Unofficial 1st Infantry Division Magazine of Soldiers and Families | www.riley.army.mil

Leadership conference speaks 

to past while planning for future 

— Division’s culinary team serves up winners at competition 

— Big Red One’s brigades share recent undertakings 
 Duty First! April 2011 

|1

Duty First!

The Duty First is an unofficial publication pro-

duced under the provisions of AR 360-1, pub-

lished 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. Circu-

lation is 6,000 per issue, printed monthly. Story 

and photos submissions are welcome and should 

be sent to: 

1st Infantry Division

Public Affairs Office 

ATTN: Editor 

Bldg. 580

RM 313

Fort Riley, KS 66442 

Telephone number

COM 785-239-6821 

 DSN 856-6821 

or visit Duty First online at www.riley.army.mil.

1st Infantry Division Commander

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks

1st Infantry Division CSM

Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne

1st Infantry Division PAO

Lt. Col. Sophie Gainey

Editor

Jordan Chapman

Staff Writer

Stephanie Hoff

Illustrator

Justin Angeles

Photo by SGT. Kevin Parry, 1st division pAO

No Mission too Difficult. No Sacrifice too Great.

April 2011 | www.riley.army.mil

COVER: Four 1st Infantry Division Soldiers 

stand ready to present the colors at the 

formal dinner of Senior Leaders Confer-

ence that was held at the Cantigny Visi-

tors Center on March 7.

C ONTENT S

Departments

Features

Division News

Danger 6

Soldiers forging a path 

to continued success

Cantigny bound

Leaders flock to event 

at Cantigny museum

Cooking up winners

Big Red One culinary 

team tastes victory Danger 7

SMAs continue to act as 

positive role models 

4th IBCT

Soldier talks Kansas Heritage 

with elementary students

3rd IBCT

Task Force Rakkasan transfers 

command to Task Force Duke

2nd HBCT

Fire-range exercises 

sharpening reflexes

1st HBCT

Maintenance unit helps keep 

Iraqi Army rolling forward CAB

Brigade returns from second 

deployment in 5 years

1st SB

G.I. Jane event keeps 

spouses locked and loaded

4th MEB

Army chief of staff praises 

Fort Leonard Wood efforts

75th Fires

“Best By” competition makes 

triumphant return

248

20

18

16

12

26

24

22

TEAMWORK is the foundation of the Big Red One. I shall

never fail my team, for I maintain the standard. My conduct and 

self-discipline set the example for others to follow.

HONOR is what I stand for–an American Soldier on duty

for my country. My loyalty is intense. I display care for

my fellow Soldiers and my chain of command through courage, 

respect, integrity and compassion.

I have learned to ENDURE

, to thrive in adversity. 

The harsh reality of combat gives me the enthusiasm for

realistic training. I am physically and mentally strong to

meet the demanding situations my unit encounters.

We are one in the Big Red One. Our BROTHERHOOD

gives us strength to fight on to any objective and accomplish the 

mission as our veterans have done before us. I live the legacy of my division.

READINESS is my priority. To be ready for any mission,

anytime, anywhere. My business is first-class training and living high 

standards of care and equipment, weaponry and tactical and 

technical competence.

My ORGANIZATION is my strength. The BRO is bigger 

than any one individual. It gives me purpose, self-confidence, 

competitive spirit, intestinal fortitude and the desire to fight 

with all my heart.
The Big Red One, don’t you just 

love it? The pride that swells 

day in and day out as we hear 

about the great things our Soldiers in the 

1st Infantry Division are accomplishing 

on a daily basis is phenomenal.

Whether here at Fort Riley, Fort 

Leonard Wood, Fort Sill, Fort Knox, or 

currently deployed overseas, our men 

and women are in the constant search 

of “Mission Success,” and everyday 

they’re finding it, effectively continuing 

the historic legacy of Victory that our 

division knows so well.

Such consistent victory not only 

swells my own pride, but it shows the 

kind of leadership present in each of 

our units, the kind of leadership that 

can often be found in today’s noncommissioned officer, who illustrates 

consistent professionalism, competence and love for their time-honored 

corps, exemplified by outgoing Sergeant Major of the Army Kenneth 

Preston.

Sworn in as the 13th SMA in 2004, I 

want to personally thank SMA Preston 

for his dedication and leadership that 

every NCO can aspire to. 

During his time spent as the Army 

Chief of Staff personal adviser on all 

enlisted-related matters, particularly in 

areas affecting Soldier training and 

quality of life, we can all see the efforts 

of his labor during his tenure as SMA 

before retiring March 1, making him the 

longest to serve in the position.

With SMA Preston stepping down, I 

want to congratulate and wish the same 

amount of success upon new SMA Raymond Chandler III.

Chandler already has accomplished 

much in his 30 years of service to this 

great nation, one of which was serving 

in a forward position with the Big Red 

One. Such experience further illustrates 

that his leadership qualities will make 

our NCOs on the ground, the backbone 

of the Army, ever stronger.

Chandler is not the first Big Red 

One Soldier to reach the position. 

Known to be the protocol equivalent of 

a three-star lieutenant general, he joins 

former SMA William Wooldridge, who 

led his 1st Inf. Div. troopers in both 

World War II and Vietnam before taking up his position as the first Sergeant 

Major of the Army in July 1966 to August 1968.

SMA William Bainbridge was the 

next BRO alumnus to assume the title 

in July 1975 through June 1979, followed by SMA Glen Morrell in July 

1983, before handing over the position 

in July 1987.

Soldiers, we are doing great things. It 

is clearly illustrated that no matter the 

year, leadership, duty and honor flow 

through the hearts of the men and women serving in the ranks of the 1st Inf. Div. 

Indeed, those three words continue to 

influence those of our ranks, from the junior NCO all the way to the senior enlisted member of the Army, the Sergeant 

Major of the Army.

Keep at it, keep aspiring for daily 

success and lead from the front. 

Now ... get after it!

Soldiers, NCOs and officers of 

the 1st Infantry Division, what 

you do every day is a credit and 

inspiration to the United States Army, 

the Flint Hills Region, the entire state of 

Kansas, and indeed, to America. 

Our successes have been noted 

throughout history and written in the 

halls of victory. To this very day, whether the sun rises on the U.S. flags of Forts 

Riley, Leonard Wood, Sill, and Knox or 

over the heads of our deployed brothers and sisters in Afghanistan or Iraq, 

every success that our great division accomplishes is laid at the feet of Lady 

Victory, and she smiles.

Some of our greatest recent successes are by the aviators of the “Demon” 

brigade who have just returned home 

from a year long deployment, and 1st 

Sustainment Brigade, who are also preparing to come home.

While some celebrate and reunite with 

their families and friends who awaited 

their return, many of our fellow Big Red 

One warriors are heading out the door to 

continue the work of democracy and 

peace. We are certain they will accomplish 

many great things and add to our legacy 

of honor for future generations.

As you flip through these pages, 

you’ll experience what it means to be a 

member of the 1st Inf. Div. 

You’ll find examples from each of our 

brigades, here and abroad, on what they 

do and the missions they take pride in.

We are the Big Red One, remembered throughout history as our Nation’s first and oldest Division; the One 

who leads from the front, and is the first 

to thirst for a fight; as the one who is the 

“toast of the Army, the favorite son”; 

and the One who can be counted on to 

bring success, ever-moving forward 

into where there is simply no other option than victory.

Enjoy the enclosed stories of our division’s successes and know this is just 

a small sample of the great things the 

Big Red One is accomplishing every 

day, with that ever resounding motto in 

our ears and in our hearts.

No Mission Too Difficult, No Sacrifice Too Great ... Duty First!

2| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! April 2011 |3

Commanding General DANGER 6 Command Sergeant Major DANGER 7

Soldiers—Forging the path Leading by example

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne
4| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! April 2011 |5

More than 80 senior leaders of the 1st 

Inf. Div., accompanied by local Fort Riley community leaders, traveled to Chicago, Ill., March 6 to 9 to participate in a 

Senior Leaders’ Conference at the 1st 

Division Museum at Cantigny Park. 

The conference was designed to allow attendees the opportunity to not 

only review the rich history of the division featured in the museum, but also to 

evaluate the recent experiences that occurred during the deployment of the 

division’s headquarters to Iraq that concluded in January. 

“This is ... a remarkable museum, 

and we thought this would be a great 

place for us to come, off site from Fort 

Riley, and reassemble much of the team 

that served together in Iraq, including 

some of our other government agency 

friends and those who’ve already 

changed station to other assignments,” 

said Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div. and 

Fort Riley. “This is history that lives. 

This provides an opportunity to look 

ahead and look backward and capture 

lessons from our recent experiences, 

and then to chart a course for the next 

four to five years for the Big Red One.”

The 1st Division Museum, located on 

500 acres of land known as Cantigny 

Park, features military equipment and 

(continued on page 6)

Big Red One leaders remember 

unit’s past to build for its future

Stories & photos by Stephanie Hoff

AN ARABIAN 

PROVERB STATES, 

“Every day of your 

life is a page of your 

history.” For the Soldiers of the 1st Infantry Division, those 

pages date back nearly 

94 years when the 

division, commonly 

known as the “Big Red 

One,” was formed. 

