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

—Division headquarters returns to Fort Riley

— Rear command reflects on lastyear of service

— Fort Riley pushes efforts to give Families all possible resources
 Duty First! March 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

Anna Newman

Staff Writers

Jordan Chapman

Stephanie Hoff

Illustrator

Justin Angeles

Photo by AnnaNewman, duty First! magazine

No Mission too Difficult. No Sacrifice too Great.

March 2011 | www.riley.army.mil

COVER: Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, com-

manding general of the 1st Infantry Divi-

sion and Fort Riley, and Command Sgt. 

Maj. Jim Champagne, division command 

segeant major, raise the 1st Infantry Divi-

sion colors during a ceremony on Jan. 20 

at King Field House, Fort Riley.

C ONTENTS

Departments

Features

Danger 6

Soldiers’ Families 

must remain a focus Danger 7

Healthy Families benefit 

everyone involved 

Around the DIVISION

Special Troops Battalion 

sharpens its skills Danger Forward

CAB pilots receive 

Purple Hearts

Families look to fill needs

Find outlets on post, and 

throughout communities

Rear commander reflects

Brig. Gen. Petersen reflects on 

last year of service

Senator in the house

Sen. Roberts exchanges views 

with 1ID Soldiers

One year later, DHHB back

Uncasing ceremony marks 1 ID 

headquarters return to Fort Riley

FRG fulfilling needs

Finding resources can be as 

easy as one, two, three

Forming familial bonds

Families unite in preparing 

for the unexpected Soldiers on a quest

Program helps Soldiers, 

units find a new normal

Running down a recovery

Warrior in Transition unit keeps 

injured Soldiers focused

23

28

12

1094

24

16

26

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.
Often, as Soldiers, we talk about 

how important our Families 

are to our success. This is undeniable. When we deploy, we depend 

on our Families to take care of the business we left behind. We depend on them 

to take care of us as well—and look forward to their encouragement via phone 

calls and packages. Everything we go 

through as Soldiers, our Families also 

experience, along with all the additional 

complications that life in the Army can 

sometimes bring.

It’s safe to say that for many Families, nothing is scarier than moving to a 

new post and saying goodbye to their 

loved one without knowing where to 

go if they need help. It’s our job to make 

sure our Families are well-prepared for 

the times we are absent, and that requires some extra work on the part of 

the Soldier. 

When you arrive at Fort Riley, visit the 

Army Community Service Center with 

your Family. ACS, located in building 

7264 on Custer Hill, has a wide range of 

services available to Soldiers and Families. Within this building are the contacts 

and some of the offices for the Family Mobilization Readiness Program—helping 

Families prepare for deployments and redeployments; Employment Readiness 

Program—helping spouses train for and 

locate suitable employment; Exceptional 

Family Member Program—supporting 

Families with special needs dependents; 

and the Financial Readiness Program—

with resources and classes on many areas 

of personal finances. That’s just the tip of 

the iceberg when it comes to what ACS 

offers to support Families.

Army life poses its fair share of challenges to Families. Make sure your 

Family is familiar with what is available 

to help them overcome those obstacles. 

A spouse and Family which readily 

knows all their options and knows 

where to get advice will make better, 

more well-informed decisions. And 

that comes back to effect you, as a Soldier, and how effective you will be.

We can’t do what we do without the 

support of our Families. Whether it’s 

ensuring your spouse is acquainted 

with available resources, or making 

sure your parents are plugged into your 

family readiness group before you deploy, do it! You and your Family both 

stand to benefit.

Now, get after it ... Duty First!

Throughout December and 

January, the Soldiers of Division Headquarters and Headquarter Battalion marched into formations on Fort Riley and were welcomed 

home. This month, Soldiers of the 

Combat Aviation Brigade and 1st Sustainment Brigade also returned home. 

For each of those Soldiers, the one 

thing on their minds as they return 

home is seeing and spending time with 

their Family.

To our Families: thank you. We truly 

could not have done what we did without you. You are our reason for doing 

what we do and we are forever indebted to you and joyous to be back with 

you again. You shouldered a heavy 

burden during our absence that cannot 

be described adequately or appreciated 

fully and for that you have our deepest 

gratitude.

As we return home, it is important 

that the Family remain a primary focus. 

The months ahead must be taken advantage of in order to build strength and resilience for the next challenge. In some 

cases, where extreme stress and strain 

may have damaged relationships, that 

strength may have to be rebuilt. Much 

like maintaining a certain level of physical fitness, Families must work to stay fit 

as well. Activities which draw all members of the Family into an environment 

in which everyone grows together are 

twice as important following a deployment. Also of importance to Families is 

building a strong support network—

whether it is other Army Families, a 

sports team, or a place of worship, having a system of support will help a Family strengthen internally.

Having a Family strong enough to 

weather military life is not just important to those of us charged with leading the 1st Infantry Division, but also 

to the Army as a whole. One of the 

five pillars of the Army Comprehensive Fitness program is strength of 

Family. Resilient Soldiers and Families experience a decrease in posttraumatic stress and destructive behaviors and have a greater likelihood 

for post-adversity growth and success. Whenever one of those five areas—physical, emotional, social, spiritual and Family—starts to slump, it 

begins to effect all the others.

Within the 1st Infantry Division and 

Fort Riley, we’ve taken Comprehensive Soldier Fitness to the next level, 

focusing on our Family members as 

well. Our Resilient Spouse Academy 

gives spouses the tools and coaching 

needed to help handle the effects of deployments. Finances, domestic violence and helping someone considering suicide are some of the areas covered through videos, guest speakers 

and breakout groups. Our spouses are 

the first line of help for our Soldiers. 

The Resilient Spouse Academy has 

drawn attendees not just from Fort Riley, but also from other installations.

It takes everyone working together 

to succeed, and we pledge to provide 

our Soldiers and our Families the best 

environment possible to grow, strengthen and take on challenges. Strengthening our Families is a key part of working toward our goal of making Fort Riley the premier division-level installation in the Army.

Duty First!

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

Commanding General DANGER 6 Command Sergeant Major DANGER 7

Families must remain a focus Keep Families well-prepared 

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne
INSIDE: U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts addresses

1ID Soldiers;witnesses uncasing

ceremony.—Page 9

Families welcome home Soldierswith

open arms.—Page 10

Brig.Gen. David Petersen reflects on time

as the rear commander of Fort Riley.

— Page 11

4| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 |5

Story by 

Stephanie Hoff

Happy to be

Anna Newman, Duty First! Magazine

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

and Command Sgt.Maj.JimChampagne, division command sergeantmajor, uncase the 1st

Infantry Division colors during a ceremonyJan. 20 at King Field House on Fort Riley.

Uncasing ceremony marks the return 

of 1 ID's headquarters to Fort Riley

The Kansas weather may have not 

been considered very welcoming, 

but a historic Army division with 

a long lineage of victories on the 

battlefield faced its newest adversary with the same determination 

and once again achieved success. 

GO TO PAGE 7
6| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! March 2011 |7

What we had the chance to do was see what success

looks like. ... Now what we have behind us is a list of 

accomplishments that we can all be very proud of.”

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks

IRAQ NATIONAL ELECTIONS

The 1stInfantry Division provided command

and controlforU.S. efforts to assistthe

Iraqi Security Forces in securing polling

sites in southern Iraq forthe historic

March 7 national elections.

The ISF provided all direct security at 2,733

polling sites in southern Iraq. U.S. Forces

assistedwithmilitaryworking dogs,

unmanned aerial surveillance, aviation

and intelligence support, and other

specialized assets.

