Inside this issue Message from RG6/RG9 2 St. Barb’s Ball 3 Medic’s instruct JROTC Cadets 4 Phoenix Communication 6 Promotions and Re-up 12 The Rail Gunner Monthly Staff Commander COL William E. McRae Command Sgt. Maj. CSM Kelvin A. Hughes Rail Gunner PAO NCOIC SSG Kyle J. Richardson 41st Fires Brigade “Rail Gunners!!” FORT HOOD, Texas—There were no horse-drawn carriages seen on this night. It was more plausible to say “Cinderella arrived at the ball on an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.” For the Rail Gunners, these artillerymen started the night in style. Cannons lined the walkway leading up to the Bell County Expo Center and ice sculptures decorated the foyer. The Soldiers, leaders and family members of the 41st Fires Brigade took part in the annual Saint Barbara’s Day Ball, Dec. 9. St. Barbara is the patron saint of the Field Artillery. The celebration is traditionally held during the first week of December. Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson 41st Fires Brigade, PAO VOLUME 3 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 1 Photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson , 41st Fires Brigade PAO Command Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Hughes, command sergeant major for the 41st Fires Brigade, checks the Red Leg status of the newest lieutenants in the brigade during the annual St. Barbara’s Day Ball held at the Bell County Expo Center, Dec. 9. The 16 new lieutenants recited the lieutenants’ oath during the ceremony. See BALL on Page 3
Transcript
Inside this
issue
Message from
RG6/RG9
2
St. Barb’s Ball 3
Medic’s instruct JROTC
Cadets
4
Phoenix
Communication
6
Promotions and Re-up 12
The Rail Gunner
Monthly Staff
Commander
COL William E. McRae
Command Sgt. Maj.
CSM Kelvin A. Hughes
Rail Gunner PAO
NCOIC
SSG Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade
“Rail Gunners!!”
FORT HOOD, Texas—There were no horse-drawn carriages seen on this night. It was more plausible to say “Cinderella arrived at the ball on an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket System.” For the Rail Gunners, these artillerymen started the night in
style. Cannons lined the walkway leading up to the Bell County Expo Center and ice sculptures decorated the foyer. The Soldiers, leaders and family members of the 41st Fires Brigade took part in the annual Saint Barbara’s Day Ball, Dec. 9. St. Barbara is the patron saint of the Field Artillery. The celebration is traditionally held during the first week of December.
Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
VOLUME 3 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 1
Photo by Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson , 41st Fires Brigade PAO
Command Sgt. Maj. Kelvin Hughes, command sergeant major for the 41st Fires Brigade, checks the Red Leg status of the
newest lieutenants in the brigade during the annual St. Barbara’s Day Ball held at the Bell County Expo Center, Dec. 9. The 16
new lieutenants recited the lieutenants’ oath during the ceremony.
See BALL on Page 3
Rail Gunner 6 & 9 Send tricably tied to our Rail Gunner de-sire to be an “Elite” organization. We challenge every Soldier to strive to elevate their efforts to at-tain this goal. In the upcoming months, we’ll focus on our readiness to deploy anywhere, on a moment’s notice. While this is nothing new to our Army’s traditional rapid deployment forces, it is a new mission for the 41st Fires Brigade. We’re up to the challenge! While doing this, we’ll also take our sections and platoons to the field for individual and sec-tion qualification, and change the fundamental shape of our forma-tion, moving both equipment and personnel with the brigade to trans-form ourselves to fight and win our nation’s future wars. This year will even busier than the last, so we’ll need to roll up our sleeves, and get after the business at hand. We’ve all seen the news recently, and make no mistake, our Army will be-come smaller and leaner. Our Sol-diers must be ready, both mentally and physically, to make the com-petitive cut necessary to stay in our profession of arms. Finally, we’d like to congratulate our newest First Sergeants and Commanders. CPT Jessica Davilla assumed command of the 575th Forward Support Company from CPT Vanessa Hooper-Yan. CPT Ogden Nash took command of A-26th FA from CPT Dash Ballarta. 1SG Christian Bellota assumed re-sponsibility of A/2-20 FA from 1SG Antoine Reese, CPT Chris Burton passed the guidon for A/2-20 FA to CPT Jean Dragan, and CPT Carlos Ware changed command with CPT
Colonel
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY JANUARY 2012
William E. McRae
41st Fires Brigade
Command Sergeant Major
Dear Rail Gunner Family, Thank you for your outstanding contributions to our Army and our Nation throughout 2011. The 41st Fires Brigade team also continued to distinguish itself in both the Fort Hood and Central Texas commu-nity. Your continued pursuit of ex-cellence will undoubtedly yield the same fantastic results in 2012. Now that we’ve safely through negotiated the traditional hazards associated with the holiday sea-son, let’s take time to reflect on the lessons from 2011, and re-solve to apply them in the upcom-ing year. Our leaders must stay proactively engaged with our for-mations and take care of our troops and their Families. Simply talking about this is not enough. As always, our actions speak louder than words, and our ability to meet 2012’s challenges is inex-
The “Rail Gunner Monthly” is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the
“Rail Gunner Monthly” are not necessarily official views of or endorsed by the U.S. Government, Depart-
ment of Defense, Department of the Army or the 41st Fires Brigade. All editorial content of this publication
is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 41st Fires Brigade Public Affairs Office. If you have any
questions, comments, concerns or suggestions contact the 41st Fires Brigade PAO office at 254-287-0739 or
email [email protected]. Check out the unit’s Website at http://www.hood.army.mil/41stFires
or on Facebook for additional information.