This [First Division] is history that lives. This provides an 

opportunity to look ahead and look backward and capture 

lessons from our recent experiences, and then to chart a 

course for the next four to five years for the Big Red One”

— Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, 

commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley

Members of the ‘Victory Five’ and former veterans of the 1st Inf. Div. pose for a photo, March 8 at the 1st Division 

Museum at Cantigny in Chicago, Ill. The “Victory Five” participated in the museum’s program, “A Date with History” which features discussions with authors, historians and special guest speakers.
6| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! April 2011 |7

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, joined 

the ranks of an elite group of individuals when he took 

to the podium at the Union League Club of Chicago on 

March 9. 

Brooks served as the guest speaker for the club’s popular morning civic affairs series, Breakfast@65West. 

Launched in 2006, the forums feature top policymakers and expert panels who examine and discuss 

a wide range of policy issues. The club recently has 

featured visits by former President George W. Bush 

and Medal of Honor Recipient, Staff Sgt. Salvatore 

Giunta. 

“The general is known for how brilliant he is as a 

speaker and I’m privileged to hear him talk,” said Art 

Degroat, director of military affairs for Kansas State 

University. “He’s like looking at a good diamond. You 

just keep seeing the different facets of information. It’s 

not redundant; you get different perspectives of what 

he’s telling us about his experience. It’s compelling every single time.” 

Brooks spoke to a packed house of approximately 

200 individuals about the recent deployment of the division’s headquarters. On Feb. 2, 2010, the division’s 

headquarters assumed authority for United States Division-South, Iraq, an area roughly the size of the state 

of Washington that encompasses nine provinces.

“We had a wide array of responsibilities over an 

area that was very large,” Brooks said. “The Big Red 

One as U.S. Division-South was that of a trusted partner and that’s with real validity. We were advise and 

assisting. We had to be a partner to U.S. entities and 

Iraq entities,” he continued, adding that with the start 

of Operation New Dawn, beginning in September 2010, 

the unit was able to physically witness the shift from 

conducting combat operations to their new Iraqi Security Forces advise and assist roles.

 “We saw considerable improvement to security operations, certainly far less violence than what we experienced in our previous deployments there, significantly less,” Brooks said. 

While great strides have been achieved in Iraq, 

Brooks stressed that there are still advances that need 

to be made in the country. Small counter insurgencies 

are still being experienced but are very localized and 

not on a broad spectrum like it had been during previous deployments.

“Our Soldiers never had the opportunity to forget 

that they were in a dangerous place. We were often 

reminded of that by the adversaries of the United 

States and the adversaries of Iraq. Our Soldiers always kept their edge and did remarkably well. We 

saw Iraq move forward; particularly in southern Iraq. 

Some describe that the progress made there is a year 

or so ahead of the rest of the country. In southern Iraq 

there is a brightness, there is a sense of hope that 

things are really starting to get happening and they 

really want to have a relationship with the United 

States.” 

The country of Iraq has experienced a change for the 

better, has established the groundwork for the country 

to continue to move forward and has the prospective 

for a bright future.

“(Iraq) has so much extraordinary potential that it’s 

difficult to describe it,” Brooks said. “We want them to 

be our friends. We’ve committed blood and treasure to 

them; they know that. It’s a remarkable piece of history 

and a remarkable experience to be a part of.” 

Brooks addresses leaders (continued from page 5)

statues honoring the division, as well as 

the former home of the late Col. Robert 

McCormick, who named the facilities 

after a life-defining battle, the Battle of 

Cantigny in France, the first American 

victory during World War I. 

The grounds now house the division’s museum, which features displays 

of every major conflict the Big Red One 

has served in. 

 “Other than Fort Riley, there is no 

other place more important to the Big 

Red One (than Cantigny Park),” said 

Paul Herbert, the museum’s executive 

director. “We’re proud of the great tradition of having military at Cantigny. 

It’s more than a museum—it’s an active, 

live relationship with the museum and 

the Big Red One.”

During their visit to the museum, the 

leaders participated in working groups 

focused on topics including Family concerns during deployments; communication between units serving in theater 

and at home; and partnerships with Fort 

Riley’s local communities. 

“Not everybody was on the same 

page during this last year (when the division’s headquarters deployed). There 

are all these pieces of the puzzle that 

may or may not fall into place. Fort Riley’s influence is far greater than just 

Junction City or just Manhattan or even 

the other surrounding communities,” 

said Ben Bennett, Geary County commissioner. “I think now we have a better 

understanding of why there were some 

communication problems between the 

communities and the fort.”

In keeping with the history of the division the museum honors, the unit’s 

leadership donated several artifacts 

from its recent deployment to the museum, including a flag flown over the 

top of the division headquarters and 

rocket shells the unit recovered after attacks.

The “Victory Five” participated in 

the museum’s program, “A Date with 

History” on the last evening of their 

visit.

Typically featuring discussions with 

authors, historians and special guest 

speakers, the forum featured the division’s top leaders providing personal 

accounts of the deployment and fielding 

questions from those in attendance.

For 12-year-old James Imundo, who 

plans on one day joining the military, 

the chance to listen to the leaders talk 

about the deployment and meet Brooks, 

as well as Brig. Gen. David Petersen, 1st 

Inf. Div.’s deputy commanding generalrear, the experience was one he said he 

will remember for years to come. 

“This has been a great experience for 

him,” said James’ mother, Kim. “Getting 

to talk personally with the generals and 

hearing about their experiences during 

the deployment meant a great deal to 

him.”

Whether it was reviewing nearly 

century-old artifacts or discussing topics that occurred within the past year, 

the division’s senior leaders said they 

took away valuable lessons to help build 

a bigger and brighter future for their 

historic unit. 

“Right now our mission is to reset 

and prepare for our next mission, but 

we’ve just come off a great deployment 

in southern Iraq,” Brooks said. “Every 

deployment, for a unit, is an addition to 

the history that already exists ... to come 

back and renew our friendships and relationships and deposit our piece of history at (the 1st Division Museum); it has 

just been a tremendous experience.”

RIGHT: Brig. Gen. David Petersen, deputy commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div.–rear, poses 

for a picture with 12-year-old James Imundo on 

March 8 at the 1st Division Museum at Cantigny Park, in Chicago Ill. ABOVE: Chaplain (Lt. 

Col.) Timothy Mallard of Division Headquarters 

and Headquarters Co., 1st Inf. Div. speaks to 

spouses at Cantigny Park. More than 80 senior 

leaders of the 1st Inf. Div., accompanied by local Fort Riley community leaders, traveled to 

the museum to participate in a Senior Leaders’ 

Conference at the 1st Division Museum at Cantigny Park. 

Tells elite forum about BRO’s 

recent deployment to Iraq

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Inf. Div. 

and Fort Riley, speaks at the Union League Club of Chicago on 

March 9. Brooks was the guest speaker for the club’s elite program, Breakfast@65West, which features prominent guests who 

discuss a wide range of policy issues. Brooks shared experiences 

during the recent deployment of the division’s headquarters.
8| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! April 2011 |9

Otherwise known as the Field Competition at the 36th Annual Culinary 

Arts Competition held in Fort Lee, Va., 

the 1st Infantry Division chefs tackled 

the challenge by whipping up a panko 

crusted crab cake with red chili mayo 

and a shrimp beignet and tomato salad 

with honey vinaigrette for an appetizer, 

a gumbo stuffed chicken 

breast with quinoa jambalaya, stewed okra and whiskey crawfish sauce for the 

main course and vanilla custard with red velvet, chocolate and white cake puffs, 

chocolate lattice and raspberry sauce for dessert.

Not only was the food accepted with vigor from their 

guests, thanking the Soldiers 

later for the tasteful adventure into the 

south’s finest delights, but each plate 

served was prepared as though coming 

out of the kitchen of the finest restaurant.

No easy feat, these Soldiers know 

what it takes, and they received a silver 

medal for it.

Spc. Bradley Barta and Pfc. Karl 

Houtz handled the entrée, Spc. Deryl 

McDaniel and Spc. Jonathan Rice prepared the desserts and Spc. Adam Berry, 

team captain, took care of the 

appetizers.

Though the three course 

meal was delegated out to 

run more efficiently, teamwork and a crossover of tasks 

was evident as each cook 

could be seen chipping in appetizer, entrée or dessert 

work if their portion of the 

meal had been finished.

The secret to handling the 

chaos of tight quarters and a massive 

amount of food that needs to be aesthetically organized on plates before the scrutiny of judges? The team captain has the 

answer.

“We all want to produce the same 

meal, get it out, but we also want to have 

fun doing it and not get stressed out, not 

panic, not lose our cool or make mistakes,” Berry said, who seemed to be 

Every 10 to 15 minutes Sgt. 1st Class William McGinley, Big 

Red One Fort Riley Culinary team 

manager, would 

stand up, walk over 

to a table holding a 

chainsaw and many 

other ice cutting 

tools, trade out 

safety glasses for a 

pair that weren’t all 

fogged up, wipe his 

face with a paper 

towel and ball his 

hands into fists, effectively wringing his gloves free of 

the ice cold water they so eagerly 

soaked up. He was cold and wet, 

but such is the price of art.

Starting with a nothing more than 

an approximate 300 pound block of 

ice, which immediately began to melt 

in the 60 degree weather, McGinley 

started his sculpture by taking a drill 

and free handing a rough sketch on 

the front of the ice to act as a guide for 

his initial cuts.