Duringtheweeks leadinguptotheelections,

UnitedStatesDivision-Southforcesworked

handinhandwiththeirIraqi counterparts,

trainingoncounterterrorismoperations,

rehearsingelectionsecurity,andconductingsitesurveysofthepolling sites.

4,128,500 voters turned out atthe polls in

southern Iraq onMarch 7 for a voter

turnoutrate of 59.5%.

PERIOD OF TRANSITION

The1stInfantryDivisionplannedandoversawa

responsibledrawdowninpersonneland

equipmentduringthefirsthalfoftheir

deploymenttohelpUSForces-Iraqmeetthe

PresidentoftheUnitedStates’mandated

reductionintroopstrengthto50,000by

September1st. Thiswasanalmost50%

reductioninforces fromwhenthe1st

InfantryDivisionarrivedinIraqinJanuary.

USD-S closed or handed overto theGovernment ofIraq 30 bases in 2010,reducing

the number of bases in southern Iraq from

58 to 28.

USD-S units provided securityfor thousands

of tons of equipment transported to

Kuwait on Main Supply Road Tampa,

Iraq’smajor highwayleading from

Baghdad to Kuwait.

USD-Smoved over $286million worth of

property out of southern Iraq between

March and August, 2010, including over

1,200 vehicles and trailers, and over

14,000 pieces of other equipment.

ADVISING&ASSISTINGIRAQSECURITYFORCES

The division placed a priority on the professionalization on the Iraqi Department of

Border Enforcement. The division helped

establish Border Coordination Centers

and advised and assisted Department of

the Border Enforcement personnel,

allowing for better interoperability with

the Iraqi Army and Police.

With the ISF proficient in basic combat, law

enforcement and counterterrorism

skills, U.S. advisors in southern Iraq

focused on developing specialized skills

such as crime scene investigation,

special weapons and assault teams 

(SWAT), intelligence gathering and joint

operations between the Army, Navy,

Police and Department of Border

Enforcement.

BUILDING CIVIL CAPACITY

The 1stInfantry Divisionworked closelywith

nine provincial reconstruction teams 

whichmanaged civil capacity projects.

InOctober,the$166millionBasraChildren’s

Hospitalwasofficiallyopenedaftersixyears

ofdevelopmentandconstruction.The

hospitalisIraq’sfirstchildren’scancer

hospitalandisheraldedoneofthemost

modernmedicalfacilitiesintheMiddleEast.

In Basra Province,the division helped design

the Basra Logistics City on the former

Camp Bucca,the Basra Business Center,

and the Basra Economic Development 

Zone tomaximize rapidlyincreasing

foreign investmentin southern Iraq.

MuthannaProvincebrokegroundonthe

$927,000MuthannaFriendshipHall

ProjectinOctober.Thefacility,whichis

scheduledfor completioninthespring,was

fundedbytheU.S.andisajointventure

betweenU.S.Division-South,theMuthanna

ProvincialReconstructionTeam,andthe

Muthannaprovincialgovernment.Itwill

serveasameetingplaceandsitefor

communityfunctions intheprovincial

capitalofSamawah,andisasymbolofthe

enduringfriendshipbetweentheU.S.and

thepeopleofMuthanna.

The colors of the 1st Infantry Division were 

uncased Jan. 20 at a ceremony on Fort Riley, 

signifying the return of the unit’s headquarters 

to Fort Riley. The ceremony took place a mere 

few hours after the post and surrounding communities were blanketed with inches of snow 

that caused the post to operate on a two-hour 

weather delay. 

“It sure seems that we can’t have any post 

ceremonies without a snow storm in advance,” 

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

Riley. 

The Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion of the “Big Red One” deployed to 

Iraq in January 2010, where it assumed command of the United States Division-South. 

While deployed, the unit was responsible for 

providing security for the Iraqi national elections, conducted last March as well as conducting sustainment operations that included the 

removal of U.S. equipment from the country 

and the transfer of more than 30 U.S. military 

installations to the Iraqi forces. 

“What we had the chance to do was see what 

success looks like. For many of us who had deployed there before, to see the progress that 

was made was very impressive. (The deployment) was moving Iraq forward. That’s the 

simplest way to describe it,” Brooks said. “I remember when we left here, I was asked ‘How 

does it feel?’ We were looking into the darkness 

1ID Deployment Fact Sheet

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding general of the 1st Infantry Division and Fort Riley, welcomes home the Soldiers and colors of the division’s headquarters during an uncasing ceremony, Jan. 20 at King Field

House. The ceremony signified the return of the unit’s nearly 900 Soldiers following a year-long deployment to Iraq.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Members of the

‘Victory Five’

command teamof

the 1st Inf. Div.

salute Jan. 20 at King

Field House at the

start of an uncasing

ceremony signifying

the return of the ‘Big

Red One’ to Fort Riley

following a year-long

deployment to Iraq.

GO TO PAGE 8
8| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 |9

of uncertainty, and frankly, (returning home) feels 

great. Now what we have behind us is a list of accomplishments that we can all be very proud of. We’re just 

happy to be back.” 

Brooks also noted the uniqueness of the deployment 

itself. The 1st Inf. Div.’s headquarters deployed as a 

modular unit, separate from its subordinate elements. 

This type of deployment was the first of its kind for the 

historic unit, Brooks said. 

“That’s a very different approach. It was not easy, 

but it’s something that we can do and we have demonstrated success on that,” Brooks said. “We took units 

from other parts of the Army and the other joint services and other agencies of the U.S. Government and 

they came underneath our leadership. It was truly like 

being on an all-star team.”

Brooks noted the efforts and success of the units and 

command team that remained on Fort Riley throughout 

the duration of the deployment. He complemented the 

Mission Support Element in successfully managing the 

Big Red One units that remained at Fort Riley and at 

other posts.

“The accomplishments on the home front here at 

Fort Riley were at least as impressive as those that occurred in southern Iraq. Nothing was normal about 

what you were asked to do. Nothing was routine. There 

was no handbook and no standing operating procedure,” he said. “No matter the circumstances, no matter 

the curve ball pitched at you; you knocked it out of the 

park.” 

He additionally complemented Brig. Gen. David Petersen, who was assigned to command the 1st Inf. Div. 

units that remained at Fort Riley, Kan., as well as division elements at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Sill, 

Okla. and Fort Knox, Ky. During his command, Petersen assisted with the successful deployments of five brigades from the division. 

“It’s always nice to have the boss back. This has been 

a very interesting year. I was so busy, this year went by 

so quickly. We worked a lot of weekends and federal 

holidays, but that’s not to complain, it’s been very exciting,” Petersen said. “If it wasn’t for the support that we 

had from the local communities and community leaders, this would have almost been a mission too difficult, 

quite honestly.” 

The nearly 900 Soldiers that deployed with the unit 

last winter began redeploying to Fort Riley in November and were welcomed home by their friends and Family members. 

“It’s a relief. We got to spend New Year’s Eve together, so it was good” said Eileen Fallin, whose husband, 

1st Sgt. David Fallin, returned with the unit. “It’s nice to 

be able to watch them uncase the colors. This feels a lot 

better than watching them leave. There’s no apprehension, everything is over and there are no worries now 

that he is home.” 

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Soldiers of the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard display the flags of the United States and the 1st Infantry Division,

Jan. 20 at King FieldHouse on Fort Riley, Kan.The colors ofthe division were uncased during the ceremony that signified the unit’s

return to Fort Rileyfollowing a year-long deployment to Iraq.

