Hello from sunny Fort Bliss, Texas. My name is Lt. Col. Chris Cooksey and I am the commander of the 2d Battalion, 198th Armor Regi-ment headquartered in Senatobia, Miss. The 2-198th is one of three combined arms battalions that

make up the fighting power of the 155th ABCT. The 2-198th has units spread across north Mississippi to include Hernando, Indianola, Oxford and Greenwood.

Like all units of the 155th ABCT, the 2-198th is train-ing hard in preparation for the upcoming deployment. Recently the 2-198th units completed the Company Combined Arms Live Fire Exercise that is commonly known in the military as the CALFEX. This is a culmi-nating event for a unit that brings to bear all the en-ablers of the Brigade in one live-fire scenario. During the 2-198th CALFEX each company incorporates in-direct fires from the field artillery, breaching operations from the engineers, and scouts and mortars from our

own battalion. This operation was a huge success and was a very important step in the validation of this battalion and the Brigade.

So what’s next for the 2-198th? In the next few weeks we will graduate to battalion operations to in-clude staff planning exercises, battalion maneuvers, and begin loading and preparing for our move over-seas. No matter what the challenge or event, the 2-198th will live up to it’s motto “We came to fight” and meet the challenge head on.

I want to close by saying thank you to the Soldiers of this Brigade and their families. I am amazed every day when I see the motivation, dedication, and esprit de corps these citizen Soldiers possess. Additionally, I know there are loved ones who are “soldiering” in their own way back home. Thank you for your many sacri-fices and all you do, God Bless!

“We came to fight!”

Cottonmouth 6

Volume 1 Issue 6 May 1, 2018

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THIS ISSUE

From the Top Pg. 1

Current News Pg. 1

Frontline Frames Pg. 2

Play It Safe Pg. 2

Chappy’s Chat Pg. 3

Putting it Together Pg. 3

Commo Check Pg. 4

Thunder TimesA Bi-Monthly Chronicle of the

155th Armored Brigade Combat Team

CURRENT NEWS

Lt. Col. Chris Cooksey2-198 AR

Commander

FROM THE TOP

“I commend our U.S. Army Soldiers, assigned to the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team... in their dedi-cation and selfless service as they prepare to deploy to Kuwait for Operation Spartan Shield.” - Mark T. Esper, Secretary of the Army

Secretary of the Army Mark T. Esper came out to visit with Soldiers of the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team near Orogrande, N.M., April 19, 2018. The Guardsmen are training in preparation for a deployment to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. Brittany Johnson)

155th ABCTFAMILY READINESS24 HOUR HOTLINE

601-313-0155

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FRONTLINE FRAMES

Soldiers with the 106th Support Battalion prepare a patient for transport during a mass casualty exercise.

(Photo by Sgt. Brittany Johnson)

Company C, 2-137th IN conducts platoon qualification near Oro Grande, N.M.

(Photo by Sgt. BrittanyJohnson)

Spc. John Leonard and Sgt. Justin Folsom, from Headquarters Company, 2-137th IN, fill sand bags to improve their position.

(Photo by Sgt. Maj. Brent Anders)

Soldiers with Company A, 2-137 IN, prepare to receive a briefing.

(Photo by Sgt. Maj. Brent Anders)

SAFETY

PROTECT YOUR HANDS FROM HAZARDS People take their hands for granted until they have an injury.

Be proactive in protecting yourself and your fellow Soldiers.

Don’t Take Your Hands For Granted:• TC’S INSPECT ALL MILES GEAR TO ENSURE LOADER’S HATCH IS SECURE

• TC’S ENSURE LOADER’S HATCH IS LOCKED BEFORE MOVEMENT

• BC’S ENSURE DRIVER’S HATCH IS SECURE PRIOR TO ENTERING VEHICLE

• DRIVERS VISUALLY AND PHYSICALLY INSPECT THE LATCH DURING PMCS

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Soldiers “lose comms” every day and it drastically impacts our training. Often we simply do not know how to operate the system. But we can com-municate successfully through adequate training, practice, and experience.The same is true in our spiritu-

al lives. Just as Soldiers can be intimidated by filling a radio, many Soldiers feel inadequate

communicating with God by prayer. Jesus taught His disciples to pray through the Model Prayer: “Our Father in heaven, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us into

temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen” (Matthew 6:9-13 HCSB). Just as we have a PACE plan for communication, here is

a Prayer PACE Plan to help you pray.P – Praise God. “Your name be honored as holy.”

