Published in the interest of the Fort Carson Community. Visit the Fort Carson website at http://www.carson.army.mil. Vol. 78, No. 40 Oct. 9, 2020 Gates 2, 6, and 19 are closed Oct. 9 and Oct. 12 for the Columbus Day DONSA and training holidays Combat ready Photo by Sgt. Andrew Greenwood Soldiers from Dakota Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct gunnery Table V Sept. 9 on Fort Carson. Tank crew members qualified on the M1A2 Abrams Battle Tank to increase lethality for combat readiness. See the story on pages 12-13. Suicide Prevention Month Leaders encourage Soldiers to heed warning signs By Joseph Lacdan Army News Service WASHINGTON — The Army has not lost a single active-duty Soldier to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service’s top uniformed leader said Thursday. But the restrictions following the virus’ onset may have affected the mental health of some Soldiers. The Army reported that the active-duty suicide rate has risen in 2020, following the implementation of stay-at-home restrictions in March. The Army’s senior leaders have met each month to address suicide prevention and how to mitigate cases. Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville cited suicides as one of the three most difficult issues currently faced by the Army. The other two are sexual harassment/ assault and extremism. McConville called suicides the “hardest” problem to solve among the three. “One of my biggest concerns is that we have young men and women who think things have gotten so bad that they don’t want to live,” McConville told Soldiers from his Pentagon office during a livestream of the 2020 Army Fires Conference. “All of us go through adversity in life. And all of us need a helping hand. All of us fail. When people fail, you’ve got to be there for them.” Numbers began to increase in the last quarter of 2019 through the third quarter of 2020, and continued to increase since the pandemic’s onset, said James A. Helis, head of the Army Resilience Directorate. He added that neither the National Guard nor the Army Reserve have seen a significant change in suicide numbers. “We don’t know what is causing this persistent rise. We can say that it’s been recognized by Army leadership at all echelons,” Helis said. “Army leadership is committed to solving and addressing this problem.” McConville said responsibility falls upon each Soldier to recognize suicide warning signs. Among them are financial problems and a lack of interest in work tasks. Army leaders cannot definitively attribute COVID-19 as the reason for the spike, but acknowledge the timeline coincides with the pandemic’s spread. Even amid a pandemic — that McConville said he does not expect to end any time soon — Soldiers still must be tasked for missions and deployments as well as attend training. Soldiers with Families also had to cope with the loss of child care for a period of time and many had to assist their children with remote schoolwork. The combined factors of pandemic restrictions and uncertainty while meeting duty standards could lead to added stress, Helis said. See Prevention on Page 4
Transcript
Published in the interest of the Fort Carson Community. Visit the Fort Carson website at http://www.carson.army.mil.
Vol. 78, No. 40Oct. 9, 2020
Gates 2, 6, and 19 are closed
Oct. 9 and Oct. 12 for the Columbus Day DONSA and
training holidays
Combat ready
Photo by Sgt. Andrew Greenwood
Soldiers from Dakota Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct gunnery Table V Sept. 9 on
Fort Carson. Tank crew members qualified on the M1A2 Abrams Battle Tank to increase lethality for combat readiness. See the story on pages 12-13.
Suicide Prevention Month
Leaders encourage Soldiers to heed warning signsBy Joseph LacdanArmy News Service
WASHINGTON — The Army has not lost a single active-duty Soldier to the COVID-19 pandemic, the service’s top uniformed leader said Thursday. But the restrictions following the virus’ onset may have affected the mental health of some Soldiers.
The Army reported that the active-duty suicide rate has risen in 2020, following the implementation of stay-at-home restrictions in March.
The Army’s senior leaders have met each month to address suicide prevention and how to mitigate cases.
Chief of Staff Gen. James C. McConville cited suicides as one of the three most difficult issues currently faced by the Army. The other two are sexual harassment/assault and extremism. McConville called suicides the “hardest” problem to solve among the three.
“One of my biggest concerns is that we have young men and women who think things have gotten so bad that they don’t want to live,” McConville told Soldiers from his Pentagon office during a livestream of the 2020 Army Fires Conference. “All of us go through adversity in life. And all of us need a helping hand. All of us fail. When people fail, you’ve got to be there for them.”