The goal, a fish 

swimming past 

three stocks of seaweed.

“Basically what I 

want to do is do 

something with a 

lot of ‘movement’ 

to it,” McGinley 

said, describing 

why he chose the 

fish for this year’s ice sculpting competition.

“With the fish I can make the fins 

curve and wilt over. I want to pick 

something real challenging,” he 

said, hoping a flawless sculpture 

with a high difficulty level could 

earn him a gold medal.

Not everyone has the vision to 

see a block of ice and make it into 

something pleasing to the eye. For 

those that can, there are many ways 

to go about it.

One way is to take paper that has 

the design on it and place it on the 

front of the ice to give guidelines for 

the initial cuts, a technique McGinley didn’t employ this time, but 

could be seen used by others.

 “Since I have done this (sculpture) before, I just free hand drew it. 

Then what you want to do is take 

your chainsaw and take your big 

pieces of ice out of the way so you 

can get to where you can actually 

start carving and shaping (the ice),” 

he explained.

Each competitor had three hours 

to complete their sculpture, but 

McGinley noted afterward he usually finished his sculpture within 

about two hours.

The left over time was needed in 

this event, as not everything went 

completely to plan. The warm weather caused the ice to melt quicker than 

it normally does this time of year in 

Kansas and, hence, not hold together 

as well as it should.

Toward the end of the sculpting 

process, a piece of seaweed behind 

the fish was jarred loose, which 

McGinley tried to mend, but which 

later fell again, taking off the tail of 

the fish.

 “I was making my tail really thin 

and was putting some movement in 

it when it broke,” McGinley said. 

Every good artist can fix his work 

when disaster strikes, though.

 “I had to improvise, had to use 

some CPR to get it going again," he 

laughed. "The sculpture has some seaweed coming up behind it so I just 

turned that (seaweed) into the tail that 

fell off. It kind of looked like the tail 

was curling around (the back),” he described. “It was super fun for me.”

McGinley received a bronze 

medal for his creation.

THE SMELLS OF SUCCESS HAD A MARDI GRAS

flavor to it March 7, wafting out of an army containerized kitchen housing five of the Big Red One Fort 

Riley Culinary Team’s Soldiers, cooking away as 

they prepared a three course meal for 80 while the 

remaining team members prepared the tables, coordinated their serving plan and generally, had fun.

Beauty is in ‘ice’ of the beholder

Big Red One culinary manager carves out a bronze

Big Red One culinary team takes silver in Field Competition

Stories & photos by Jordan Chapman

(continued on page 10)

FROM LEFT: Spc. Deryl McDaniel helps put on the finishing touches to a batch of gumbo-stuffed chicken breasts; Spc. Bradley Barta cooks up his 

best work; and Spc. Adam Berry prepares his appetizer, all during the Field Competition on March 7 during the 36th Annual Culinary Arts Competition held in Fort Lee, Va., Feb. 26 to March 11. OPPOSITE PAGE: Sgt. 1st Class William McGinley, Big Red One Fort Riley Culinary Team manager, 

continues to work on his fish and seaweed design during the ice sculpting competition March 6.
10| www.riley.army.mil

 Duty First! April 2011 |11

The five Soldiers making up the Big Red One Fort Riley Culinary 

team’s Student Skills group had 

only been practicing together for 

about a month, but that didn’t stop 

them from taking home the gold at 

the largest culinary competition in 

the United States on March 6.

An event within the 36th Annual 

Culinary Arts Competition reserved 

for junior team members and apprentices of an E-5 rank and below, 

the Student Skills competition consists of two phases that tests the basic culinary skills and abilities of 

participants while challenging them 

to complete a four course meal.

Spc. Bradley Barta, team captain, 

Sgt. Akos Szimandel, Spc. Susan Hohensee, Pfc. Karl Houtz and Pfc. Martha Cobble were more than up for the 

challenge. They completed an 80 minute relay-style event where each team 

member had to race against time in 

completing a randomly drawn task, to 

include meat butchery, fish filleting, 

classic vegetable knife cuts and pastry 

techniques.

They were then tasked with preparing and serving a four course 

meal within 90 minutes in a kitchen 

that was, more or less, standing 

room only.

The cramped quarters didn’t stop 

them. Instead, with “Big Red One” 

style, they overcame and used the 

disadvantage to pull together ever 

closer. 

Houtz joked that it helped communication. “You didn’t have to talk 

very loud to be heard,” he laughed. 

“It’s very small. We were bumping in 

to each other but stress levels didn’t 

shoot up too high. We all kept our 

cool and the teamwork was great.”

“I think we did awesome,” Houtz 

continued, echoed later by Barta who 

felt they did everything correctly.

“We took a team who hadn’t 

been together very long and not had 

a lot of time to practice and we 

worked together in some way that 

I’ve never seen before,” he said, 

clearly still running high on adrenaline after his 

team was announced as a 

gold medal finisher.

Though the 

work inside the 

kitchen was 100 

percent skill, 

Barta felt their 

team got lucky 

when the time 

came for each team member to randomly draw which skills task they 

would be working with: meat, fish, 

vegetable or pastries.

“Everyone drew their strongest 

point ... and that just set the tone for 

the rest of the competition,” he said, 

noting that he drew the pastries 

card, Szimandel was tasked with 

fish filleting, Hohensee took on the 

meat butchery and Houtz faced the 

classic, though reportedly dreaded, 

vegetable knife cuts.

“It’s a miracle,” Barta said smiling. “We did great.”

Everyone was ecstatic about the 

win, but education is still at the heart 

of the competition, something that 

wasn’t short on hand with professional judges circling the tables, sometimes 

seen offering tips and pointers to the 

many Soldiers laboring behind the 

counters.

“Throughout the entire culinary 

world you always need your 

specific skills,” Hohensee 

said, describing the skills 

tested within the Student 

Skills competition as areas in 

the cooking world that a 

good chef will always need to 

have mastered.

These men and women wear white coats, spend countless hours working beneath the lights paying attention 

to every single detail of their subject 

matter. Their hands are steady and their 

purpose clear, they’re the Soldiers of the 

Big Red One Fort Riley Culinary Team, 

taking their talent to the 36th Annual 

Culinary Arts Competition held at Fort 

Lee, Va., Feb. 26 to March 11.

The nine Soldiers making up the 1st 

Infantry Division team spent March 4 

and 5 putting together their “Wizard of 

Oz” themed table display for the competition. They aren’t doctors, but considering their attire and their attention 

to detail, perhaps they should be.

Complete with Hors d’ Oeuvres, six 

appetizers, a meat platter, a five-course 

meal, a seafood platter, six desserts, petit flors and an “Oz” themed edible creation centering each display within the 

whole table display, there isn’t much 

question why many visitors to the Fort 

Lee Post Field house lingered around 

the 1st Inf. Div. table.

“Fort Riley really brought it this 

year,” one passing gentlemen stated to 

his colleague, while another bent down 

to a plate to get a closer look at Pfc. Martha Cobble’s intricately designed chocolate covered cherries.

“I think the table was spectacular, I 

was really impressed,” stated CW5 David Longstaff, competition judge. 

“Sometimes a sleeper comes along and 

when you see it, it’s impressive,” he 

continued, explaining the different aspects the judges need to look into to accurately judge a table.

“As a table as a whole, we look to see 

if they are in compliance with the rules. 

Did they understand what the competition is all about ... once we determine 

that, we look at technique. Is it food you 

want to eat,” he asked, saying they then 

look to see if the food was prepared correctly and if it was displayed correctly. 

Taking the time to prepare the food 

and set up the display correctly was 

key.

“We started yesterday morning 

(March 4),” said Sgt. 1st Class William 

McGinley, team manager, the morning 

of March 5. “When we had our demo at 

Fort Riley (Feb. 17) we had all the way 

up to 11:30 a.m. when everyone arrived, 

so we had a lot more time then. Here, 

we had to start moving things over at 

four in the morning,” he explained. “By 

6:30 (a.m.), we were done.”

The night was long, and teammates 

came in to see how they placed, congratulating each other with high-fives and 

tired smiles before retreating back to 

their hotels for a few hours rest. “It was a 

long night,” McGinley said, explaining 

that most of the night was spent in their 

own private kitchen, provided to each of 

the 20 teams during the competition.

Half the challenge is getting the food 

moved over to the field house without it 

falling apart.

“The petit flors, it’s really hard because those are super delicate. We try to 

carry (everything) into a van and slowly 

drive it over. Any little bump could 

break any piece of that,” McGinley said, 

noting they made a lot of extra pieces to 

plan for such mishaps.

One area that did cause some trouble 

was the mirror underneath the meat 

platter.

“That got shaken up on the way here 

and slid ... and smudged the mirror. We 

had to take everything off, clean the 

mirror and put everything back on,” he 

said.

The trouble was worth the pay off. 

Every Soldier but one walked away 

from the table with a medal.

Cobble came away with a Gold medal for her work on the petit flors, small 

desserts that must all look the same, 

later taking home the Best in Show trophy for her tiny creations. 

“It’s like a dessert shrunk down,” she 

said. “The difficulty level, oh my, getting 

everything to look exactly the same, they 

all have to be a mirror of each other,” she 

stated, exasperated and excited. 