By Sgt. Keven Parry

1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs Office

FORT RILEY, Kan.—U.S. Senator Pat Roberts visited 

with Soldiers who are citizens of Kansas during lunch 

at the Cantigny Dining Facility on Jan. 20 following the 

1st Infantry Division’s uncasing ceremony. 

Roberts, a native of Dodge City, spoke with Soldiers 

before sitting down and eating lunch with them. After 

introducing himself, he spoke of his experiences as a 

servicemember as well as how his experiences with the 

military have helped shape his decisions and efforts as 

a member of Congress.

“When I first came into the Senate in ’96 ... there 

were 12 other Marines,” Roberts said. “Now there’s 

one. Me.” He said that there has been a recent influx 

of former servicemembers into the House of Representatives lately, and that he thinks it helps give perspective when a member of Congress has served in 

the military.

After Roberts spoke to the Soldiers, he asked each one 

of them to introduce themselves and to share their experiences in the military. He also told them to ask any questions they may have and encouraged them to open and 

honest with him in their discussions with him. The topics of the conversations ranged from high schools in the 

areas where Soldiers grew up to the decision-making 

process in Congress regarding the building of the Air 

Force’s next tanker.

Each of the Soldiers in attendance had deployed in 

the past, with some having deployed as many as five 

times. Roberts asked questions about the deployments 

specifically asking the Soldiers opinion on whether 

they felt that they had made a difference during their 

deployment. He also asked some of the Soldiers if 

they saw improvements in Iraq and Afghanistan 

when they returned to those countries for subsequent 

deployments.

Spc. Conrad Seyfried of 1st Squadron, 4th Cavalry 

Regiment said that he had recently returned from a 

deployment.

“Do you think you made a difference?” Roberts 

asked Seyfried.

 “Where we were at, sir, we made a difference,” replied Seyfried.

“Good. Good. That’s why you were there,” said 

Roberts.

Roberts expressed appreciation for the work and sacrifices of the Soldiers, and mentioned efforts to improve 

the effectiveness of the abilities Soldiers bring to the battlefield. He encouraged them to continue to dialogue 

with him while they ate, and to feel free to address any 

subject they felt they wanted to talk about.

Do you think you made a difference?...Good. Good. That’s 

why you were there.”

U.S. Senator Pat Roberts

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Soldiers of the Commanding General’s Mounted Color Guard display the flags of the United States and the 1st Infantry Division,

Jan. 20 at King Field House on Fort Riley, Kan.

Senator, Soldiers 

participate in 

open forum

Dodge City-native Roberts prompts 

Soldiers to share military experiences 
10| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! March 2011 |11

By Jordan Chapman and Stephanie Hoff

Duty First! Magazine

It was July of 2006 the last time the 1st Infantry Division colors 

were uncased at Fort Riley. Four and half years later, 150 proud 

American Defenders escorted the colors home where Families and 

loved ones eagerly awaited them.

About 800 Soldiers of the 1st Inf. Div. Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion returned to Fort Riley in late December and 

early January.

“A year goes by quickly when you have a lot to do and we had 

quite a bit to do,” said Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, commanding 

general of the 1st Inf. Div. and Fort Riley. That statement was 

backed up by Division Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Champagne, who 

said he was proud of his Soldiers and how they completed their 

missions.

“The troops did fantastic; they knew exactly what their focus 

was in the mission. They knew they had to advise and assist the 

Iraqis and they took a hold of that. It made the Iraqi Security Forces 

that much better and they got a lot of self-satisfaction out of it because they got to see them grown while they were training them,” 

Champagne said. He added that he and his Soldiers feel very comfortable having left Iraq in the hands of their own government and 

the Iraqi Security Forces. “They’re in the lead ... they’re doing a 

great job and are ready to take control. They already have.”

Capt. Tanya Rosa had a special welcome-home surprise waiting for her during the Dec. 13 ceremony, in the form of a diamond 

engagement ring. 

Capt. Juan Roman, also of DHHB, proposed just moments after 

welcoming his new fiancée home from Iraq. 

“I was nervous all day,” he said. “I think she said yes. But in all 

this excitement, I may need her to clarify her answer later.” 

Brittnee Dicks waited patiently in the stands ahead of the Dec. 

13 ceremony for the arrival of her husband, Spc. Ian Dicks. Ian 

deployed on Christmas Eve the previous year and Brittnee said 

she looked forward to having him join her for the holidays this 

season. She recalled the day she received the phone call informing 

her that her husband was on his way home. She was at work and 

felt ecstatic after receiving the information. 

“It feels awesome. I was so scared that they weren’t going to 

have him home in time for the holiday,” she said.

Soldiers, Families reunite

By 1st Inf. Div. Public Affairs Office

FORT RILEY, Kan.—Monday, Oct. 26 is not a day Brig. Gen. 

David Petersen will soon forget. On a day that usually earns the 

most complaints from the average working American, Petersen 

got a phone call from Maj. Gen. Vincent Brooks, asking him to 

consider stepping in as the rear commander of Fort Riley and the 

1st Infantry Division as the division headquarters deployed. 

“I asked if I could have some time to think about it, and he 

said ‘how about 24 hours?’” Petersen said. 

Twenty-three hours later, Petersen was at Fort Riley to talk 

with Brooks. After all, Petersen said, if he was going to consider 

such a drastic move, he should probably at least see the post. In 

short order, Petersen had taken the position. 

“I saw this as a great opportunity that had never been done 

before by a traditional guardsman,” Petersen said. “The most 

difficult part of coming here was telling my commander that I 

was leaving. That was really tough.”

The 35th Infantry Division, of which Petersen was attached to, 

is a National Guard Division headquartered at Fort Leavenworth, 

Kan., with personnel from around the region. Before coming to 

the Big Red One, Petersen was an assistant division commander 

of the unit, and worked a civilian day job as the deputy adjutant 

general of the Nebraska National Guard. Even though his past 

military experience was extensive, Petersen said it was still a shock 

to the senses to lead a division and an installation from the rear. 

“The sheer magnitude of what goes on at Fort Riley is enormous,” Petersen said. “It’s a very active FORSCOM post with 

units deploying and redeploying and resetting all the time.”

The 1st Inf. Div. and the subordinate units that Petersen was 

responsible for include eight brigades, spread across three different states and is usually run by a major general who has two 

brigadier generals to assist him. The nearly seamless transition 

between Brooks and Petersen at Fort Riley is a testament to the 

interoperability of the Army’s active and reserve forces.

In the year that the 1st Inf. Div. Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion has been deployed, the operational tempo at Fort 

Riley never slowed. Petersen has overseen 21,000 Soldiers and 

the mobilization of five brigades. In the course of 12 months, the 

4th Infantry Brigade Combat returned from Iraq and began the 

reset process, while 1st Sustainment Brigade, the Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team and 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team all 

trained and then deployed to either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Petersen said his part as a senior trainer was a new experience 

for him, and proved to also be a challenging responsibility as the 

dates for units to leave the country shifted by as many as 100 

days for one and more than a month for another. 

“That was my summer—spent at the National Training Center and the Joint Readiness Training Center,” Petersen said. “Our 

first three brigades stacked up on each other back to back as far 

as when they had to go through the collective training cycle.”