Numbers began to increase in the last quarter of 2019 through the third quarter of 2020, and continued to increase since the pandemic’s onset, said James A. Helis, head of the Army Resilience Directorate. He added that neither the National Guard nor the Army Reserve have seen a significant change in suicide numbers.
“We don’t know what is causing this persistent rise. We can say that it’s been recognized by Army leadership at all echelons,” Helis said. “Army leadership is committed to solving and addressing this problem.”
McConville said responsibility falls upon each Soldier to recognize suicide warning signs. Among them are financial problems and a lack of interest in work tasks.
Army leaders cannot definitively attribute COVID-19 as the reason for the spike, but acknowledge the timeline coincides with the pandemic’s spread. Even amid a pandemic — that McConville said he does not expect to end any time soon — Soldiers still must be tasked for missions and deployments as well as attend training.
Soldiers with Families also had to cope with the loss of child care for a period of time and many had to assist their children with remote schoolwork. The combined factors of pandemic restrictions and uncertainty while meeting duty standards could lead to added stress, Helis said.
See Prevention on Page 4
Display / Classified advertising 634-5905
Mountaineer editor 526-4144
Post information 526-5811
Post weather hotline 526-0096
MOUNTAINEERCommanding General: Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane
Garrison Commander: Col. Nate Springer
Garrison Public Affairs Officer: Dee McNutt
Chief, Print and Web Communications: Rick Emert
Editor: Aleah M. Castrejon
Staff writer: Scott Prater
Sports writer: Walt Johnson
Layout/graphics: Jeanne Mazerall
2 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
CommentaryCommentary
This commercial enterprise newspaper is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of the Mountaineer are not necessarily the official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government or the Department of the Army. Printed circulation is 8,000 copies.
The editorial content of the Mountaineer is the respon sibility of the Public Affairs Office, Fort Carson, Colo., Tel.: 526-4144. The e-mail address is [email protected].
The Mountaineer is posted online at http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com.
The Mountaineer is an unofficial publication authorized by AR 360-1. The Mountaineer is printed by Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive written contract with Fort Carson. It is published 49 times per year.
The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, of the products or services advertised. The publisher reserves the right to reject advertisements.
Everything advertised in this publication shall be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, user or patron. If a violation or rejection of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the printer shall refuse to print advertising from that source until the violation is corrected. For display advertising call 634-5905.
All correspondence or queries regarding advertising and subscriptions should be directed to Colorado Springs Military Newspaper Group, 235 S. Nevada Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903, phone 634-5905.
The Mountaineer’s editorial content is edited, prepared and provided by the Public Affairs Office, building 1220, room 221, Fort Carson, CO 80913-5119, phone 526-4144.
Releases from outside sources are so indicated. The deadline for submissions to the Mountaineer is close of business Friday the week before the next issue is published. The Mountaineer staff reserves the right to edit submissions for newspaper style, clarity and typographical errors.
Policies and statements reflected in the news and editorial columns represent views of the individual writers and under no circumstances are to be considered those of the Department of the Army.
Reproduction of editorial material is authorized. Please credit accordingly.
Military 5 Shared experience builds greater capability 6 Fire prevention still vital 6 Command maintenance 8 Carson remembers Mounted
Color Guard founder 9 Foundational readiness day 10 Military briefs 12 IronBrigadeconductsfirstgunnery
since return from CENTCOM
Community 11 Community gathers pets for
blessings 16 The Journey (Chapel series): ‘Bury your
knees, not your head, in the sand’ 17 Community briefs
Sports 19 MPs continue winning ways
In addition 21 Classified
At a glanceAt a glance
5
6
11
Social Security Tax DeferralBy Headquarters, Department of the Army Assistant Secretary of the Army (Manpower and Reserve Affairs)/ Defense Collaboration Services G-1
What is it?Social Security tax deferral is a temporary relief
being provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on guidance from the Internal Revenue Service, a presidential memorandum has been issued to temporarily defer Social Security taxes. This change is effective from mid-September until December. Soldiers and civilian employees don’t have an option to opt out.
Individuals whose monthly basic pay is less than $8,666.66 will benefit from this deferral. Those with the monthly basic pay at or above this threshold will not be affected by the temporary deferral. This threshold was established by the Department of Treasury.