“In the beginning, it took me one 

week just to do one. So last night, I was 

struggling to get all of them done, but 

I got it together,” she continued, grateful to her team for all their support and 

advice throughout training and the 

competition.

(continued from page 9)

everywhere at once, but admittedly, in his 

element.

“I love to multitask. If I’m standing 

around, I feel like I’m not doing anything. 

So that’s how I’ve always been in the kitchen, it’s been a really good experience,” he 

said, explaining they had four hours to prepare the meal.

“Four hours is not a lot of time, espec i a l l y w i t h 

this quantity 

of people,” 

Berry continued, noting 

that the cont a i n e r i z e d 

k i t c h e n ’ s 

equipment is 

different than 

what they’re 

used to. With 

the pots and pans being more robust in 

nature, the heating and cooking time 

can be extended. 

“It’s an art, it’s backwards planning,” 

Barta said in regards to making sure the 

meal is finished at the right time.

The team’s demonstration meal, a replica of the competition dish served to 1st Infantry Division Leaders Feb. 17, helped in 

that respect.

“The demo showed us what we were 

getting ourselves into,” Rice said. “Eighty 

people is totally different than 20, so we 

knew what we were heading for,” he continued, wishing that it wasn’t just special 

events that they are allowed to cook like 

this for Soldiers. “A meal like this is possible any time.”

The culinary team found that at the end 

of every competition day there was some 

reason for celebration. On the evening of 

March 7, it was the Field Competition Team 

that could rest easy.

“All of our team worked together as 

they should have been and we did a great 

job ... if any of us had a free moment they 

would help someone that was struggling 

or needed something done, that’s kind of 

how we work. We’re very good at that. 

We don’t have to be told what to do, we 

just do it,” Berry said. “I’m very proud of 

the team.”

Division takes gold 

in student team skills Sgt. 1st Class William McGinley – 1 Gold, 2 Bronze

Sgt. Akos Szimandel – 1 Gold, 1 Silver

Spc. Susan Hohensee – 1 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze

Spc. Bradley Barta – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze

Spc. Adam Berry – 1 Silver, 2 Bronze

Spc. Deryl McDaniel – 3 Bronze, 1 Silver

Spc. Jonathan Rice – 3 Bronze, 1 Silver

Pfc. Martha Cobble – 2 Gold and Best in Show Trophy 

(Petit Flors)

Pfc. Karl Houtz – 1 Gold, 1 Bronze, 1 Silver

OPPOSITE PAGE: From left, Pfc.Martha Cobble, Pfc. Karl Houtz, Sgt. Akos Szimandel, Spc. 

Susan Hohensee and Spc. Bradley Barta, pose 

before the start of the Student Skills team 

competition March 6 at the 36th Annual Culinary Arts Competition held at Fort Lee, Va. 

ABOVE: A portion of Spc. Jonathan Rice’s meat 

platter sits on display during the Big Red One 

Fort Riley Culinary team’s table display.

fort riley culinary 

arts team medals

Culinary team sets a 

medal-winning table 
Pfc. Alyxandra McChesney

1st AATF PAO

KIRKUK, Iraq—Iraqi noncommissioned officers and warrant officers 

issued commands as their mechanics worked to change the tire on an 

armored Humvee at Kirkuk Iraqi Military Base on Jan. 20.

Soldiers of Company A, 101st Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, supervised the 

training of the Iraqi mechanics as part of U.S. forces’ mission to advise, train and assist Iraqi Army units in support of Operation New 

Dawn.

“The objective of the training is 

to allow the 12th Iraqi Army Division to become self-sustaining 

when it comes to logistics and 

maintenance,” said Maj. Edward 

Huddleston, operations officer, 

101st BSB, 101st AATF. 

“The 12th Iraqi Army Division’s logistics and transportation units have come a long way 

in just the few months that we’ve been advising them,” said Huddleston, a Springfield, Ill. native. “Already they are recovering 

vehicles on their own when they break down. They used to just 

wait for us to help them, now they do it themselves.”

(continued on page 14)

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Maintenance unit trains Iraqi mechanics to help keep 

12th Iraqi Army Division a self-sustaining force 

Courtesy photo

U.S. Soldiers of 1st AATF taught Iraqi soldiers, like the soldier shown above, to maintain their vehicles and equipment as part of an ongoing effort by 101st BSB to improve 12th Iraq Army Division’s logistics and maintenance capabilities. Soldiers of 101st BSB regularly support the Security Transition Team Soldiers providing additional resources and subject matter experts to assist 

the Soldiers of the Iraqi logistics battalion.

The 12th Iraqi Army Division’s logistics 

and transportation units have come a 

long way in just the few months that 

we’ve been advising them.”

— Maj. Edward Huddleston, operations officer

101st BSB, 101st AATF 
(continued from page 13)

U.S. Soldiers of 1st AATF taught 

Iraqi soldiers to maintain their vehicles and equipment as part of an ongoing effort by 101st BSB to improve 

12th IA Div.’s logistics and maintenance capabilities.

Soldiers of 101st BSB regularly support the Security Transition Team Soldiers providing additional resources 

and subject matter experts to assist the 

Soldiers of the Iraqi logistics battalion.

Iraqi mechanics watched and 

learned as senior Iraqi NCOs and warrant officers showed the proper way to 

change fuel filters and half-shaft bolts 

on a drive shaft of a Humvee’s front 

differential.

According to the U.S. advisory team, 

Maj. Hashen, commander, Iraqi Maintenance Company, 49th Brigade, 12th 

IA Div., transformed the unit into a cohesive and effective support element.

“Maj. Hashen has done really great 

things with this company, and I’m excited every day to work with him,” said 

Staff Sgt. Zebulon Dannar, a member of 

the 12th STT advisory team. “His leadership reflects in the attitude of this 

company’s soldiers.”

The Iraqi soldiers are proud of their 

unit and perform for their commander, 

said Dannar, who hails from Chadron, 

Neb.

Hashen supervised the training as 

the commander, putting his NCOs and 

warrant officers in charge of teaching 

mechanics specific tasks.

“A good unit must empower its NCO 

and its warrant officers,” Hashen said. 

“Having worked with the American 

forces in 2005 and 2007, I see this as a 

great strength of (the U.S.) Army,” he 

said. “Before in the Iraqi Army, too 

much was centered on the officers—

giving the NCOs and warrant officers 

more training and more authority is 

something that we have adopted from 

the Americans.” 

In addition to supervising the training, Hashen said he would like the advisory team to provide tactical training 

for the maintenance company support 

teams.

“I am very grateful for the training 

and support that the Americans have 

given us here,” Hashen said. “We will 

do whatever we have to do to accomplish the mission.”

“In the past we would have a flat 

tire and no jack to lift the vehicle. So 

we would pile rocks under the axle 

and dig a hole deep enough under the 

wheel to remove it,” Hashen said. 

“Now, with American help, we have 

more resources and training and our 

job is easier—but we will still do everything in our power to keep our vehicles operational.”

14| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! April 2011 |15

Spc. Kandi Huggins

1st AATF PAO

CONTINGENCY OPERATING SITE WARRIOR, Iraq—The 

12th Iraqi Army Division, under the command of staff Brig. 

Gen. Sameer Abdul Kareen, hosted a partnership luncheon 

with the “Devil” Brigade, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 

1st Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan.,at the 12th Iraqi 

Army Division Headquarters.

The luncheon provided an opportunity for the two units 

to strengthen the relationship built between the 12th IA Div.

and its partner American unit. 

From a historical perspective, the units’partnership is 

somewhat ironic. 

The 12th IA Div. is the newest division in the Iraqi Army; 

while the Devil Brigade is the oldest continually active unit 

in the U.S. Army.

Col. Eric Welsh, commander, 1st AATF, 1st Inf. Div., concluded the luncheon by presenting Sameer and his staff with 

brigade coins.

Welsh used the opportunity as a chance to explain the history of the Army’s oldest brigade.

“While this is just a piece of metal that can be made by 

anyone, the significance of this coin is what is important,” 

said Welsh. “This signifies the Devil Brigade as being the 

Army’s oldest continually active unit—and a unit that has 

never retreated from any challenge in its long history.”

He explained the Devil Brigade earned its namesake in 

the trenches of World War I, when German soldiers witnessed the brigade’s continuous attacks despite being hit 

with poison gas, artillery and machinegun fire. 

The Germans believed that only devils could survive in 

such an environment as the American Soldiers continued to 

advance. Upon hearing this the brigade soon adopted the 

moniker for its own as a source of pride. 

“Today,” said Welsh, “both Americans and Iraqis have 

endured sacrifices to uphold the freedoms we believe in, and 

I present this to you as a small token of the sacrifices your 

people have endured.”

“There is no mission too difficult, and there is no sacrifice 

too great,” concluded Welsh, referencing the motto of the 1st 

Inf. Div.

In addition to the luncheon providing a chance to talk 

about unit history, the event also gave both staffs the opportunity to meet each other and discuss ways to improve 

their respective units. 

“I think this is a great opportunity to meet in an informal 

setting and exchange ideas about how to be better staff officers,” said Maj. Danny Cazier, who advises the Iraqi public relations and information operations officers of the 12th 

IA Div. 

