in the position of

his targets. Within minutes the target area will be unearthed as a volley of projectiles

rip into the frozen ground.

Smoke billows out of the M109A6 Paladin’s gun muzzle after sending a 155 mm high explosive round on express flight to its

target.

1-7 FA conducts live fire conducts live fire conducts live fire

Story by SGT John Queen

69th ADA Public Affairs

Photo by SGT John Queen

Photo by SGT John Queen
 21

together since before its deployment to Operation Iraqi Freedom II, nearly two years

ago.

“We’ve done individual battery exercises,” said CPT James Starling, the

battalion’s intelligence officer. “But this is

the first time the battalion as a whole has

done a live fire in a long time.”

Starling explained the unit was prepping

for whatever mission may come, whether it’s

a traditional artilleryman’s role or one of the

many other tasks they could be called upon

in support of the Global War on Terrorism.

“We want our Soldiers to be ready to deploy with their guns (Paladins),” he said.

“During OIF II, the unit only deployed with

half its guns. While half the Soldiers served

in firing batteries, the other half (conducted

infantry tactics).”

Much of training the battalion was doing

involved an elaborate force-on-force scenario between two fictitious countries. As

part of this mock conflict they conducted

counter-insurgency operations with the

threat of a high intensity conflict.

According to SSG Chris Windle, a noncommissioned officer with one of the

battalion’s four-man fire support teams, this

scenario was excellent training for them.

Photo by CPL Bertha A. Whipkey

A 1st Battalion, 7th Field Artillery Regiment Soldier fires his M16A2 rifle after expelling all of his .50-caliber machine gun rounds during a combat logistics patrol

at Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 18.

“We could set up in an observation post

any day and shoot artillery,” Windle said as

he looked out over the training area’s frozen

impact area. “But here the maneuver element is moving so we have to move with

them. We’re tracking their forward line of

troops at the same time they’re requesting

fire missions.”

Windle explained that this exercise was

also a great opportunity for each Soldier to

work at honing his individual skills at every

level - such as making sure his equipment

works properly, quickly and accurately acquiring targets, and reading a map with a

protractor.

“We need to make sure everything works

and that we know how to work it,” he said.

PVT Robert Young, one of Windle’s

crewmen, agrees.

“There are a lot of things you need to prep

before you go downrange,” Young said.

“There are things you definitely need to

know in case you do come into a situation –

combat wise. We need to be able to engage

the enemy, suppress the enemy fire and

destroy the enemy.”
 22

Three Soldiers of C Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment move out to a new objective after securing a house during tra
 23

During the mission each Soldier had

safety in mind at all times due to the live

rounds they had in their weapons. PVT

Tyler Fillion, an infantryman with C Co., 1-

18 Inf., who provided cover fire with his 50

caliber machine gun while other 1-18 Inf.

Soldiers cleared a house, was one such

Soldier.

“There were people in the building at

my 11 o’clock so I had to make sure I

concentrated on where I was firing and on

keeping the weapon on safe when I wasn’t

firing,” he said. Other than that, Fillion

said, it was as simple as “get in, get the

hostage and get out.”

Nelson was pleased with the speed and

efficiency in which the 1-18 Inf. Soldiers

conducted the mission. “In my opinion,

they did it very well,” he said. “Once they

dismounted off their M998s, they were on

and off the objective in about 10 minutes,

having completed their mission.”

The 1-18 Inf. Soldiers have conducted

missions similar to this in several different

scenarios in order to become proficient

with different vehicles and weapons

systems.

“We run several iterations on this

objective,” Nelson said. “We run them

through with M2A2 Bradley Fighting

Vehicles so they have core competency of

all their organic equipment including TOW

antitank guns, 25 mm main guns and 7.62

mm coax machine guns. They also execute

a light infantry/dismounted movement,

using their M16A2 and M-4 rifles, and the

M-249 squad automatic weapon.”

Next, Nelson said, the 1-18 Inf. Soldiers

run through the same scenario while

driving their M998 Humvees with M240B

and 50 caliber machine guns mounted on

top, similar to how they would conduct

missions while deployed.

Nelson hopes this mission, and the

added element of realism, will help prepare

the 1-18 Inf. Soldiers for their scheduled

deployment in support of the Global War

on Terrorism.

“When they get to Iraq, or wherever

they might be deployed around the world, it

won’t be the first time they’ve done

something like this,” he said.

While some of the 1-18 Inf. Soldiers

have had experience conducting missions

like this in a combat environment, many of

them are new, lower enlisted Soldiers who

have arrived at the unit over the last three

months.