What are the current and past efforts of the Army?The Army is taking steps to notify and educate service
members and DA civilian employees of changes to their payroll tax withholding to allow them to plan ahead to pay back the withholding of the deferred taxes during the first four months of 2021.
• Effective mid-September to December: Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will temporarily defer the withholding of the 6.2% Social Security tax, to allow a larger paycheck.
• January - April: DFAS will begin collecting the tax deferment alongside the FICA tax deducted from
monthly pay, resulting in less money in the paycheck.If a military member or civilian employee separates
or retires in 2020 before the Social Security tax can be collected in 2021, they are still responsible for the Social Security tax repayment.
What continued efforts does the Army have planned?
The Army leaders encourage Soldiers and civilian employees to have a two-fold plan to account for the payback of the deferred social security taxes in January:
• Check: Leave and Earnings Statement in the deduction section for FICA-Social Security taxes to identify the amount deferred for the applicable pay period.
• Adjust: tax liabilities during the January through April time period. DFAS will administer the deferral and tax liability.
To avoid unnecessary hardship that may be brought on by additional spending decisions:
• Soldiers should consult with a personal financial manager or counselor at Army Community Service or contact Military OneSource for support.
• Civilian employees should seek advice from an Employee Assistance Program financial counselor.
Why is this important to the Army?Personal financial readiness is vital to overall Army
mission readiness. Army encourages its force to save the deferred money, or plan to adjust their spending to accommodate the payback.
NewsNews3Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
(719) 284-3258cslplasma.com
Why Donate Plasma?• Donating saves lives• Earn extra income• Be a part of something rewarding• Help others & give back to community
RECEIVE AN EXTRA $10*Show military ID and mention this ad to
Applicable for all eligible, qualified new donors.
Photoof the
DayShow us yours; we’ll show you ours! Local photographers — amateurs, pros, anyone in-between — we’re talking to you!We want your best photos of life in the Pikes Peak region:
the good, the bad, the embarrassingly ugly. We’ll prominently display your work in our brand new daily newsletter —
INDY NOW. Be featured with the news of the day, the arts and entertainment, food and political coverage the Indy is
famous for — now coming to you every day!
Submit your Photos of the Dayat csindy.com/photos.
Carson expands hours, services as case rate wanes
By Scott PraterMountaineer staff
Though the state and local Colorado Springs area have experienced slight increases in new COVID-19 cases the last two weeks of September, Fort Carson managed to defy that trend.
Maj. Gen. Matthew W. McFarlane, commanding general, 4th Infantry Division and Fort Carson; and Command Sgt. Maj. Adam Nash, senior enlisted leader, 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson, delivered the news during a COVID-19 town hall update from a Fort Carson training area Sept. 30.
“Off post, the upward trend (in new cases) is most likely due to Labor Day weekend activities and the continued expansion of in-person learning in schools,” McFarlane said. “The population who are most likely to be infected are those between the ages of 18-25; however, the Fort Carson community has not seen increases in cases — most likely due to our continued mitigation measures and the discipline of everyone in the community.”
Thanks to recent encouraging results, McFarlane
announced that Fort Carson is, once again, expanding services on post.
He began by stating that leaders are easing restrictions on visitor access. Battalion commander approval is no longer required for visitors, so DOD ID holders over the age of 18 may now sponsor non-DOD ID cards holders over the age of 18 to gain access to the installation for a five-day period. All visitors are still required to be screened with the standard COVID-19 questions at the Visitor Control Center to receive the five-day pass and sponsors must be present with their visitor. Visitors asking for long-term passes — one month to one year — will need to submit Fort Carson Form 2036.
The commanding general also announced that company sized formations are also permitted, as long as 6-foot distance rules are followed and masks are worn. Soldiers will no longer screen visitors at facilities on post, including the main Exchange, the commissary, mini mall and Evans Army Community Hospital (EACH). Soldiers will, however, act as roving guards at these locations to ensure people are wearing masks.
The easing restrictions and expanded services apply to a host of areas and facilities on post, including EACH, U.S. Army Dental Activity-Fort Carson, fitness centers and convenience stores. McFarlane asked community members to visit https://www.carson.army.mil and view the U.S. Army Garrison Installation Services document to gain more information on expanded services at specific locations.
While the post is in the midst of expanding services and hours, viewers learned that Army Community Service (ACS) has relocated to building 1201. McFarlane said all ACS programs have relocated to the new building and that community members can reach ACS at 526-4590.