“Sometimes the best ideas don’t get talked about inside an 

office,” he said. “Often it’s when we are sitting down at lunch 

or drinking chai.”

A meeting of new, old 

‘Devil’ Brigade, Iraqi army 

forming sound partnership

Spc. Kandi Huggins, 1st AATF PAO, 1st Inf. Div., USD-N

TOP: Col. Eric Welsh, commander, 1st Advise and Assist Task Force, 1st 

Infantry Division, from Fort Riley, Kan., presents staff Brig. Gen.Sameer 

Abdul Kareen, commander of the 12th Iraqi Army Division, with a “Devil” 

Brigade coin after a luncheon between the two staffs at the 12th IA Div. 

Headquarters, Kirkuk, Iraq. ABOVE: Staff Brig. Gen. Sameer Abdul Kareen, left, hosts a luncheon for the command and staff of 1st Advise and 

Assist Task Force, 1st Infantry Division, at the 12th Iraqi Army Division 

Headquarters, Kirkuk, Iraq.

Courtesy photo

Iraqi mechanics watched and learned as senior Iraqi NCOs and warrant officers showed the proper way to change fuel filters and half-shaft bolts 

on a drive shaft of a Humvee’s front differential.
By Sgt. Michallie K. Harrison

2nd AAB PAO

BAGHDAD—Soldiers with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 

1st Infantry Division, United States Division—Center conducted reflexive fire training with their 

M-4 and M-16 rifles and M-9 pistols at Caughman Range at Camp Liberty, Iraq. 

The Soldiers followed zeroing their weapons with the reflexive fire portion of the range. A 

reflexive fire range is different than a typical qualification range, in that Soldiers are taught to 

quickly engage close-range targets to prepare properly for close-quarters battle in an urban en-

vironment. The Soldiers also practiced changing weapon magazines and transitioning from rifle 

to pistol. 

“During reflexive fire I learned to (acquire) my target in minimal time,” said Pfc. Patrick Smith, 

a signal support systems specialist with STB, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div. and a Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 

native. “Quick reactions are essential in (combat) and this exercise gave me practice.” 

 For many of the STB Soldiers, this was their first time participating in a reflexive fire in theater, 

and for others, their first time firing an M-9. 

“I had a great time at the range,” said Pfc. Darrick Jones, a signal support systems specialist 

with STB, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div. and a Newport News, Va., native. “Shooting the M-9 was my fa-

vorite part because it was a new experience.” 

Soldiers also practiced distinguishing hostile targets from friendly personnel by utilizing vari-

ous shapes and colors on the targets. For each round, 1st Sgt. David Rieckmann, first sergeant of 

Company B, STB, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div. and a White Bluff, Tenn., native, called out Soldiers to 

their targets and gave the Soldiers approximately five seconds to raise their weapon and fire.

“The rationale for the Army conducting these types of ranges is to transform Soldiers into ad-

vanced marksmen and to raise proficiency and confidence in (their) marksmanship (abilities),” 

said 1st Lt. Billy Murphy, executive officer of Company B, STB, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div. and the 

range officer-in-charge. “This range was a welcome change of pace from the usual zero and quali-

fication range.”

16| Duty First! April 2011 |17

‘Griffin’ Battalion Soldiers conduct reflexive 

fire range to enhance urban combat abilities Pfc. Darrick Jones, 2nd AAB, 1st Inf. Div., U

SD-C

FROM TOP: Spc. Shakida Boddy,left, a supply specialist with Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Bri-

gade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center and a Columbus, Ga., native, acquires a target during 

a reflexive fire at Camp Liberty, Iraq; Soldiers with Company B, Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist 

Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division – Center participate in a reflexive fire range; Soldiers with 

Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, United States Division– Center 

acquire targets before firing their M-9 pistols.

AROUNDTHEDIVISION
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By Maj. Travis Dettmer

3rd IBCT PAO

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Shortly before 

deploying to Afghanistan, leaders 

with the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat 

Team, 1st Infantry Division, met Dec. 

12 with Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, vice 

chief of staff of the Army, during a 

video teleconference at Skidgel Hall, 

Fort Knox.

The meeting addressed two common modern-day battlefield injuries—

traumatic brain injury and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

PTSD and TBI are the signature 

wounds of this war, Chiarelli said, adding that 65 percent of all battlefield injuries fall into these two categories. 

Although the number of Soldiers 

seeking medical treatment for these 

wounds has increased in recent years, 

Chiarelli said some Soldiers have been 

reluctant to report their injuries out of 

fear of being “pulled from the fight” or 

being viewed as weak. 

“It is absolutely critical to eliminate 

the longstanding stigma of seeking help 

for these types of wounds,” said 

Chiarelli, who also said reporting these 

injuries will not only help the individual Soldier prevent compounding the effects of these wounds, but also preserve 

combat power on the battlefield. 

According to Chiarelli, new battlefield protocols developed to deal with 

TBI and PTSD allow most Soldiers to 

receive treatment on their forward operating bases rather than be evacuated 

to Germany or the United States to be 

treated, which was a common practice 

until recently.

For example, Soldiers exposed to an 

improvised explosive device detonation or traumatic events are evaluated 

by base medical staff immediately upon 

returning to the FOB to check for signs 

of a concussion and other non-visible 

injuries.

Those Soldiers suffering from possible concussions are prevented from 

conducting more missions for at least 

24 hours and could be subject to further 

evaluation, depending on the severity 

of their symptoms. Taking these measures helps avoid the compounding effects that multiple concussions can have 

in a short period—effects that can increase the likelihood of lasting TBI in 

Soldiers. 

When it comes to preventing PTSD, 

Soldiers are offered virtual treatment 

networks to help deal with the non-visible effects of traumatic events. Soldiers 

deal with these potential issues immediately in theater instead of waiting until they begin to exhibit signs several 

months, or even years, later. 

“The majority (of Soldiers) are recovering down range,” said Chiarelli, 

who also stressed treating problems 

associated with TBI and PTSD is only 

possible when Soldiers who recognize 

the signs seek help and take proactive 

measures.

Chiarelli also called on commanders 

to recognize that Soldiers with combat 

injuries like TBI deserve the Purple 

Heart. 

“The fact is, if the Soldier meets the 

standards of the regulation, they are entitled to (the Purple Heart),” Chiarelli 

said, adding there are still commanders 

who are reluctant to put Soldiers in for 

a Purple Heart for lack of physical evidence of the injury. 

“You don’t have that choice,” 

Chiarelli said.

In closing, Chiarelli addressed the 

Dukes directly and charged them to 

“look out for one another and help 

those who exhibit the signs of TBI and 

PTSD.” He also said it is important for 

Family members to recognize the signs 

as well and take measures to help their 

Soldier.

“(It’s) all about the stigma. If Families feel they can help identify the problem ... we will turn the corner on this,” 

Chiarelli said. 

By Staff Sgt. Ben K. Navratil 

3rd IBCT PAO

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan—The 3rd Brigade Combat 

Team, 101st Airborne Division, Task 

Force Rakkasan, handed over command of the Khowst and Paktya 

provinces to the 3rd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, 

Task Force Duke, from Fort Knox, 

Ky., during a Jan. 30 transfer of authority ceremony at in the Khowst 

Province.

Task Force Rakkasan also cased 

its colors in preparation for its return 

to its home base at Fort Campbell, 

Ky., while the 3rd IBCT, 1st Inf. Div., 

uncased its own.

The ceremony was attended by 

Task Force Duke and Rakkasan Soldiers; Brig. Gen. Stephen Townsend, 

deputy commanding general of 

Combined Joint Task Force-101; 

Abdul Jabbar Naeemi, Khowst governor; and several members of the 

Afghan national security forces. 

The outgoing Rakkasans wore 

Army Combat Uniforms, while the 

Duke Soldiers wore the newer 

multi-camouflage uniforms.

“The hard work, the sacrifice, the 

blood of the ANSF and coalition 

partners have helped meet the conditions for stability in the region,” 

Naeemi said, “and the enemy forces 

can no longer move freely.”

Rakkasan commander U.S. Army 

Col. Viet X. Luong, Fort Campbell, 

Ky., emphasized the progress made 

during his unit’s rotation.

“During the early moments of 

this rotation, the Taliban was winning in our provinces,” he said. 

“But this summer, our combined 

actions started to produce remarkable results. We began to take many 

enemies out of the fight. The security conditions improved, and we 

began turning the tide against the 

Taliban.”

Speaking in both English and Pashto, U.S. Army Col. Christopher 

Toner, commander of Task Force 

Duke and a native of Topeka, Kan., 

thanked the Rakkasans for their service and sacrifices and pledged his 

assistance to the ANSF.

“Our brothers in the ANSF, we 

embrace you with a spirit of mutual 

respect and cooperation,” he said. 

“We are here now to continue the 

support the Rakkasans have given 

you over the past 12 months.”

As the ceremony drew to a close, 

Toner promised he and his Soldiers 

would help the Afghan people in 

their fight for their country.

“The Soldiers of the Duke Brigade 

are committed to using everything in 

their power to build Afghan capacity 

for providing security and stability 

to the region,” he said.