Another accomplishment that Petersen is proud of is the conception of the Resilient Spouse Academy. The thought process for the 

academy began after a suicide in February; one month after Petersen took over as the division’s rear commander. After some sensing 

sessions with spouses on several levels, Petersen and the Fort Riley 

Garrison command began to put together a five-day course for 

spouses, designed to assist them in a variety of areas of Army life.

“We’re training our spouses in how to do things,” Petersen 

said. “Sometimes it’s something like finances—which can be a big 

stressor sometimes when a spouse is deployed. There’s also two 

days of applied suicide intervention training. It doesn’t make them 

experts, but it gives them tools to use—maybe not necessarily for 

their spouse, but with others they know as well, to listen and then 

help guide that person to more professional help.”

The journey of the past year has been rewarding, Petersen 

said. 

“What you get back from working with Soldiers—you just 

can’t make it up in any way,” Petersen said. “And the relationship that’s here between the post and the Big Red One units and 

those outside in the communities is absolutely remarkable.”

As his time at Fort Riley draws to a close, Petersen said he’s not 

sure what is in store for him next. He has been selected for appointment to the rank of major general. The process for National 

Guard general officers to obtain command is typically based more 

on an interview process than assignment and Petersen said he’s 

been looking for his next “job”, but nothing is set in stone.

“No matter what, I hope to get at least one more military job,” 

Petersen said. “And I hope I’m able to use the skills I’ve been 

able to learn here, wherever the next stop is.”

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Capt.Tanya Rosa smiles after her fiancée, Capt. Juan Roman

proposed to her following a Dec. 13 redeployment ceremony

welcoming home Rosa and 52 additional Soldiers of the 1st

Infantry Division Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion,

1st Inf. Div. to Fort Riley.

Welcome-home ceremonies range from 

marriage proposals to holiday gatherings

General reflects on 

year at Fort Riley

The sheer 

magnitude of 

what goes on at 

Fort Riley is 

enormous.”

Brig. Gen. David Petersen

Anna Newman, Duty First! Magazine

Jessica Stiles greets her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Eric Stiles, at a

redeployment ceremonyin late December.
12

| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 

|13

Courtesy photo

Emelina Foster and husband (center), CW2 Ruben Foster, 3rd As-

sault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, takea family

stroll with sister Savanaah Moreno (left), 17, and (fromleft) Mari-

ana, 11, Angel, 15, and Esteban Foster, 13.

Acouple goes to a low-lit restaurant 

and orders the most expensive 

dish; a family visits their chil-

dren’s favorite parks all in one day before 

going out for ice cream; a husband and 

wife of two decades share a glass of wine 

before cuddling up on the couch to watch 

their favorite television shows, all on the 

same night before each person, be it Sol-

dier, spouse, lover or child, has to wake 

up to attend a deployment ceremony.
14| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! March 2011 |15

The stands are packed. Other Families are present, media is there, picking off 

those front-row individuals who look to be holding together better than others, 

children play, waving flags, clapping hands or cooing at their half-asleep brother 

or sister in their strollers while taking sidelong glances back at the formation to see 

if they yet have a better view of their mommy or daddy. 

Amongst all the ritual of the ceremony, all the inspiring words 

and love of country, the duty, the honor and the victory that will 

swell the pride of their loved ones upon their return, they’re still 

leaving. Fort Riley and its services are there, to be sure, but behind the smiles and hugs, there’s a planted seed of sacrifice that 

only the Army spouse can know.

For the most part, Fort Riley does well in providing for those 

left behind, but in the experience of two women who know that 

seed and have felt it grow, some areas could be improved upon.

For Emelina Foster, who knows she isn’t the only spouse who 

lives in Manhattan and who is a part of a Family Readiness Group 

that has had some trouble in leadership, that area of improvement lies within better communication from post itself.

“I’m away from everybody. I don’t have any Family here, it’s 

just me and my kids and I don’t live close to post to actually get 

that connection, which is hard,” Foster said, often finding comfort in the company of other military families to talk about her 

experience and feelings while her husband, CW2 Ruben Foster, 

3rd Assault Helicopter Battalion, 1st Aviation Regiment, Combat 

Aviation Brigade, is gone, and though that’s a help for her emotional self, it doesn’t help her get information about what’s happening on post.

Making matters worse, her husband started his career as an Air Force Reservist, 

so she not only feels disconnected, but lost in her husband’s new active duty environment.

After some time, she found that getting in touch directly with her unit’s rear 

detachment and her Family Readiness Service Assistant was her best option for 

reliable information, but only after Capt. Greg Fisher, 3rd AHB, 1st Avn. Regt. 

Rear Detachment commander, offered his number and help if questions should 

arise.

“At first, I used to have problems at the house and I’d call the FRG person and 

they never called me back,” Foster said, explaining that she would next call Fisher 

and have response and help right away.

“Our FRG only lasted 3 months into the deployment and then it fell apart ... I’m 

still new at this, but I know the rear-d is what really helped me out,” she said, feeling that a great start in prompting better communication with those spouses off 

post is listing all spouse oriented web sites in an easily accessible, and most importantly, obvious location.

“I know there are a lot of Web sites out there that we’re not even aware of. I just 

stumbled across them,” she said, explaining the Manhattan Military Relations office has provided her with many opportunities to meet other families, attend dinners and become aware of Fort Riley activities. 

“Other than that, it’s just knowing 

who you need to contact if you need 

something,” she continued, which is 

worthy advice that Fort Riley resident 

Sherri Lloyd subscribes to.

Like Foster, Lloyd had to rely on her 

own intuition when in need.

After her son, 8-month-old Weston, 

was born, her husband, Spc. Wesley 

Lloyd, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, had not 

yet returned home for leave and she felt 

alone and unaware of where to turn.

Lloyd wouldn’t be home for one week 

after the baby’s birth 

and during that time 

she had to fall back on 

her own church group 

for support.

“When I gave birth 

to (Weston) I didn’t 

have my Family here 

and I was by myself. I 

had the pastor’s wife 

come stay with me for a little while but other than that I was by 

myself and I felt so alone and scared,” Lloyd said, completely 

grateful for the nurses at the hospital that checked in on she and 

her son while she was there, but wished that there was a system 

in place for the same kind of follow-ups after she returned 

home.

“It would have been a lot better,” she said, recounting that 

except for that one area, there are many programs on base that 

have been great for her and Weston, including her own FRG, which has monthly 

meetings and occasional outings outside of meetings, advertised play groups in 

the Fort Riley Post, USO’s “No Dough Dinners” and her church affiliations who 

she calls her second family.

In both Foster and Lloyd, communication with other Families and friends was 

key to their success when in a times of need.

“I’ve learned a lot in just networking with other Families that helps,” Foster 

said, “I was alone for a while. Connecting with a friend—if I didn’t have that friend 

I would have lost my mind ... there is importance in knowing who you’re going to 

contact and if that person doesn’t answer then to go on to your next one,” she said, 

explaining that when there wasn’t anyone around it was helpful to get herself and 

her kids out into the community. She recommends the parks and recreation departments of a Family’s respective city.

“It’s better to get out of your surroundings and not think about how sad you 

are. It’s OK to go out and spend time with your kids and other friends.”

Courtesy photo

Sherri Lloyd and husband, Spc. Wesley Lloyd, 1st Squadron, 6th Cavalry Regiment, Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, take

a picture with newborn son, Weston.