See Town hall on Page 4
Photo courtesy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
4 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
“All of those things can amplify risks for behavioral health issues and potentially risks for death by suicide,” he said. “So we know that there was an increased strain on the force.”
Soldiers can help McConville said he learned about a sergeant major
who recently rescued a sergeant first class from suicide by intervening at the right time. The general urged Soldiers to follow the sergeant major’s example by stepping in when they suspect a colleague may be considering taking their own life.
Soldiers must f ind strength by leaning on fellow unit members and dealing with adversity as a group, McConville said.
When the pandemic began, the Army had many Soldiers telework for the first time and restrictions separated many from their units, which could have led to feelings of isolation. Army leaders encouraged Soldiers to have face-to-face meetings while still meeting safety requirements to assess warning signs of suicide or depression. And if Soldiers cannot meet in person, they can host teleconferences that allow supervisors to assess the well-being of their troops.
“That’s been a point of emphasis: that physical, face-to-face, interpersonal interaction with your Soldiers,” Helis said. “There’s virtual means where you can lay eyes on somebody. You just have to be creative, but also have to be diligent in finding those opportunities.”
Soldiers with suicidal thoughts can seek help by calling the Military Crisis Line at 800-273-8255.
Soldiers can also contact their post’s military health clinic, their supervisor or their unit chaplain.
Soldiers can overcome fear from failure in their military careers or home life with the support of their squads in the Army or in life, said Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael A. Grinston.
“Don’t be afraid to go through tough times,” Grinston said, during the conference Wednesday. “It’s going to make us stronger.”
Grinston said during his first weekend of active duty — at what is now Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, fellow Soldiers invited him and others living in the barracks to go skiing in the mountains. He said he could count on his fellow Soldiers to uplift him and said today’s Soldiers should do the same.
“That’s the value of life,” he said. “And it’s not what I want or what I don’t have. It’s what I have right in front of me. And every day, it’s there. We just have to sometimes show each other what it means to be alive.”
PreventionFrom Page 1
Signaling that mission operations continue to thrive at Fort Carson, the Army leaders delivered their latest update from a training area because they were in the midst of a command post exercise along with 4th Infantry Division Headquarters, Division Artillery Headquarters and 4th Sustainment Brigade Headquarters.
“This exercise is preparing us for a larger exercise coming up later this month and into November,” Nash said. “We’re pleased with the work we’re seeing from all participating units.”
McFarlane continued the update by announcing that Ivy Physical Fitness Center has replaced Waller Fitness Center as the 24-hour-Monday-Friday fitness center and that Ivy Warrior Restaurants are now offering limited seating for dine-in services.
“In line with state guidance, face coverings are required for use of all fitness centers, at all times, including during the use of cardio equipment,” he said.
As the post transitions into the autumn season, Nash announced the Directorate of Public Works has begun transitioning buildings from cooling to heating — with child care facilities, Soldier barracks and community services facilities the first to make the transition. He said the transition will be completed in remaining buildings by mid-October.
McFarlane capped the update by discussing upcoming Fort Carson October events, which include Fall Fest, Oct. 17; Make a Difference Day, Oct. 24; and Halloween activities Oct. 31.
Town hallFrom Page 3
PTO honors principal
Courtesy photos
Left: Michelle Canon, principal, Patriot Elementary School, sits during an outdoor assembly in her honor, while Dr. Lori Cooper, assistant superintendent, Fountain-Fort Carson School District 8 (FFC8), says a few words before an award presentation Oct. 2. Above: Louise Barnes, right, with the Patriot Elementary Parent Teacher Organization presents Canon with a state award as a token of appreciation, recognition and support for her commitment to the school. In May, Canon was named the 2020 Colorado Rookie of the Year for Elementary Schools by the Colorado Association of School Executives (CASE) and the Colorado Association of Elementary School Principals (CAESP). Canon was selected for this honor by her peers through a rigorous and competitive process facilitated by CAESP. She has been the principal at Patriot Elementary School on Fort Carson for three years. Canon’s award was announced during the spring when the pandemic was at its height, and the district administration at FFC8 wanted to recognize her in the fall. The staff was able to conduct the award ceremony in a safe way that exhibited her work and commitment to the school.