Performance

a command

LEFT: U.S. Army Col. Viet Luong, commander of the 3rd BCT, 101st Airborne Div., and a resident of Fort Campbell, Ky., left, and 

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Gregory Patton, a resident of Fort Campbell, Ky., right, case their brigade colors during a transfer 

of authority ceremony held in Khowst Province, Afghanisan. RIGHT: U.S. Army Col. Christopher Toner, a Topeka, Kan., native 

and commander of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, speaks at a Transfer of Authority ceremony held at 

Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan. TF Duke, based out of Fort Knox, Ky., will be operating in eastern Afghanistan 

for the next year.

Task Force Rakkasan hands over command to Task Force Duke

Maj. Travis Dettmer, 3rd IBCT

Soldiers with the 3rd IBCT, 1st Inf. Div., listen as Gen. Peter W. Chiarelli, vice chief of staff of the 

Army, talks to them via video teleconference about new battlefield protocols instituted for mitigating the effects of TBI and PTSD on deployed Soldiers. According to Chiarelli, these protocols 

are preserving combat power by allowing the majority of Soldiers who experience battlefield 

events common among sufferers of TBI and PTSD to “recover down range,” instead of being evacuated to Germany or the United States for treatment. 

Army’s Vice Chief talks TBI, PTSD

Chiarelli: Critical 

to eliminate stigma 

associated with disorders Sgt. Benjamin Navratil, U.S. Army staff

Spc. Tobey White, 3rd IBCT
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4th IBCT PAO

FORT RILEY, Kan.—The spouses and loved ones of deployed Soldiers received tips on how to overcome the 

stresses of deployment during the fourth annual Women’s 

Conference held at Riley’s Conference Center Jan. 28.

The conference “is a good way to empower and inform 

the women of Fort Riley,” said Kaitlin Krebs, wife of 1st Lt. 

Kyle Krebs, the executive officer of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division. “I also feel that it’s a safe 

place because there are other women around who have 

been through what 

you are going 

through to share 

your concerns.”

During the conference, the women 

asked questions to a 

panel of spouses 

about common concerns and received 

advice they could 

use in the future. 

“To me, (the conference) is kind of a 

spouse’s form of 

C o m p r e h e n s i v e 

Soldier Fitness,” 

said Kelly Kreis, the 

wife of Lt. Col. Paul 

Kreis, the deputy commander for the Dragon brigade. 

“It’s about knowing what’s out there for you,” Kreis 

added. “It’s going to date me, but I flash back to the 70s 

cartoons ‘Knowledge is power’ but that’s what it is. It's 

knowledge of the programs and services out there that help 

you become more resilient.”

The fourth-annual Women’s Conference provided the 

women knowledge and information about the resources 

and agencies available to them on post and in the surrounding communities during deployments and reintegration. 

The conference also offered a series of classes that were 

geared toward making a physical fitness routine and starting and maintaining a successful relationship during deployment. It also gave ways to maintain a positive outlook 

during that stressful time.

The conference “helps provide some insight, observation and personal experiences to our spouses,” said Col. 

Joseph D. Wawro, the Dragon brigade commander, “which 

will then help them cope, provide better understanding, 

build resiliency and make them stronger.” 

Women get tips on maintaining 

resiliency during deployments

Sgt. Gene Arnold, 4th IBCT PAO

Kelly Kreis, the wife of Lt. Col. Paul Kreis, the 

deputy commander of the 4th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, shares different ways to communicate with a loved one 

during deployment in a “Tips to Triumph and 

Grow during Deployment” class of Fort Riley’s 

fourth-annual Women’s Conference held at 

Riley’s Conference Center. 

Sgt. Gene Arnold, 4th IBCT PAO

LEFT: Capt. Jeremy White, logistics officer for 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, talks to students at Garfield Elementary School in 

Clay Center, Kan., about the Army’s presence in Kansas during the 

school’s Kansas Heritage Day. ABOVE: White describes the embellishments on his Stetson for the children at Garfield Elementary 

School.

By Sgt. Gene Arnold

4th IBCT PAO

CLAY CENTER, Kan.—In honor of the 150th year that Kansas has been a state, Garfield Elementary School in Clay Center, Kan., held a Kansas Heritage Day celebration. 

Capt. Jeremy White, a logistical officer with Headquarters 

and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, gave the students a presentation of the military’s history 

in Kansas.

“I felt pretty honored when (I was told) that (the school) 

needed someone to come here; so, I volunteered to go,” 

White said.

During White’s slide show presentation, he told stories of 

how cavalry Soldiers wore their uniform, and showed the 

students props such as a replica sword, riding boots, ammunition belt with sword hook, a uniform with Stetson and 

gauntlet gloves. He also gave a brief history on the purpose of 

Fort Riley and the Big Red One. 

“Kansas Heritage Day is something that we’ve been 

doing to celebrate our state’s birthday,” said Connie Frigon, a fourth-grade teacher at Garfield Elementary School. 

“This is a way that we can celebrate and learn about our 

past and appreciate our heritage.”

Fort Riley has been an intricate part of the surrounding 

communities for many years. This event is one of many 

that will help foster positive community relations needed 

to make an unbreakable bond.

“We have a lot of students in this building whose parents are deployed,” said Beth Catlin, a fourth-grade teacher 

Military history subject for day 

at Garfield Elementary School. “I think it’s very reassuring 

for them to know that their parents are being supported 

even though they are not here.”

“Getting in touch with the kids is really important,” 

White said. “It establishes a good foundation and trust. 

So, when they grow older and want to join the military 

they saw someone that showed them a good example.”

In addition, the students were able to experience a wide variety of examples of what life would have been like as a child 

150 years ago. The students were given a presentation about 

Native Americans present in Kansas during the Indian Wars, 

held a make-believe campfire and sang “Home on the Range.” 

They also learned about different instruments, made homemade bread from scratch, hand-churned butter and made 

home remedies used before the creation of antibiotics.

Dragon Brigade 

Soldier talks 

Kansas Heritage 

with students 
By Spc. Roland Hale

CAB PAO

CAMP TAJI, Iraq—The Army’s last 

active-duty aviation brigade in Iraq is 

heading home after a yearlong deployment in support of operations 

Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. 

The enhanced Combat Aviation 

Brigade, 1st Infantry Division deployed from Fort Riley, Kan., last 

March, and quickly became a key 

player in U.S. Forces-Iraq’s mission. 

When it first arrived, the unit was 

one of four aviation brigades in Iraq. 

Over the course of the deployment, 

however, it assumed responsibility 

for all Army aviation operations in 

the country. It is now the Army’s only 

aviation brigade in Iraq—bolstered to 

meet that charge with increased numbers of troops and aircraft.

With about 4,000 troops and more 

than 200 helicopters, the brigade is 

double the size of a normal aviation 

brigade. The increased numbers make 

it the Army’s first and only enhanced 

aviation brigade.

The brigade has made good use of 

every aircraft. It leaves Iraq having 

flown about 125,000 hours in support 

of USF-I’s mission.

“The statistics are an indication of 

what we’ve done to support the mission,” said Col. Frank Muth, the brigade’s commander. “What’s behind 

the numbers are the hundreds more 

hours that Soldiers are turning 

wrenches to make the aircraft fly, supporting the mission.”

The brigade’s primary mission is the 

support of U.S. ground forces, which 

involves freedom of maneuver, counter 

indirect fire, route clearance, and convoy security. It leaves with that mission 

accomplished, Muth said. 

“We’re ensuring we leave behind a 

safe and secure environment that allows the Iraqi government to flourish,” Muth said.

The brigade’s AH-64 Apache provided security above Iraqi cities while 

the country held its second set of parliamentary elections last March. After 

nine months of political deadlock following the inconclusive elections, the 

brigade watched the Iraqi parliament 

approve a new government.

The brigade also played its part in 

providing troops with air transportation between bases as much as possible. With improvised explosive devices as one of the leading killers of 

service members in Iraq, keeping 

U.S. forces off of the roads was one of 

the brigade’s top missions. 

The brigade has transported about 

300,000 personnel and 10 million 

pounds of cargo this deployment. 

In addition to fulfilling the unit’s 

mission, the brigade has seen drastic 

improvements in Iraq overall, Muth 

said.

“The Iraqi nation has turned a corner,” Muth said. “What I see is more 

lights on, more commerce taking 

place, more traffic on the road, people 

moving around to do business.”

The brigade also has invested its 

time in training with its Iraqi aviation 

counterparts. 

At Camp Taji, one of the brigade’s 

battalions has flown several partnership 

missions with an Iraqi squadron, as well 

as helped train Iraqi air traffic controllers. The brigade also has assisted 

ground forces in training Iraqis in air to 

ground integration operations.

The brigade is scheduled to end its 

mission in Iraq in March, when it will 

pass its mission to the California National Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation 

Brigade. 

The unit’s overall impact in Iraq 

will depend on how well it prepares 

the 40th CAB to continue that mission, Muth said.

“The mark of a good unit leaving is 

when you hand off that mission to the 

new unit, the unit doesn’t skip a beat. 

The mission isn’t affected, and it’s a 

smooth transition,” Muth said. 

22| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! April 2011 |23

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Spc. Roland Hale, CAB PAO

An Army UH-60 Black Hawk hovers above 

Taji Army Airfield on Feb. 13 before launching for a mission near Baghdad. The aircraft 

belongs to the Army’s sole aviation brigade 

here, the CAB. With double the usual number of troops and aircraft, the unit is the Army’s first and only enhanced combat aviation brigade. 