Kelvin Hughes
41st Fires Brigade CSM
Cliff Pullig. Finally, 1SG David Udy passed responsibility of A/26 to 1SG Jeremy Hall. Our leaders are in place and eager to work with our Soldiers and Families. Thanks to those who’ve relin-quished command, for all of your dedication and hard work. With 2012 already underway, CSM Hughes and I are proud of your efforts. Leaders, continue to stay engaged with your Soldiers. Soldiers, work your hardest to support your units and your team-mates. To our Families, thank you for your many sacrifices as your loved ones to serve in the 41st Fires Brigade. I look forward to everyone’s future accomplish-ments. Let’s all work hard, and never relent in our pursuit of excel-lence. Rail Gunner Strong!
tired, the dance floor was open to the crowd. “What I enjoyed the most was seeing everyone as their normal, everyday self,” said Spc. Heriberto Valdespino, MLRS crewmember, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 41st Fires Brigade. “Events like the St. Bar-bara’s Day Ball, gives us a chance to see other sides of our leadership and build on our ca-maraderie outside of the bri-gade. Seeing everyone here just adds to the sense of pride that I have in the unit.”
BALL cont. from Page 1
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 3
Along with honoring the pa-tron saint of artillerymen every-where, the ball presented an op-portunity for Soldiers and family members to bond in the tradi-tions and heritage of the United States Army Field Artillery. “I’m especially pleased to see our young Soldiers out here to-night,” said Col. William McRae, Brigade Commander for the 41st Fires Bde. “St. Barbara is a part of our history dating back to World War I. Our Soldiers should be proud of what they’ve done and what they will continue to do as Redlegs.” One of the most anticipated traditions of the evening was the revered punch-bowl ceremony. Select senior enlisted and officers mixed together various beverages to create a concoc-tion worthy enough for the strongest Redlegs. The most junior lieutenant within the bri-gade was chosen to drink first. For the final piece of the skit, the lieutenant was carried away on a litter.
“I didn’t know the senior leader-ship of the 41st Fires Bde. was so talented,” said Lt. Gen. Donald Campbell Jr., Com-manding General of III Corps. I’m glad to be here dur-ing this celebration that honors the tra-ditions and heritage of Redlegs around the world, but most importantly the fine Rail Gun-ners that stand
here before us.” After the grog, 23 Soldiers were in-ducted into the Order of Saint Barbara. To receive the military honor, inductees must demonstrate the high-est standards of integ-rity, moral character, and selflessly promote the Field Artillery. Andrya Rhodes, Alicia Schwarz, Cary Burton, Shannon Woods, Jessica Na-carrato, and Ann Campbell were be-stowed the Honorable Order of Molly Pitcher for volunteering and helping to improve the Field Artillery. As the night came to an end, the Sol-diers were able to en-joy an evening of tra-dition and fun. After the colors were re-
Soldiers with the 41st Fires Brigade assisted the Fort Hood Culinary Art
Team in creating an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems ice sculpture for
the annual St. Barbara’s Day. The Soldiers took more than 36 hours to create
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Brinton, command sergeant major for the 1st
Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, holds up the charge for the grog.
The charge is composed of last year’s grog and was buried at a training
area for safe keeping.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY JANUARY 2012
Medics teach life-saving techniques
See MEDICS on Page 5
life-saving techniques, ask prac-tical questions to medical spe-cialists, and interact with the younger medics. “The JROTC program teaches the cadets life skills that
will ultimately make our students better citizens,” said Command Sgt. Maj. (retired) Willie Jones, senior JROTC instructor for the A.J. Moore Academy. “The idea behind first aid is to build the confidence in the ca-dets so if something did happen they can take control of the situation and save a life or at least lend a hand.” Jones also said he requested a couple younger medics to come out because he wanted his cadets to see where they could be in two or three years. “First aid is a base skill that we learn before any other skill and it ties most of the other medical steps together,” said Pfc. Jacob Garlow, medical spe-cialist with the 41st Fires Bde. It’s good to be able to come out here and teach the cadets the basics. It wasn’t that long ago that I was in high school. It feels good to know that the cadets will
WACO, Texas—Six medics with the 41st Fires Brigade traveled to the A.J. Moore Academy in Waco, Texas to conduct medical training with the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets on Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 5-6. During the training, the ca-dets covered the Heimlich ma-neuver, first aid, and CPR. The classes were separated into two segments. The first segment was an instructional phase where the cadets covered the material in their textbooks. The second phase of training was mostly hands-on. Rail Gunner medics used videos and training manikins to help facilitate the medical training. The training provided an op-portunity for the cadets to learn
Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
Cadet 1st Sgt. Edith Perez looks on as Staff Sgt. Noel Hunter, aid station noncommissioned officer in charge for
the 41st Fires Brigade, locates Cadet Pfc. Tammy Ortiz, xiphoid process during the first aid class.