USEFUL WEB SITES FOR SPOUSES

Army Community Service, building 7264 on Fort Riley

785-239-8430

Manhattan Military Relations

www.manhattan.org/militaryrelations

www.facebook.com/ManhattanMRC

Junction CityMilitary Affairs Council

www.welcomefortriley.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Junction-City-Geary-County-Military-AffairsCouncil/

FlintHills Veterans Coalition

http://flinthillsveteransday.com/Contact-Veterans-Coalition/

Manhattan, Kan.

www.ci.manhattan.ks.us/

Junction City, Kan.

www.junctioncity-ks.gov/

I was alone for a 

while. Connecting 

with a friend — if I 

didn’t have that 

friend I would have 

lost my mind...there 

is importance in 

knowing who you’re 

going to contact and 

if that person 

doesn’t answer, 

then to go on to your 

next one.”

Emelina Foster, military spouse
16| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 |17

Getting 

resources

from your 

unit ̓s

can be as 

easy as 

one, two 

three Photos courtesy of Kelsie Tubbs

FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: Children of Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 16th Inf., 4th IBCT, receive assistance from Soldiers in

the unit’s Rear Detachment while making holiday cards for their deployed parents.The card-making event was

held during the battalion FRG’s monthly ‘chicken night’ in Dec. 2009; Family members of Soldiers of 2nd Bn.,

16th Inf., 4th IBCT are served by Soldiers of the unit’s Rear Detachment during the battalion’smonthly‘chicken

nights’ that were conducted during the battalion’s deployment. The ‘chicken nights’ were scheduled monthly

throughout the deployment and allowed the Families to gather in a social setting as well as offering an opportunity for them to address any concerns or issues with the Rear Detachment, who served as the wait staff for the

evenings; Anthony Myer, FRSA for 2nd Bn., 16th Inf., 4th IBCT attends one of the battalion’s ‘chicken nights.’;

Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 16th Inf., 4th IBCTwho served on the unit’s Rear Detachment during the battalion’s 2009–10

deployment pose for a picture with Santa Claus; Familymembers of Soldiers of 2nd Bn., 16th Inf., 4th IBCT,make

holiday decorations.

SUCCESS IS MOST COMMONLY DEFINED as the “favorable 

or desired outcome of attempts or endeavors.” When those endeavors include attempting to create cohesion amongst several 

hundred people from all sorts of backgrounds, during a period 

of heightened anxieties, the success is all that much sweeter. 

Story by Stephanie Hoff | Duty First! Magazine
18| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! March 2011 |19

The Soldiers and Family members of 

the Family Readiness Group of 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry, 4th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, know firsthand the hard 

work it takes to achieve such success. 

The “Rangers” deployed in the summer of 2009 for their second deployment 

in nearly five years. The deployment 

marked the second time for a majority 

of the unit’s Soldiers to deploy with the 

battalion; requiring them to once again 

say goodbye to their Families and loved 

ones. 

A major asset the Soldiers and Families possessed during their most recent 

deployment was a successfully functioning FRG, said Staci Dumas, family readiness program coordinator for the division 

and Fort Riley. 

“Communication is a key element in 

keeping a functioning FRG,” Dumas 

said. “They kept in contact with their 

Families.” 

Strong support from the unit’s leadership, from the battalion level down to the 

individual companies, played a key role 

in developing and maintaining a strong 

FRG, said Kelli Tubbs, the FRG leader for 

Company C. Before the Soldiers were 

scheduled to depart, the battalion’s then 

commander, Lt. Col. Paul Kreis and his 

wife, Kelly, invited all the unit’s Soldiers 

and Family members to meet for dinner 

and socialize in a non-formal setting. 

Chicken was served as the main course 

and the foundation that was created that 

night led to a succession of gatherings 

that would become affectionately referred to as “chicken nights.” 

“It kind of gave everybody a chance to 

meet face to face and get more relaxed 

with each other before the guys left. It 

was a huge, huge part of what our FRG 

has become. I can’t say enough about it,” 

Tubbs said. “I know some spouses have a 

hard time picking up the phone and asking for anything if they’ve never met (the 

members of the FRG). Them coming to 

the chicken nights definitely helped our 

FRGs.” 

Chicken nights were then scheduled 

monthly throughout the duration of the 

deployment and allowed the Families to 

gather in a social setting as well as offering an opportunity for them to address 

any concerns or issues with the rear detachment, who served as the wait staff for 

the evenings. 

“Chicken night was always a huge 

turnout. It was wild, it was crazy, there 

were kids running everywhere and they 

were great,” said Jennifer Brown, who 

served as one of the FRG’s key callers 

during the deployment. “We got that 

adult interaction that we needed. We 

could just talk as friends and see how everybody was doing.” 

The battalion’s chicken nights were 

conducted in addition to the monthly 

scheduled FRG meetings. Throughout the 

deployment, separate social groups were 

also formed that paired Family members 

with the same interests or who had children approximately the same age. Children’s play groups, coffee outings, workout groups and gatherings for the spouses 

without children were just some of the 

groups formed among the Families. 

“You kind of have to see who your 

Families are and make sure each of them 

have a support group,” Tubbs said. “Nobody gets left out.”

Offering a variety of options for the 

spouses to socialize and connect with 

one another, allowed the unit’s FRG to 

achieve exactly what the groups are intended to do: promote a strong social 

network and support options for the 

spouses. 

Brown shared one experience she personally encountered during the deployment. Due to unfortunate medical circumstances, she relocated to Tennessee to 

be closer to family for assistance. Three 

months later, she and her young daughter returned to Fort Riley. 

“The support from the ladies is actually what brought me back,” she said. “I 

connected with them. They are so special 

to me. We were a pretty close-knit family. 

We were all like sisters and we could rely 

on each other.” 

In addition to receiving support from 

those remaining stateside, the success of 

the unit’s FRG was also largely due to 

the support and assistance the Families 

received from the unit’s leaders who 

were deployed thousands of miles, 

Tubbs said. She recalled how her husband’s company commander would 

take the time to personally respond to emails he received from the Families back 

home at Fort Riley.

“That was another thing that was 

huge during the last deployment—to 

have a commander, who was down 

range, that was willing to accept those emails and take that five minutes to respond,” she said. “He didn’t blow the 

Families off; normally within a 12 to 15 

hour window, they had an e-mail back. 

Families knowing that they have the support of the company and battalion commanders and the first sergeant is a huge 

help.” 

A strong pool of volunteers, made up 

of spouses, children and even parents of 

Soldiers played a significant role in the 

FRG’s success at serving the Soldiers and 

Families, she added. 

“After I got a group established of volunteers; it has just been amazing. There’s 

absolutely no way that I could do any of 

this without them,” Tubbs said. “I hate 

telling people that I’m the ‘FRG Leader,’ 

because it was an entire group of volunteers that was amazing and not one individual person.” 

With the unit’s last Soldiers returned 

to Fort Riley last June and since then, the 

FRG has been less active; allowing the 

Families time to reconnect with their Soldiers. Tubbs and Brown both feel confident that the FRG will remain just as 

strong if future deployments were to 

arise. Tubbs recommended that all Family members attempt to become involved 

with their unit’s FRG, even if they’ve had 

a negative experience in the past. 

“Persistence. You got to be persistent. 

You got to reassure everybody that if they 

had a bad experience (with a previous 

FRG); to give you a chance,” she said. 

“Keep reassuring them that you are there 

for them; that it’s their FRG. It’s not mine; 

it’s theirs.” 

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Staff Sgt. John

Sherfield, Co. B, 2nd

Bn., 16th Inf. Reg.,

assists Santiago

Salazar, son of

deployed Staff Sgt.