Flying its last missions

We’re ensuring we leave 

behind a safe and secure 

environment that allows 

the Iraqi government to 

flourish.”

—Col. Frank Muth

Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division

Aviation brigade sees 

an Iraqi nation having 

‘turned the corner’

By Jordan Chapman

Duty First! Magazine

For about 150 families and spouses on 

Fort Riley, Valentine’s Day started at 

3:30 a.m. Jan. 13, as they reunited with 

their Soldiers who had dedicated another yearlong deployment with the 

Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, 

1st Infantry Division.

No one was happier, though, than 

8-month-old Christian Terry, who was 

all wiggles and smiles as he and his 

mother, Allison, waited for Spc. Jonathan Terry, 601st Aviation Support 

Battalion, to walk through the door in 

building 88312.

Little Christian nearly didn’t make 

the homecoming. Born prematurely, 

his mother explained he had been in 

and out of the hospital and had just 

been released that day after being admitted for a lung infection.

“He just got out in time ... he’s excited for daddy to come home,” She 

laughed as her son smiled, covered in 

a shirt reading “My daddy is my 

Hero,” complete with a shirt underneath sporting a Big Red One patch.

In regards to how she felt about her 

son being healthy, her husband coming home and the upcoming day for 

love, she was simply at a loss for 

words.

“I’m just glad that he (Christian) 

can really meet his daddy. When he 

first met him he only weighed about 

five pounds, was a month old, so he 

technically wasn’t born yet. Right now 

is the first time they’re really meeting,” Allison said, explaining that the 

next few days are plan-free and prime 

for relaxation. “I just want a nap for 

Valentine’s Day,” she laughed again.

Chief Warrant Officer 4 (retired) 

Brenda Werner was also present to see 

her husband home. Though in good 

spirits and excited to see her husband, 

as an aviator, she explained she would 

much rather be seeing her husband 

home in the hangars, citing more 

space for parking, guests and a better 

lit facility as the perfect reasons for 

these homecomings. 

“We have our house, send us home 

to our house,” she stated.

The 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley welcomed in almost 4,000 troops and more 

than 200 helicopters between February 

and March, though they deployed 

from Kansas in March 2010 with 2,800 

Soldiers and almost 120 aircraft. The 

brigade grew in number as they increased their coverage over Iraq.

The CAB was one of four aviation 

brigades providing aerial support to 

ground troops in Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom. However, with 

the drawdown of U.S. troops, and the 

start of Operation New Dawn, the 

“Demon” brigade became an Enhanced Combat Aviation Brigade, the 

U.S. Army’s sole aviation asset in the 

country with an area of operations 

covering land approximately the size 

of California. 

During their year in Iraq the CAB 

flew close to 140,000 hours performing aerial reconnaissance and security 

for convoys and ground troops, as 

well as keeping troops and equipment 

off the IED littered roads. They also 

transported about 300,000 passengers 

and over 10 million pounds of cargo. 

The end of this tour marks the 

CAB’s second deployment to Iraq 

since the unit stood up at Fort Riley in 

August of 2006.

Repeat defenders back home

Jordan Chapman, Duty First! Magazine

FROM LEFT:A happy 

family captures the 

moment after the first 

hugs and kisses following the first main body 

redeployment ceremony 

for the Combat Aviation 

Brigade, 1st Infantry 

Division, early Feb. 22; 

Spc. Jonathan Terry 

holds 8-month old son, 

Christian, following the 

return of about 150 

Combat Aviation Brigade 

Soldiers early Feb. 13.

CAB returns returns from second Iraqi deployment in last five years
By Patricia Verschage

541st CSSB

Spouses, civilians and Soldiers of the 1st Sustainment Bri-

gade participated in a fun-filled training event planned by 

1st Sust. Bde., the Task Force Durable Public Affairs Office 

and its Battalion’s Family readiness support assistants at 

the Digital Range Training Center.

The “G.I. Jane” event was initially planned for the spous-

es of deployed Soldiers of the brigade as a hands-on experi-

ence of how Soldiers train to prepare for deployment.

Many spouses from the 541st Combat Sustainment Sup-

port Battalion came out to enjoy an evening away from their 

routine, taking turns learning the correct way to hold and 

fire the simulation weapons as well as loading and unload-

ing a magazine quickly with weapons such as the M4 as-

sault rifle, M204 grenade launcher and M249 squad auto-

matic weapon.

Spouses said the G.I. Jane event exceeded their expecta-

tions and enhanced the esprit de corps.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the training 

center,” said Jessica Kramer, wife of Sgt. Kyle Kramer, 

541st CSSB, responding with a huge smile when asked 

about the weapons she was able to handle. “I can’t be-

lieve how heavy those guns were. I think I have a new 

appreciation for the Soldiers that have to carry them 

around,” she said. 

Spouses fired the weapons at the video screen that filled 

one side of the room and participated in about 10 different 

scenarios covering urban environments, tropical jungles, 

snow-covered valleys and the desert that lasted between 

one minute to more than five minutes.

The simulation center also allowed the spouses to shoot 

during a turkey shoot scenario, tracking the number of hits 

and misses each participant fired during each scenario, con-

sequently creating a healthy competitive atmosphere for 

the evening. 

The fun wasn’t over. At the end of the evening, a contest 

was held between the spouses of the Special Troops Battal-

ion and the “Pacesetter” spouses of the 541st CSSB. 

The first place award and top shooter award was given 

to Dorothy Cates, wife of the Capt. Adam Cates, 165th 

Movement Control Team, 541st CSSB commander while 

the 1st Sust. Bde. Task Force Durable Public Affairs Officer 

Maj. Howard Adlam presented the second place award to 

the STB FRSA, Kelly Boernsen. 

“I had a fantastic time,” Cates said. “It was great to par-

ticipate in the same training our Soldiers do and visit with 

and get to know other spouses in the brigade.”

24| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! April 2011 |25

AROUNDTHEDIVISION

By Capt. Y. Daniel Hosaka

1st Sus. Bde. PAO

CAMP ARIFJAN—The 1st Sustainment 

Brigade. hosted a post-wide 

boxing smoker at Camp Arif-

jan, to promote physical fit-

ness and resiliency 

throughout the brigade. 

The smoker was orga-

nized by veteran boxers 

Sgt. 1st Class Luis De La 

Rocha, brigade fleet manag-

er, and Sgt. 1st Class Nelson 

Rivas, brigade transporta-

tion non-commissioned of-

ficer in charge. They spent 

three months organizing the 

event, while training the fighters for the smoker. The fighters 

came from across the brigade’s for-

mation for the competition. 

“We trained them for two months,” 

said Rivas, “De La Rocha always builds 

up a good boxing foundation by training 

on the boxing basics and I always empha-

size on their conditioning. He also had 

them spar quite a bit to get a better feeling 

for getting hit and throwing punches 

against something that hits back.”

“The training consisted of not only 

boxing basics but conditioning as well, 

coordinated by Rivas,” said De La 

Rocha. “I worked the technique portion 

and Rivas mainly concentrated on the 

conditioning portion.”

Six bouts were fought that night. 

Several weight classes and a female 

class were represented. De La Rocha 

and Rivas paired each fighter according 

to their skill level and weight class. 

“We had 14 Soldiers fight,” said De La 

Rocha. “Thirteen of the Soldiers 

were from the brigade. We 

had service members from 

the Air Force, to the trans-

portation units, to the Spe-

cial Troops Battalion. We 

also had one Soldier from 

Surface Deployment and 

Distribution Command.”

This was the sixth 

boxing smoker that De 

La Rocha and Rivas 

have organized. They 

organize these fights to 

put on a good show for the 

Soldiers and Airmen and pro-

mote physical resiliency 

throughout the unit. 

“I think that helped to raise individ-

ual morale and unit cohesion,” said De 

La Rocha, “The units were really get-

ting behind their Soldiers showing 

them a lot of support and cheering them 

on. Even after the smoker, the fighters 

will be greeted with, ‘Hey, good fight.’ 

It is something they can be proud of. 

Plus, it shows the units that are staying 

here that events like this really support 

Soldier morale and resiliency.”

The Camp Arifjan Zone 6 TAC 

building was filled with approximately 

300 service members throughout the 

post for the event. According to De La 

Rocha, this is the largest event they’ve 

organized. 

Spouses shoot up range at 

inaugural G. I. Jane affair

Mrs. Patricia Verschage, 541st CSSB FRSA

From left, Dorothy Cates and Kelly Boernsen, STB FRSA, were the winner and runner-up of the marksmanship competition planned by the 1st 

Sustainment Brigade, the Task Force Durable Public Affairs Office and its Battalion’s Family readiness support assistants.

Locked Loaded

1st SB hosts post-wide boxing smoker

Courtesy photo

FROM TOP: Spc. Roberto A. Macias and Senior Airman Platt fight at the 1st Sustainment Brigade 

boxing smoker held on Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. The two fighters trained for three months to display 

their fighting spirit during the event; Esmeralda L. Soto and Tiffany A. Herrera fight at the 1st 

Sustainment Brigade boxing smoker; Sgt. Keenan M. Jackson, right, waits to fight the next round 

of the 1st SB boxing smoker.
26| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! April 2011 |27

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By Sgt. Heather Denby 

4th MEB PAO

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo.—Hours 

after a devastating tornado struck Family housing at Fort Leonard Wood, the 

local community drew together offering assistance to Families in need. 