 Fortunately, Soldiers such as SPC

aining at Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 21, as part of a live-fire exercise. Nathan Maez, a C Co., 1-18 Inf. team

Conducting infantry training is one thing, but

doing it with live rounds in your weapon is

another situation entirely. While Soldiers from

C Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment may

have felt differently training with live rounds at

Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 21, there was no

difference in the efficiency and expertise in which they

conducted their mission.

That mission, according to MAJ Scott Nelson, 1-18

Inf. operations officer, was to react to enemy contact,

which included simulated small arms fire, rocket

propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices,

and develop the situation into a hasty attack, resulting in

the capture of a high-value target and rescue of a

hostage.

Story and photos by SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO
 24

Soldiers from C Company, 1st Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment “stack up” outside of a house during live-fire training at

Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 21. The 1-18 Inf. Soldiers were conducting training on raiding a house and capturing a

high-value enemy target.

leader, have taken it upon themselves

to prepare the new Soldiers for

anything.

Maez said he tries to make sure all

the Soldiers in his team take all the

training seriously because when they

get to a combat zone “it’s not like the

movies.” Maez said it’s important for

him to “exude confidence” at all

times so the other Soldiers will follow

his lead and also have confidence in

themselves and the leadership.

Fillion, who is one of the newer 1-

18 Inf. Soldiers, thinks the training

they have been conducting is paying

off.

“A lot of our platoon is new, but

we’ve become pretty tight since we

started training here at Graf,” he said.

Nelson said the new Soldiers have

been doing a good job of listening to

their leadership and taking the

training seriously.

“They’re taking it very seriously,

and they’ve been very receptive to

their leadership, based on the fact that

in a matter of months, they could be

doing this for real,” he said.

concrete has been laid. These sometimes

indicate a bomb has recently been buried.

According to Maxa, once a route

clearance has been conducted, the road is

classified as “green” for the next two hours.

This lets the support personnel know that

the avenue is “freer of IEDs than one that

hasn’t been cleared,” he said.

Even when a route clearance has been

conducted, there is still no way of knowing

for sure that everything has been

discovered.

“You can never say it’s 100 percent

certain that we found everything,” Maxa

said. But, he added, people traveling down

a road we’ve cleared know there’s a much

better chance of traveling the road safely.

Soldiers from the 1st Infantry Division’s 9th Engineer Battalion search a person

for contraband during the battalion’s route clearance mission in Hohenfels

Training Area, Germany, March 8.

Engineers Engineers, from p , from page 17
 25

Intel Soldiers provide view of battlefield

Story and photo by

SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

While infantry and armor Soldiers

conducted maneuvers and exercises at

Grafenwoehr Training Area in February,

Soldiers from the 101st Military Intelligence

Battalion hoped to lend a hand from Vilseck

with the aid of their Tactical Unmanned

Aerial Vehicles.

A TUAV is an unmanned aircraft

designed to support tactical commanders

with near real-time images and videos of a

battlefield.

“It’s the only imagery intelligence

system a brigade commander has direct

control of,” said CPT Jimmy Gaw, C

Company commander, 101st MI Bn. “He’s

the one who decides where he wants it to

go. It’s the most responsive intelligence

system he has.”

“Our brigade commander wanted to

make sure we flew (the TUAV) in support

of live-fire ranges by providing footage of

the objectives,” Gaw said. “The TUAV is

supposed to provide real-time footage of the

battlefield to the battalion (and brigade

intelligence officers), and enable them to

give intelligence for the situation.”

Unfortunately, harsh weather conditions

prevented the TUAV from taking off on this

particular day.

“When this particular model was fielded,

it came straight from Fort Huachuca, Ariz.,

to Iraq, so this is the first time it’s been used

in a cold environment,” Gaw said.

According to SPC Robert Hartung, C

Co., 101st MI Bn. TUAV maintenance

specialist, the cold conditions can cause

several problems for this model of TUAV.

“It’s not made for extreme cold,” he said.

“The carburetor freezes, and it can’t fly in

a lot of rain because the propeller spins so

fast, even rain can chip it.”

Fortunately, these issues will be a thing

of the past once 101st MI Bn. receives a new

model of TUAV in late March.

“The new model will have significant

upgrades, allowing it to fly in more extreme

weather conditions,” Gaw said. In addition

to that upgrade, Gaw said the new model

will have new capabilities well beyond that

of providing pictures and videos of the

battlefield, thanks to a laser range finder.

Once the TUAV flies over an area, the

laser range finder works by pointing at a

specific object or point and providing very

accurate grid coordinates to the commander.