Photo by Sgt. Kimberly Hackbarth
A Soldier helps a fellow Soldier onto the rooftop of a building in order to provide protective overwatch for another element of their patrol in Afghanistan Jan. 29, 2012. Army senior leaders recently discussed the importance of suicide prevention and recognizing warning signs after the service reported an increase in suicides among active-duty Soldiers in 2020.
5Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
MilitaryMilitary
830 Tenderfoot Hill Road, Suite #320 Colorado Springs, CO 80906
Board Certi� ed by the American Board of Plastic SurgeryActive Member American Society of Plastic Surgeons
Breast AugmentationSientra Gel and Mentor Saline implantsBreast Lifts Tummy TucksMommy Makeovers
Breast Breast Specializing in
Douglas J. Raskin, M.D., D.M.D.
Board Certi� ed by the American Board of Plastic SurgeryBoard Certi� ed by the American Board of Plastic Surgery
BOARD CERTIFIED Harvard, Stanford and Baylor Trained
10 reasons toVOTEIt's easy! You can get your ballot by mail and turn it in any time up to 7 p.m. on the day of the election. You can even register that same day! VOTE!
It’s important! Your vote means selecting leaders who decide: the city’s future, the state’s priorities, the national stance. VOTE and be heard.
For most of us, voting rights came with a struggle. People who look JUST LIKE YOU suffered, struggled, marched — and many died — to get you this right. VOTE to honor your ancestors.
It’s about power. Right now, the power in city, state and national governments are held by a tiny few — and the decisions they make might not be in YOUR best interests. Want more power? VOTE for power.
Have a stance on policing? On parks and recreation? Education? COVID response? Employment and jobs? Find out which candidate thinks like you and VOTE.
It’s about money. At every level of government, elected leaders decide where the money goes. Don’t be left out when priorities are set. VOTE!
It’s about supporting your community. Voting gets you involved at the grassroots level in community building, priorities and goals. Not everyone has the same values, make sure our community reflects the best of us.
Do it because they think you won’t. Young people 18-24 are the most underrepresented in voting. VOTE to show them you matter.
It’s time to VOTE and have your voice be heard!
It’s a right — and a responsibility. Voting is part of deciding how our city, state and country will work. It takes all of us — and we can’t do it without YOU.
123456789
10
10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) Public Affairs Office
Editor’s note: The full names and identifications of those serving in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) are withheld due to safety and security of the Soldiers and their Families.
A day at the range is a normal day for Green Berets, but Sept. 16, the Soldiers with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) saw something they normally don’t at a Fort Carson range; a fire truck packed with heavy rescue firefighters from the Colorado Springs Fire Department (CSFD).
Green Berets and firefighters joined forces to train on casualty movement and evacuation, including hoist operations conducted with 7th Battalion, 158th Aviation Regiment, General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB). With the knowledge and expertise of the CSFD, the Green Berets learned the basics of moving and extracting a patient from rough terrain from the professionals who do it every day.
“The unit that we’re working with currently is the subject matter expert at extracting injured personnel off of the mountainsides or any of the mountainous terrain here in Colorado,” said the Special Forces operational detachment, alpha (SFOD-A) operations sergeant. “This unit specifically gets called in for anyone who gets Courtesy photo
Green Berets with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) and firefighters from Colorado Springs Fire Department conduct hoist training at Fort Carson Sept. 16.
Shared Shared experience experience
builds builds greater greater
capabilitycapability
See Training on Page 9
Mon.-Fri. 8-6 • Sat. 8-5 • Sun. 9-5
$10.00 OFF A FULL SERVICE
OIL CHANGE!Valid only at 350 South 8th St. and 3795 Airport Rd., Colorado Springs, CO. Not valid with any other offers.
Offer expires 10/31/20. MTFS10
LESS HASSLE, MORE HUSTLE!
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
Every Full Service is a 16-Point Preventive Maintenance Review!
350 South 8th St. • 719-520-00643795 Airport Rd. • 719-570-6112
Don’t Fall Behind on Maintenance!
OFFER VALID ONLY AT
THE BELOW COLORADO SPRINGS
LOCATIONS
Don’t Fall Behind on Maintenance!