David Breton, with a

weapons firing March

29 at the Engagement

Skills Trainer.The

battalion’s Family

Readiness Group

hosted a family day

that included a 

simulated weapons 

firing and the opportunityto try on body

armor and ballistic

helmets.

Chicken night was 

always a huge turnout. 

It was wild, it was 

crazy, there were kids 

running everywhere 

and they were great. 

We got that adult 

interaction that we 

needed. We could just 

talk as friends and 

see how everybody 

was doing.”

Jennifer Brown,

key caller for the FRG of 2nd Bn., 

16th Inf., 4th IBCT
Military Familes find common ground 

in preparing for the unexpected

20| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 |21

The Soldiers and Families of the 1st Infantry Division 

are no novices when it comes to having to cope with 

extended absences from loved ones due to impeding deployments. 

Most recently the “Big Red One” bid farewell to Soldiers of its 1st and 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Teams 

and the 3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Almost exactly a year after returning home to their loved ones, the 

Soldiers of the 2nd HBCT once again found themselves 

departing for a year-long tour to Iraq this past fall. The 

“Dagger” Brigade’s Family Readiness Group once again 

found itself called to action in providing support and 

assistance to its Soldiers’ Families. 

“I think it’s good that the Family members form 

bonds before the Soldiers leave so that they know that 

they have a support group already in place for when 

their Soldier is deployed,” said Bobbi Hanlon the unit’s 

family readiness support assistant. “We have to form 

friendships and bonds because those spouses become 

each others’ family. They need to have someone to turn 

to and who is going through the same thing they are.” 

The unit’s FRG plays a significant role in preparing 

the Families for their approaching separation from their 

Soldiers, said Jan Childs, the FRG leader for the Division 

Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, which returned to Fort Riley this winter following a year-long 

Story by

By Stephanie Hoff

Sgt. John Zumer, 3/1 IBCT PAO

Diego Ruiz, 3-year-old son of Sgt. Waldemar Ruiz, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion 6th Field Artillery, is shown how to use a

fire extinguisher by Jim Gambino, fire prevention specialist with Fort Knox’s fire department during the batttalion’s Family Day on July 1st at

Steeles Tank Range.The day provided an opportunityfor Families to see how their Soldiers train in a field environment. Sgt. Ruizis standing to the

right of his son.

THE AGE-OLD SAYING WARNS 

TO “EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED.” 

BUT FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WITH 

LOVED ONES SERVING IN THE 

MILITARY, THE SITUATIONS 

THAT ARE EXPECTED CAN SOMETIMES BE THE MOST DIFFICULT 

TO PREPARE FOR. 

FROM TOP: Colette Pappal and her daughter, Meredith, play billiards April 11 at the K-State Student Union in Manhattan as part of the “Almost

There” celebration for the Familymembers of 4th IBCT. Nearly 400 spouses and children of the ‘Dragon Brigade’ enjoyed complimentary bowling,

movies and billiards during the eventthatwas designed to celebrate the unit nearing the end ofthe its deployment; Spc. Keith Lance,Headquarters

and Headquarters Btry., 1st Bn., 6th FA Regt., 3IBCT, stands with his wife, Lauren, and children Fayelyn and Jeremiah in front of a M119 105mm

howitzer during the battalion’s Family Day on July 1st at Steeles Tank Range.The day provided an opportunityfor Families to see how their Soldiers

train in a field environment; Family members of 4th IBCT bowl April 11 at the Kansas-State Student Union during the “AlmostThere” celebration

that celebrated the ‘Dragon Brigade’ nearing the end of its deployment.

I think it’s good that the 

Family members form bonds 

before the Soldiers leave so 

that they know that they 

have a support group 

already in place for when 

their Soldier is deployed.”

Bobbi Hanlon,

Family readiness support assistant for 

‘Dagger’ Brigade’s FRG

Sgt. John Zumer, 3/1 IBCT PAO Courtesy Photo Courtesy Photo

(story continued on page 22)
22| www.riley.army.mil

(continued frompage 21)

tour to Iraq. Before the unit deploying, the FRG’s main focus revolves 

around uniting the Families with one 

another and providing them details 

of the unit’s deployment that do not 

endanger the mission. Conducting 

pre-deployment briefings where the 

commanders personally meet with 

the Families and are available to answer any questions are a good opportunity for the unit’s leadership to 

share the information with several 

Families at the same time. 

“The more information people 

have; the more comfortable they feel 

about the deployment,” Childs said. 

“Most of our FRGs had pre-deployment meetings attended by their company commander, where he or she 

presented a briefing specific to their 

company, detailing the mission, living 

Sgt. John Zumer, 3/1 IBCT PAO

Jamison Rubich, wife of Spc. Charles Rubich, an artilleryman with Bravo Battery, 1st Bn., 6th FA Regt., 3IBCT, looks down the sights of an M203

Grenade Launcher during the battalion’s Family Day on July 1st at Steeles Tank Range.The day provided an opportunityfor Families to see howtheir

Soldiers train in a field environment.

Stephanie Hoff, Duty First! Magazine

Soldiers of the Forward Support and Headquarters and Headquarters companies, 1st Eng. Bn.,

1st HBCT, stand attention in front of friends and Familymembers, Aug. 1 during a redeployment

ceremony in Building 88312. The battalion deployed in November 2009 to support the 555th

Engineer Brigade in Iraq.

conditions, etc. This was in addition to 

the battalion-wide pre-deployment 

briefings and was very well received 

by the families.” 

The briefings additionally offer an 

opportunity for new Families to the 

unit a chance to meet other Families 

and members of the FRG. Collecting 

up-to date contact information for the 

Family members to be reached during 

the deployment can also be conducted 

during the briefings. 

Both Hanlon and Childs then recommend that the FRG establishing a 

communication method that works 

best for each Family member, whether that be a phone call, e-mail or the 

unit’s virtual FRG site. 

“Communication is a key element in 

keeping a functioning FRG,” said Stacie 

Dumas, the family readiness support 

assistant for the division and Fort Riley. 

“When you lose contact with your Families, except for when you need something from them, they lose interest in 

being a part of the organization. Make 

Courtesy photo

Spouses participate in a cooking class Dec. 17 on Fort Riley as part of the ‘Hearts Apart’

program.The program is offered thru Army Community Services and offers support for Families whose service member is currently deployed or serving away from post for mission

requirements.

sure to keep communication lines open 

at all times.”

The next undertaking a FRG will 

generally undergo when facing a deployment, is the establishment of a core 

group of volunteers. The volunteers 

could be asked to assist with a wide variety of tasks from serving as key-callers 

to aid the FRG with disseminating information to assembling care packages 

for the deployed Soldiers. 

“Volunteers are key to helping 

Families during a deployment,” Childs 

said. “(The volunteers) have Families 

and jobs and school and deployment 

stresses just like everyone else, yet 

were willing to step up and be there 

for those who needed assistance. That's 

something pretty special.”

The 1st Inf. Div. is currently preparing to welcome home its Soldiers of the 

Combat Aviation and 1st Sustainment 

Brigades. As the redeployments approach, the FRGs generally play a vital 

role in not only providing current return information to the Families, but 

also can be heavily engaged in welcoming home the unit’s single Soldiers by 

decorating their barracks or assembling 

them care packets that can include towels, beverages and laundry detergent. 

From the day they are notified that 

their Soldier is to deploy, to the moment they welcome them back home, 

all the ladies agreed that the FRG’s 

main function is to provide service and 

assistance to the Families. 