Despite not being able to fly the TUAV,

Gaw has confidence in his crew of TUAV

operators and maintenance technicians due

to their vast amount of experience.

“Every single one of these Soldiers went

to OIF II,” Gaw said. “We’re the most

experienced TUAV platoon in Europe.”

Hartung is one such Soldier who gained

valuable experience working with TUAVs

in OIF II at Forward Operating Base

Warhorse, Baqubah. “We did about four

flights a day,” he said.

Hartung’s responsibilities as a

maintenance specialist during that time,

according to him, included recovering the

aircraft when it landed and doing everything

from changing spark plugs to replacing the

entire engine.

While they can only hope for the weather

to change in the near future, the 101st MI

Bn. Soldiers still stayed sharp on their

respective jobs by doing simulated runs with

the TUAV and performing all their usual

pre-flight checks and maintenance before

making sure it was running effectively by

putting it on the launcher and running the

engine. They will also continue to attempt

to fly the TUAV every chance they get.

“We’ll try every day,” Gaw said. “It’s a

continuous mission.”

CPL Jonathan Williams and SPC Robert Hartung of the 101st Military Intelligence Battalion perform pre-flight maintenance

checks on a Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at Vilseck Army Airfield Feb. 16.
 26

They say “train like you fight,” and

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 77th Armor

Regiment tried to create an environment

similar to the one they expect to face in Iraq,

aside from the weather, of course. The 1-

77 AR Soldiers conducted tank tables at

Grafenwoehr Training Area Feb. 16, the

final step in preparation for their upcoming

Mission Rehearsal Exercise at the Joint

Multinational Readiness Center in

Hohenfels.

“We developed a six-month training

program of tank tables to get to where we

are today,” said SSG James Meckley, B

Company, 1-77 AR master gunner. “We

started with the first few tank tables in

Schweinfurt and now we’ve been here at

Graf for two weeks finishing up.”

During this exercise, the 1-77 AR

Soldiers tested the abilities of their M1A1

Abrams tanks and the Soldiers operating

them.

According to SSG Kevin Jackson, B Co.,

1-77 AR 3rd Platoon sergeant, the operation

begins with a platoon of tanks getting set in

a defensive position and being briefed by

the commander about the enemy situation.

Once that takes place, the tanks move

forward into contact and are engaged by a

series of pop-up targets – some of which

are friendly.

“The key to fire accuracy is lowering the

amount of collateral damage,” said LTC

Miciotto Johnson, 1-77 AR commander.

“Target discrimination is very important.”

The 1-77 AR Soldiers also learn another

lesson about target discrimination when one

of their targets on the range appears as a

police vehicle. Jackson said this is to

simulate a situation in which an insurgent

has stolen a police vehicle in order to get

closer to them, a situation which has

happened on several occasions in Iraq.

As the 1-77 AR Soldiers continue to

engage their targets, they are also

confronted with a realistic situation if they

miss targets.

“The targets that you don’t hit pop up

and continue to get closer to you,” Jackson

said. “So you don’t want to miss too much,

or you’ll get overrun.”

Despite these small details that make the

range more realistic, it still cannot provide

a perfect picture for the Soldiers of what to

expect in a combat zone, which is why

Soldiers like Meckley are at the range to

share their knowledge and experience.

Meckley, who had previously deployed

as a tank commander, completed master

gunner school and now works with the 1-

77 AR Soldiers in a different capacity.

“I get to work with a lot of different

crews and help with their fire control

systems and assist with some of the

maintenance issues we have,” Meckley said.

One of the issues 1-77 AR Soldiers have

had to work through is their almost 60

percent turnover rate since their last

deployment, which is why Jackson believes

getting the new Soldiers in the right mindset

is one of the most important missions of the

training.

“The key thing if for the young Soldiers

to take this training seriously so when we

deploy, they’ll be ready,” he said.

So far, the new Soldiers have been up to

the task, and Johnson was pleased with what

he had seen from them.

“I think they’re up to the challenge, and

they’re doing a great job,” Johnson said of

the new Soldiers. “When I was out at the

range, I was very impressed by some of the

privates I saw doing the tables.”

 Meckley also believes with the training

1-77 AR has been conducting, they are

being set up for success in future missions.

Story and photo by SPC Joe Alger

Staff writer, 1st ID PAO

M1A1 Abrams tanks from 1st Battalion, 77th Armor Regiment, move to their respective lanes during tank tables at Grafenwoehr

Training Area Feb. 16.