Staff Sgt. Angela Spence shows some of the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps cadets the look, listen, and
feel method. The cadets learn first aid in JROTC to help them to become better citizens.
The Soldiers told the cadets personal experi-ences, and broke down various medical tech-niques using real-world and battlefield scenar-ios. “First aid is very im-portant because you never know when you’re going to have to use it on someone or yourself,” said Cadet Pfc. Tammy Ortiz, a freshman at the A.J. Moore Academy. “I’m happy that the Soldiers came up to show us some life-saving steps. I feel confident that I could save a life if I had too.” One cadet had an
opportunity to share his story on the importance of first aid. “First aid is the most important lesson that I’ve learned in JROTC,” said Cadet
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 5
MEDICS cont. from Page 4
be a little more prepared to deal with situations in society. The 41st Fires medics took their time to ensure the cadets grasped the concepts behind the different life-saving techniques.
Maj. Robert Medina, a junior at the A.J. Moore Academy. “Awhile back, I had to use the Heimlich maneuver on my grandmother. She was talking to me from the other room and then I heard her wheezing. I got up to see what happened and when I saw her she was grab-bing her neck and that’s when I ran behind her. She helped to position my hands and after a few thrusts, she was breathing again.” As the final bell rung, the ca-dets were grateful that the Rail Gunner medics instructed their first aid class and left the class with the knowledge that could save a life.
Staff Sgt. Angela Spence, a senior medic with the 41st Fires
Brigade, shows the Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps
cadets an alternative way to open the airway while doing CPR.
Pfc. Jacob Garlow holds open Cadet Pvt. Carlos Pena’s airway
during the demonstration
Staff Sgt. Angela Spence, a senior medic with the 41st Fires Brigade, supervises Cadet Pvt. Carlos Pena and
Cadet Pvt. Guadalupe Lara, A.J. Moore Academy on how to perform CPR on an infant during the first aid
training given by the Rail Gunner medics. The cadets cover the Heimlich maneuver, first aid, and CPR.
Cadet 1st Sgt. Edith Perez, demonstrates the Heimlich maneuver
on Cadet Pfc. Tammy Ortiz in the seated position. The Rail Gunner
medics traveled to Waco during two different sessions, Nov. 28-29
and Dec. 5-6, to cover CPR, first aid, and the Heimlich maneuver.
Phoenix Soldiers green on communication Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
FORT HOOD, Texas—Communication is essential to the basic every day operations and it is the key to every suc-cessful mission in the Army. Like all others functional skill-sets, communication is a skill that requires constant training, upgrades, and evaluation. The Soldiers with the 324th Network Support Company, 41st Fires Brigade, participated in a mission readiness exercise providing communication sup-port between the 17th Fires Bri-gade located at Fort Lewis, Wash. and the Rail Gunners on Fort Hood, Dec. 5-15.
The Phoenix Soldiers trained up, established connec-tivity and monitored C4 sys-tems throughout the exercise.
C4 systems are vital computer systems and components used in establishing a connection be-tween the two units.
“It is always important to train,” said Capt. Eric Robert-son, the commander for the 324th NSC. “As signal Soldiers, our main training events occur when we establish connectivity and setup our equipment. These training events provide repetition and develop profi-ciency within our specialties”.
The main objective for the Phoenix Soldiers was to estab-lish a communication connec-tion between the two fires bri-gade through the use of a Joint Network Node and the Ad-vanced Field Artillery Tactical Data Systems (AFATDS). “It’s important to have your communication setup quickly and correctly, especially in a fires brigade,” said Cpl. Eric Cook, a nodal network systems
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY JANUARY 2012
operator maintainer, 324th NSC, 41st Fires Bde. “If your communication is down, then you can’t send out a fire mis-sion.” The 324th NSC Soldiers successfully established a sat-ellite link allowing the Rail Gun-ner Soldiers and Soldiers with the 17th Fires Bde. to commu-nicate using the Command Post of the Future, AFATDS, as well as using classified and un-classified internet lines. “We have two battalions running fires mission in a tacti-cal training environment right now,” said Chief Warrant Offi-cer 2 Kenn Jones, a network technician for the 41st Fires Bde. “Our training is essential to the success of the brigade. If we couldn’t do our job, then our artillery counterparts cannot conduct their missions. We have to stay proficient on cur-rent systems and new commu-nication equipment.”
Soldiers with the 324th Network Support Company prepares the Joint Network Node for connectivity during
the communication exercise.
Sgt. Michael Norton and Cpl. Eric Cook with the 324th
Network Switch Company, set up some communication
equipment inside a communication truck connected to the
Joint Network Node. The Phoenix Soldiers provided
support for the Rail Gunners and the 17th Fires Brigade
based out of Fort Lewis, Wash.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 7
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 1 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY JANUARY 2012