Praise God for all that He is doing in your life.A – Admit Fault. “Forgive us our debts.” We all are sin-

ners yet God promises to forgive us because of His great love for us.C – Concerns. “Deliver us from the evil one.” Ask God

for help with everything that you are facing.E – Expect Results. “Your will be done.” Have confi-

dence that God hears your prayers.Hopefully this PACE Prayer Plan will help you get com-

ms up with God today. Steel Rain!

CH Scott Edwards

1st Lt. Scott EdwardsChaplain, 2-114 FA

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

CHAPPY’S CHAT

An engine must have the right parts in the right place to work properly. The same can be said about the Army. When a Soldier joins the Army they join a team, and any successful team has numerous parts that must work together to get the job done. Each member’s job is important to keep operations going, but they all have their own challenges.Pfc. John Banks, assigned to Company F, 106th Support Battalion,

along with Spc. Nicholas Ware and Sgt. Clayton Kitchens, plays an im-portant role as a bradley mechanic. The Soldiers work together to make sure any vehicle that comes their way is up and running as quickly as possible so there is minimum delay in the completion of the mission.“My job is working on the schematics on the inside of the Bradley, which

includes all of the cables, wiring, motor, and transmission,” said Banks.For them to get their job done, they must determine what exactly is

causing the issue. To do this they use a vehicle diagnostic management system (VDMS), this tells them what part of the vehicle is malfunctioning.“We run VDMS which tell you what’s wrong with the machine, and what

you need to do to replace it,” said Banks.The next phase is getting the part and putting it in. This typically takes

the longest, because once they determine what piece may need replac-

ing, that part must be ordered and takes time to get delivered out to the mechanics working in the desert.“The speed of the process depends on how fast the parts come in,”

said Banks. “When the parts come in we can get it done pretty quickly.”Growing up with a dad who worked on cars, Banks feels right at home

around vehicles. This influenced him to choose the military occupational specialty of Bradley Fighting Vehicle System Maintainer.“He wasn’t a mechanic, but he knew what needed to be done,” said

Banks. “It gave me a general direction in what I needed to do.”No matter how much you like your job, everyone comes to obstacles

that are going to make the situation tough. The key is to stay motivated.There are going to be hard times especially when you’re out in the field

in the middle of nowhere, but if you stay motivated everything else falls into place, said Banks.“As long as you keep a good mindset you can make anything happen,”

said Banks.No matter how big or small a part may seem, every team member is

crucial in accomplishing the mission.

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IMPORTANT NUMBERS DEERS Enrollment - 1-800-538-9552Military One Source - 1-800-342-9647155th FRG Hotline - 1-601-313-0155

(Available 24/7)

PARTING SHOT

An M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank with Company C, 2-137 IN conducts platoon qualification near Oro Grande, N.M.

(Photo by Staff Sgt. Michael Williams)

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COMMO CHECK!WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

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Homepage@155ABCT

MAIL CALL!The last recommended day to send mail is May 8. Packages mailed after this date may not be received by your Soldier at Ft. Bliss. Mail will not be delivered after May 18 and will be forwarded to Kuwait.

Sgt. Lammi Micha and Spc. Antonika Aaron with Company C, 106th Support Battalion rehearse their skills during a Mass

Casualty Exercise near McGregor, New Mexico. (Photo by Sgt. Brittany Johnson)

A Paladin from Charlie Battery, 2d Battalion 114th FA shoots to certify during

Table VI section certification.(2-114th FA Courtesy Photo)

FRONTLINE FRAMES

PUBLISHED BY THE

155TH ABCT PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICEPAO - 2nd Lt. Terry Hill II

PAO NCOIC - Staff Sgt. Michael Williams

PA SPECIALIST - Sgt. Brittany Johnson

PA SPECIALIST - Spc. Jovi Prevot