Tankers complete t ankers complete t ankers complete tank tables in Grafenwoehr ables in Grafenwoehr ables in Grafenwoehr
Airborne

 27

The last day of February marked the first time since World War

II that one 1st Infantry Division cavalry unit was without armored

vehicles, moving them closer to being the only airborne

reconnaissance squadron in U.S. Army Europe.

As their last M1A1 Abrams tanks rolled onto the Conn Barracks

railhead in Schweinfurt, Germany, Feb. 28, the 1st Squadron, 4th

U.S. Cavalry Regiment took one step closer to moving from heavy

to light and joining the 173rd Airborne Brigade based at Vicenza,

Italy.

“It’s a big day for this unit to transition away from the track

vehicles and get ready to go airborne,” said CPT Daniel Baldi,

Headquarters and Headquarters Troop commander. “The big,

significant thing is, in line with the Army’s transformation, to get

all of these track vehicles and heavy vehicles out of the squadron.

It really paves the way for us to get ready to accept the new

(Modified Table of Organization and Equipment) and be ready to

take on the new mission.”

More than six months ago, the squadron began to change its

training in anticipation of the impending shift to light

reconnaissance by increasingly focusing on dismounted operations

training for not only the squadron’s scouts, but also the tankers.

“This is a humungous change,” said Baldi. “You go away from

the track vehicles and the huge logistics footprint that comes along

with that. Now with the airborne (characteristic), it’s lighter, it’s

faster, it’s more mobile and easier to deploy. So it’s a complete

change from the standard that we’ve seen over the last few years

with the heavier equipment.”

“I can’t imagine a more complex set of tasks than

what this squadron’s been asked to do,”

said LTC Christopher Kolenda, 1-4

CAV commander.

During the shift in

training, the

squadron

A row of M1A1 Abrams tanks awaits shipment from the Conn Barracks railhead in Schweinfurt, Germany, Feb.28. The tanks

are the final armored vehicles to leave the possession of 1st Squadron, 4th U.S. Cavalry Regiment, which is transitioning

from a heavy to a light airborne reconnaissance squadron.

Story and photo by SPC Stephen Baack

Editor, 1st ID PAO

has had to reconstitute all of its personnel and heavy equipment

from their deployment during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The

unit immediately thereafter managed about 40 percent of the unit’s

redeploying Soldiers for permanent changes of station, while

processing incoming Soldiers. Leadership meanwhile has also been

working to energize their Soldiers to cooperate in changing the

identity and culture of this heavy cavalry unit. Squadron members

have been gearing up for airborne school, working to change the

tactics, techniques and procedures, and even creating new unit songs

and mottos.

“It’s certainly a bitter-sweet day,” said Kolenda. “These (M1A1

Abrams tanks and M3A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles) have been to

Bosnia; they’ve been to Macedonia; they’ve been to Iraq. There’s

a lot of emotional attachment to these vehicles ... so to see them

get on a train and depart, on the one hand it’s a significant emotional

event for all of us; on the other hand, it’s another very important

step to the future as we turn in all of our heavy vehicles.”

 The Soldiers are excited about the transition, said CSM John

Fortune, 1-4 CAV command sergeant major.

“A lot of these 19K tankers have decided they want to jump out

of planes and be light reconnaissance squadron members,” said

Fortune. “We’ve got 17 guys at Fort Knox right now becoming

19D scouts from the Armor force, and they’re all looking forward

to jumping out of planes – that’s for sure.”

“It’s truly a unique opportunity in the Army,” said Kolenda.

“We are on the cutting edge of Army transformation. And you see

a lot of that happening right here. There are a lot of Soldiers very,

very excited about this transformation. The reenlistment rates are

through the roof, and people are really looking forward to the new

mission, to the opportunity to be in an airborne unit and at

the same time maintaining the spirit of the cavalry.”

1-4 CAV squadron transforms

from heavy to light recon unit
1st ID Medal of Honor recipient

PSG Matthew Leonard

Serving as a platoon sergeant in B Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, PSG Leonard and his Soldiers

were attacked Feb. 28, 1967, by a large enemy force. Leonard rallied his men to counter initial enemy assaults,

after which he organized a defensive perimeter and inspired his comrades with forceful leadership and words of

encouragement. Leonard was able to direct the fire of his men and save an injured comrade despite a shattered

left hand. With his platoon threatened by a well-positioned enemy machine gun, he charged the gun and destroyed

the hostile crew despite being hit several times. Leonard continued to engage the enemy until he succumbed to

his many wounds. His fighting spirit, heroic leadership and valiant acts inspired the remaining members of his

platoon to hold back the enemy until assistance arrived.