Weeks later, their dedication to each 

other continues. 

Gen. George W. Casey Jr., U.S. 

Army chief of staff, visited the post 

Jan. 4 to get a firsthand look at the 

damages caused by the storm and to 

see what the community needed to aid 

in its recovery. 

“I’ve been in the Army over 40 years, 

and I don’t remember an Army installation being hit by a natural disaster of 

this magnitude,” Casey said. “As I went 

around today and drove the path of the 

tornado, the things that I really saw 

were resilience and teamwork.”

The team, coordinated largely by the 

support of Army Community Service, 

established a Family Assistance Center 

offering claims support, as well as the 

Red Cross, who provided other types of 

assistance and personal support.

ACS collaborated with the Fort 

Leonard Wood USO to provide a donation hub, staffed with more than 50 

volunteers for donation drop-offs and 

distribution. 

“We’ve had 23 Families come in today with items they need for either 

temporary lodging or their new government quarters,” said Kelly Brownfield, Fort Leonard Wood USO facilities 

manager. 

Items at the USO range from dish 

soap to flat screen televisions, all free of 

charge for any Family displaced by the 

storm.

“Everyone is just so willing to help,” 

said Capt. Erik Dubois, military police 

officer, 701st Military Police Battalion. 

Dubois’ wife, also a Soldier, is seven 

weeks pregnant and was one of four 

people injured during the tornado. 

“I’m grateful for the quick medical 

attention my wife received and the support from service members in and out 

of our chain of commands,” Dubois 

said. “A soldier I didn’t even know lent 

me his car.”

While the donations continue to 

pour in through different venues, displaced Soldiers and their Family members still have a long way to go in recreating their new homes.

“We may not have our home, but we 

know one thing for sure: the Army will 

take care of us,” said Dubois.

Fort Leonard Wood is home to the 

4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 

1st Infantry Division.

By Sgt. Heather Denby

4th MEB PAO

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo.—A major U.S. Northern Command-directed exercise that demonstrated 

the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade’s Chemical, 

Biological, Radiological, 

Nuclear and high yield 

Explosives Consequence 

Management Response 

Force mission, took place 

March 11–20. 

The CCMRF mission 

was spearheaded by Joint 

Task Force-Civil Support 

which is comprised of active and reserve members 

from all five branches of 

the armed forces, as well 

as civilian personnel, who 

stand ready to aid civil authorities in managing the 

consequences of a domestic CBRNE accident or incident requiring federal 

assistance as directed by 

the president.

Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th MEB, 

along with 193rd Brigade 

Support Battalion comprise one of three task 

forces that fall under JTFCS.

Key leaders of the task 

force operational staff are 

working with Fort Leonard Wood garrison staff 

and the U.S. Army Installation Command to synchronize standard operating procedures, which will 

ensure a smooth, rapid deployment of U.S. Army 

Forces Command assets from Fort Leonard Wood 

whenever the Nation calls upon them.

“We’ve been working with the Fort Leonard Wood 

installation staff on rapid deployments for a while 

and it’s very exciting to see the progress that we have 

made,” said Maj. Levi Sutton, the 4th MEB chief planning officer. “You don’t always get the feeling of 

progress when you're sitting in meetings, on the telephone, or behind a computer, but then an event like 

this happens, and you realize that we’ve made tremendous progress in just a few short months.”

Recently, Sutton and other post agency representatives conducted a Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) drill 

shutting down a portion of 

the post and staging several stations post-wide in 

order to support a largescale 4th MEB deployment 

such as the CCMRF Vibrant Response exercise 

scheduled to be held at 

Camp Atterbury, Ind., later this month. 

“At the end of the day, 

the country expects us to 

get these [Soldiers] out of 

here because they have 

consequence management, 

they’ve got world-wide 

responsibilities to deploy 

and take care of our nation’s mission,” said Maj. 

Gen. David E. Quantock, 

the Maneuver Support 

Center of Excellence and 

Fort Leonard Wood commanding general. “It really is important ... that we 

meet the 4th MEB’s requirements to get them off 

installation [to] where 

they need to go.”

“We’re going to give 

them 100 percent of our 

time and effort because ultimately, their success is 

our success,” he added. 

Editor’s Note: This drill 

is the second to be completed 

with the support of Fort 

Leonard Wood agencies in conjunction with the 4th 

MEB’s domestic disaster response force.

Sgt. Heather Denby , 4th MEB PAO

Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr., observes damage caused to military housing during a tornado that struck Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. 

More than 100 families were affected by the storm. 

Army chief of staff praises Fort Leonard Wood

4th MEB part of CCMRF mission

Officers: Exciting to see progress 

made by installation staff

Courtesy photo

TOP: Col. Frank Y. Rangel Jr., the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and Task Force Operations commander, speaks with Maj. Gen. 

David E. Quantock, the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and 

Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, on the logistics of conducting a full-scale deployment from the post air field March 1 during a Rehearsal of Concept drill. ABOVE: Maj. Gen. David E. Quantock, the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard 

Wood commanding general, speaks with key leaders of the 4th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade and Fort Leonard Wood garrison team 

about the importance of providing support to local Forces Command 

assets during deployment at the 94th Engineer Battalion motorpool 

March 1 during a Rehearsal of Concept drill.
28| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! April 2011 |29

By Staff Sgt. William Sallette

75th Fires Bde. PAO 

FORT SILL, Okla.—Being the best in a job or 

duty comes with a certain amount of pride. 

Soldiers at Fort Sill had the opportunity to 

show how their crews stood out as the best 

among their peers during early 2011.

The 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Fires Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, 

reinstated an all but forgotten tradition of the 

“Best By” competition. The Best By test is an 

event in which individual crews within the 

battalion compete with each other to find out 

who is the “best of the best.” The three-day 

competition tested the crew’s ability during 

six different events, to find the best ammunition team, Battery Operations Center and Multiple Launch Rocket System crew. 

“We want to create a sense of pride, responsibility and camaraderie throughout the sections and give them the opportunity to set 

themselves apart from their peers to be the 

best,” said Lt. Col. Samuel Saine, 2nd Bn., 18th 

FA Regt. commander. 

Phase One, the testing phase, started with a 

brief from the commander. The crews were 

then moved to the education center for a 

50-question written test, which tested the Soldiers’ Military Occupational Specialty knowledge. The test was followed by a round-robin 

event of basic warrior tasks and a physical fitness test.

During Phase Two, the crews had the opportunity to show what all their training was 

for. Each crew conducted uploading and 

downloading of ammunition, fire-mission 

processing, reloading the launcher and firedirection operations. Time restraints and safety were scrutinized during the day’s events, 

considering the scores tallied during the day 

counted as 50 percent of the crews overall 

score. Each event of the competition was worth 

10 percent of the scoring, except for Phase 

Two. 

“It was great to see all of our training come 

into action and work exactly like it should,” 

said Staff Sgt. Michael Mcgill, 2nd Bn., 18th FA 

Regt. Multiple Launch Rocket System launcher chief.

P h a s e 

Three, “The 

Gut Check 

Phase,” started early at 

Lake Elmer 

Thomas Recreation Area, 

w h e r e t h e 

crews cond u c t e d a 

20-kilometer 

r u c k s a c k 

m a r c h 

through Fort 

Sill’s training area back to the battalion area. 

This portion of the competition was not just a 

physical test, but also a mental test. Each team 

was required to keep crew integrity throughout the march, making motivation and morale 

key elements during the event. 

The competition concluded on Friday with 

a reception and barbecue, as well as an awards 

ceremony where the results were tallied and 

released. The overall winners for the event 

were: launcher crew—Staff Sgt. Aron Maggard, Sgt. Samuel Rasmussen and Spc. Andrew Stebonic; ammunitions crew—Pfc. Michael Patterson and Pfc. Tucker Favreau; and 

battery operations center crew—Staff Sgt. Earl 

Emerson, Sgt. Matthew Johnson, Spc. Ryan 

Valentin, Spc. David Rouse, Pfc. Brian Howard, Pfc. Michael Burkett, Pvt. Mackenzie Lewis and Pvt. Drake Farley. Each first-place crew 

received an Army Achievement Medal and a 

miniature guidon to hang from their vehicle 

antenna. 

The competition, along with other training 

events the battalion has scheduled, is meant to 

prepare the unit’s Soldiers for an upcoming 

training event in Wyoming this spring.

Staff Sgt. William Sallette, 75th Fires Bde. PAO

TOP: Lt. Col. Samuel Saine, 2nd Battalion, 18th Field Artillery Regiment commander, presents Cpt. Benjamin 

Culver, Charlie Battery commander, with a streamer for his Battery Operation Center crew during the Best By 

competition at Fort Sill, Okla. ABOVE: Saine presents Staff Sgt. Earl Emerson with his Army Achievement Medal for 

winning the best Battery Operations Center during the Best By competition. 

75 Fires reinstitutes ‘Best By’ competition

We want to create a sense 

of pride, responsibility and 

camaraderie throughout 

the sections and give them 

the opportunity to set 

themselves apart from 

their peers to be the best.”

—Lt. Col. Samuel Saine

commander, 2ndBn., 18th FA Regt.

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