 “FRG participation goes through a 

cycle during the deployment; high at 

the beginning and end, then often low 

in the middle,” Childs said. “I often 

think of the FRG as a security blanket; 

it makes us all feel a little better to have 

caring volunteers who we can turn to 

when needed.” 

 Duty First! March 2011 |23
24

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

By Sgt. Shantelle J. Campbell

4IBCT PAO Realizing the threats Soldiers face 

upon returning home from de-

ployment, the Army created 

and implemented a program called 

Warrior Adventure Quest.

The program, which was first intro-

duced to Soldiers in Vicenza, Italy, in 

September 2008, allows Soldiers to safe-

ly participate in high-adrenaline, highadventure outdoor recreational activities like rock-climbing, kayaking, paintball, adventure racing and mountain 

biking, among many others. 

“The Department of the Army was 

seeing increases in self-destructive, 

risky behavior in Soldiers that were re-

deploying from war zones,” said Travis 

Engle, the recreation specialist for Out-

door Recreation at Fort Riley. “In the 

hopes of decreasing the DUI’s, acci-

dents, marital issues and suicides, the 

Warrior Adventure Quest program was 

developed.”

“In the two years since implement-

ing the program, there have been 

marked improvements in Soldiers’ abil-

ities to reintegrate into garrison life,” he 

added.

Sgt. John Hilton, a lab technician 

with Company C, 701st Brigade Sup-

port Battalion, 4th Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team, said that participating in 

Warrior Adventure Quest was a great 

experience and helped establish even 

more cohesion within his unit.

“When we came back from Iraq, ev-

eryone came back in increments and 

were going different directions,” Hilton 

said. 

“Then, when we did these activities—

the rock-climbing and the paintball—

they kind of brought everybody back 

together,” Hilton added. “This program, 

I think it did just what it was supposed 

to do. Everyone had fun and it increased 

unit morale. It was just awesome.” 

For Spc. Andrea Perry, a medic with 

Co. C, 701st BSB, taking part in the 

WAQ activities made the integration 

into the unit a lot easier.

“I had just gotten to the company,” 

Perry said. 

The program “was great for me by 

being so new,” she added, “to be able to 

interact with people outside of work 

and get to know Soldiers that I hadn’t 

talked to yet. It really helped me feel 

more comfortable here in the company 

and after getting back from the event, 

just having a way to relate. When I got 

here, I felt kind of out of it because ev-

erybody had deployed together, and I 

was kind of the outsider but ... doing 

programs like this helps me to kind of 

feel part of the company.” 

The activities offered through the 

WAQ program are designed for pla-

toon-sized elements. Each platoon must 

have at least two trainers who have at-

tended the WAQ leader lead after-ac-

tion debrief training. The training is 

conducted Mondays at 9 a.m. at Fort Ri-

ley’s Outdoor Recreation Center, 9011 

Rifle Range Road. The training and ac-

tivities must be scheduled in advance.

With this program, “Soldiers see each 

other in different circumstances and sit-

uations that would normally not hap-

pen,” Engle said. “They still work and 

function as a unit but there is the realiza-

tion that there is more to the individual 

than what is seen during work duties. 

There is growth within the group as well 

as growth within the individual.” 

Warrior Adventure 

Quest helps Soldiers, 

units find ‘new 

normal’ after 

deployment

Courtesy photo

A Soldier with Co. C, 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th IBCT, conceals himself dur-

ing a paintball event, one of many activities offered through the Warrior Adventure 

Quest program. 

Courtesy Photo

Soldiers of Co. C, 701st Brigade Support Battalion, 4th IBCT, harness up for rock-climbing, one

ofmany of the high-adrenaline, high-adventure activities offered through the Warrior Adventure

Quest program.
26| www.riley.army.mil Duty First! March 2011 |27

Spc. Chris Burke was home from his 

second deployment with the Combat 

Aviation Brigade and jumped into a 

foam pit while practicing gymnastics. 

Chris’s mother Lynda said she didn’t 

expect him to be injured in an accident 

on mid-tour leave, since he already had 

made it through one full and one partial 

tour of duty in combat.

“As a parent, I remember telling all 

of our kids, ‘Don't do that or you will 

fall and break your neck.’ I think most 

parents say that at one time or another 

to their children, but none of us really 

thinks it will happen,” Lynda said.

 “During his deployment, his youngest siblings both worked really hard at 

learning to do gymnastics like their big 

brother. They ask him to take them up 

so they could show him. While they 

were all working out, Chris did a back 

flip into the foam pit and had too much 

power and hit the wall inside the foam 

pit splitting his head open and leaving 

him paralyzed due to a C-6 Burst fracture when his head came into contact 

with the concrete wall inside the foam 

pit,” Lynda said.

The doctors treating him predicted a 

bleak prognosis.

“The doctors said I probably 

wouldn’t make it through the night, 

and if I did, I wouldn’t walk again,” 

Chris said.

A little more than four months into 

his recovery, Chris has made significant 

progress thanks to quality health care, a 

strong support system and his own 

positive attitude.

“Chris is a very remarkable determined young man. I believe that is reason he is doing so well is his determination not to be paralyzed for the rest of 

his life, along with all of the wonderful 

doctors, nurses and therapists that have 

helped,” Lynda said.

Following the accident, Dr. Matthew 

Wills, a neurosurgeon at Stormont Vail 

Health Center in Topeka, Kan., performed a surgery to replace a vertebra 

and fuse three together. It was thought 

Chris would require two to three more 

surgeries, but the initial surgery went 

so well, Chris has not required any follow-up surgeries.

“The surgery went well. He did a 

fantastic job,” Chris said. “I’m at the 

point where I can stand up and take a 

few steps. It blew the neurosurgeon 

away. I’m progressing way faster than 

he could have ever hoped,” Chris said.

Doctors told Chris and his Family it 

likely would take eight months to a year 

before he could possibly try to walk 

with prosthetics, but Chris uses a 

wheelchair and is progressing much 

more quickly than expected.

“He was strong before, but I credit 

the Army with making him even stronger,” Lynda said.

He credits his strong support system 

with sustaining him in his recovery.

“The biggest thing has been Family 

support and support of my fellow Soldiers. The upper command and (noncommissioned officers) have supported 

me through this whole thing. My mom 

has been a tremendous support asset to 

me. Everything—it’s been spectacular,” 

Chris said.

Keeping a positive attitude hasn’t always been easy, but Chris said he has 

come to believe it’s necessary for him. 

“I wanted to just give up ... but it 

doesn’t help feeling sorry for yourself. 

The only thing that helps is persistence. 

Every day for me is a blessing. I 

shouldn’t have lived past July (23),” 

Burke said.

“A lot of days Chris is so down and 

feels like giving up—like there is no hope 

for his future and those are the hardest 

days on me and his dad. I have to do everything I can to keep him motivated and 

to try to help him realize his life is not 

over. In the very beginning he was so depressed thinking his life and career were 

over, but with everyone's help he made 

remarkable progress and he saw the hope 

life still had,” Lynda said.

Lynda, whose husband is currently 

deployed, takes care of Chris and oversees his recovery.

“As far as me handling this, I do because what other choice is there? 

Whether it is your husband, child or 

parent--when something horrible happens you just have to step up and do 

whatever is needed. I am not doing 

anything anyone else in my shoes 

would not do,” Lynda said. “I know 

that to my son, I am doing a lot, but in 

reality I am only doing what anyone 

would do.”

Chris is continuing his recovery in 

Fort Riley’s Warrior Transition Battalion, a unit within the Fort Riley Medical 

Department Activity for wounded, injured and ill Soldiers to focus on healing. Chris said he is working through a 

medical board to determine what will 

happen with his career.

He hopes he can reclassify to position in the Army depending on what he 

can do physically, he said.

“I love the Army. I love everything it 

does. I’m hoping for the best. I’ll just 

kind of have to see where this goes,” 

Chris said.

“I try to keep him motivated every 

day and to reinforce that he is our child; 

not a burden and that with his determination and hard work, he will continue 

to recover. I also remind him that he is 

already doing a million times better 

than anyone ever expected and it is all 

due to his strength and determination. 

Chris is a remarkable young man, and 

his dad and I are proud to be his parents,” Lynda said.

Alison Kohler, MEDDAC

Spc. Chris Burke, warrior in transition in the

Warrior Transition Battalion, walks down the

hallway with help from Jennifer Zentz, a physical therapist at themild traumatic brain injury

clinic Dec. 17.

Alison Kohler, MEDDAC PAO

Spc. Chris Burke, warrior in transition in the WarriorTransition Battalion, tries tomaintain his balance on a Propiomachine during physical therapy on Dec. 17, 2010.

A SPORTING ACCIDENT THAT 

IMMEDIATELY PARALYZED A 

SOLDIER WHILE HE WAS HOME ON 

MID-TOUR LEAVE LEFT LITTLE 

HOPE FOR A GOOD OUTCOME.

Alison Kohler, MEDDAC Public Affairs
28| www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision Duty First! March 2011 |29

BAGHDAD—Medics with Co. 

C, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., 2nd Advise and Assist Brigade passed on 

their experience on to their Iraqi 

Army counterparts during a combat lifesaver course in January at 

the Besmaya Combat Training 

Center. 

The three-day course focused on 

essential first-aid tasks that every 

medic must be able to perform to save 

lives in a combat environment.

“The Americans have passed on 

their experience and education and 

that has been a great benefit to us,” 

said Iraqi Army Lt. Mohammad 

Oday, the senior medic at the aid 

station on Besmaya Combat Training Center.

The training was organized and 

taught by Staff Sgt. Eric Ring and 

Pfc. Glenn Dingus both medics with 

Co. C, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt.

Ring said one challenge has been 

making the training simple enough 

to demonstrate.

“Translation of the medical terminology can make the training 

difficult,” he said. “To work 

through this, we planned ahead 

and used basic terms to describe 

procedures.”

Dingus, who is on his first deployment, said working with the 

Iraqi medics has helped him.

“Training the Iraqi medics is a 

way to stay sharp and improve my 

teaching abilities,” he said.

Capt. Brent Pafford and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mason McDonald, 

Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav. Regt., 

Combat Aviation Brigade, received 

Purple Hearts on Jan. 6 for wounds 

received in action. The pilots, serving 

with Troop A, 1st Sqdn., 6th Cav. 

Regt., Combat Aviation Brigade, 1st 

Infantry Division, were injured when 

small arms fire hit their aircraft in October of 2010. 

Deployment ceremonymarks

3IBCT departure to Afghanistan

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Soldiers of the 

3rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted a deployment ceremony Dec. 9 

at Brooks Field, Fort Knox, Ky. The brigade deployed in January to eastern Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. 

Their mission is to assist Afghan national security forces in protecting the 

Afghan people, neutralizing insurgency 

and setting conditions necessary for 

successful transition of regional control 

to the Afghan government.

The deployment ceremony is a military tradition which acts as a farewell 

to departing Soldiers and recognizes 

the sacrifices they and their Families 

will make in defense of the country. 

During the ceremony, the brigade colors were cased in preparation for overseas travel.

Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, commanding general of U.S. Army Accessions Command and Fort Knox, presided over the ceremony. 

The ceremony marks the beginning 

of a yearlong deployment and commitment to helping the Afghan government and combating insurgency, Freakley said.

Freakley advised the Soldiers to 

“trust in your training, trust in your 

equipment, trust in your leaders, be 

ready, and you will prevail.”

SpecialTroops Battalion goes

through training exercises

FORT RILEY, Kan.—Soldiers of the 

Special Troops Battalion, 4th Infantry 

Brigade Combat Team, conducted a 

situational training exercise designed 

to challenge and sharpen their basic 

Soldier skills.

During the training, four-man 

squads conducted an eight-mile ruck 

march, tested their skills in clearing, 

disassembling and reassembling the 

M-4 carbine assault rifle and M-249B 

machine gun, performed proper vehicle maintenance and treated and evacuated casualties. 

Spc. Jeffrey Fuggit of Headquarters 

and Headquarters Company, 4-1 BSTB, 

said the training was a great opportunity for Soldiers to familiarize themselves with their equipment, vehicles 

and weapons.

During the final event, Soldiers responded to a scenario in a simulated 

urban training environment in which 

a local sheik alerted U.S. Forces of 

possible explosives in a nearby house. 

The Soldiers had to investigate the report by talking to the sheik and then 

proceed to clear and search the 

house.

Spc. Gilbert Macias of A Co., 4-1 

BSTB, said the training was tough, but 

he enjoyed it.

“It was challenging, but it was also 

great motivation to get in better shape and 

improve myself,” he said. “Overall, it was 

a really good training experience.”

Iron Rangerswill bemaking

historyin Afghanistan

FORT RILEY, Kan.—A 1st Infantry 

Division unit that is well-known for its 

historical lineage will add another 

score to its long lists of achievements. 

Family and friends bid farewell to 

more than 800 Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment, 1st 

Heavy Brigade Combat Team, during a 

deployment ceremony Jan. 7 at King 

Field House. 

The Soldiers of the “Iron Rangers” 

are scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan during the month of January for 

a year-long mission. Once in theater, 

the unit’s mission will be to conduct 

village stability operations, which 

will require them to assist locals in 

defending their regions and helping 

them create the security required to 

execute further structural and economic stability. 

Once the Iron Rangers touch ground 

in Afghanistan, they will not only be 

making new history for their regiment, 

but also their brigade. The battalion is 

the first unit to deploy to Afghanistan 

since the brigade was modularized under current Army standards. The brigade currently has its headquarters 

and other elements serving in Iraq. The 

brigade was previously set to deploy as 

a whole entity to Iraq before it received 

new orders that would then only require a portion of its Soldiers to deploy 

last September. 

Around the DIVISION

Contributed photo

Shown fromleft,

following the

ceremony, are

Command Sgt.

Maj. Jim

Thomson, Capt.

Brent Pafford,

Chief Warrant

Officer 2 Mason

McDonald, and

Col. Frank Muth.

CAB pilots receive Purple Hearts

Medics share skills

Spc. William Ermatinger, 2nd AAB

Staff Sgt. Eric Ring, third fromleft, a combatmedic with Co. C, 1st Bn., 18th Inf. Regt., 2nd

Advise and Assist Brigade, explains how to treatfor airin the chest cavityto Iraqimedics on

Jan. 9 during a three-day course atthe aid station atthe Besmaya CombatTraining Center.
LOOKING FOR INFORMATION 

ABOUT THE BIG RED ONE?

www.riley.army.mil

www.facebook.com/1stInfantryDivision

twitter.com/fightingfirst

www.flickr.com/photos/firstinfantrydivision

www.facebook.com/FortRiley

www.facebook.com/4thManeuverEnhancementBrigade

www.facebook.com/2hbct1id