6 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
Command maintenance
Photos by Capt. Daniel Parker
Right: Pvt. Alex Gallegos, a cavalry scout with Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, lays out combat vehicle crewman liners Oct. 5 during command maintenance activities at Fort Carson. The 1st SBCT, 4th Inf. Div., returned from a rotation to the National Training Center, and command maintenance provided units the opportunity to maintain and improve readiness of their vehicle fleets following the rotation to NTC. Above: Spc. Gregory Taylor, a cavalry scout with Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, secures a tarp to his assigned M1126 infantry carrier vehicle Stryker Oct. 5 during command maintenance activities at Fort Carson.
Fire prevention still vitalStory and photos by Scott PraterMountaineer staff
There’s hardly been a morning this summer when Coloradans haven’t woken up to a thick haze and the heavy odor of campfire. Several wildfires have burned thousands of acres in the northern and western parts of the state, and summer drought conditions have prompted government officials to issue a strict open-fire ban.
As the local community recognized National Fire Prevention Week, beginning Sunday and ending Saturday, wildfires remain one area of emphasis, but Fort Carson firefighters didn’t stop
there when reaching out to community members to stress the importance of fire prevention efforts.
National Fire Prevention Week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, an event that killed 250 people, left more than 100,000 homeless and destroyed more than 17,000 buildings.
Usually, Fort Carson firefighters manage a huge prevention outreach program while observing the week, but this year, thanks to the global pandemic, their efforts have been much more subdued.
“We look forward to this (National Fire Prevention Week) every year,” said Allen Brassfield, fire inspector, Fort Carson Fire Department (FCFD). The
firefighters enjoy meeting the public and spreading the word about prevention. We can’t do what we normally do, but we’ve adapted by driving our firetrucks and crews through the post’s housing areas each evening to meet Families.”
Torben Dalstra, captain at Fort Carson Fire Station 25, also joined Sparky the Fire Dog at Grant Library Tuesday for a fire prevention reading. With no children in attendance, Dalstra and Sparky recorded a video of the reading, which was posted on the Fort Carson Directorate of Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Facebook page later in the week.
“The national theme for this year is ‘Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen,’” said Cody Fein, assistant fire chief, FCFD. “This campaign works to educate everyone about the small, but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe, in the kitchen. In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Cooking is the number one cause of home fires and home-fire injuries. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of fires in the kitchen. Fort Carson personnel play a vital role in our overall fire safety program. Even though much effort is spent getting the message out, we still have unnecessary loss from fire both on and off the garrison.”
Fein explained that cooking fires can be prevented simply by staying in the kitchen, using a timer and avoiding distractions, such as electronics and television.
“A cooking fire can grow quickly,” she said. “I have seen many homes damaged and people injured by fires that could easily have been prevented.”
Colorado’s Executive Order fire ban expired Oct. 7, but El Paso County is still under a Stage II Fire Restriction, which prohibits the use of fireworks, outdoor smoking except within an enclosed vehicle and outdoor cooking except for with propane gas grills on private property.
Torben Dalstra, captain, Fort Carson
Fire Department (FCFD) Station 35, reads a fire
prevention book to children via video
recording along with Sparky the Fire
Dog, at Grant Library Oct. 6. Dalstra,
Sparky and fellow FCFD personnel were
observing National Fire Prevention Week
during the event.
Chad Otruba, firefighter, Fort Carson Fire Department, demonstrates a chain saw that firefighters use in emergency situations during a demonstration at Grant Library Oct. 6.
7Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
LIFESTYLE FURNITUREYour StoreEVERYDAY
L WPRICES
Swivel Glider Recliner with Cup Holders $328(1A-70107, 1A1-70107) Available in Brown and Black
$328Your Choice
INSTOCK!
$1098POWER
Reclining3-Piece
SectionalPOWER Reclining 3-Piece Sectional with Hidden Storage and Cup Holders $1098 (1N-5064-3PC) • 21” Table Lamp^ $6599 Each (107-1517-22)
Chocolate Power Recliner (1C-1294PR)
$228
INSTOCK!
INSTOCK!
AFW.com
U.S.A.We AlmostDELIVER
ANYWHERE in the100820
*Ready to Assemble | While Supplies Last
8 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
Carson remembers Mounted Color Guard founderBy Billie GarnerGarrison Public Affairs Office
Editor’s note: The story of Hugh Trabandt’s life is told through the obituary, written by his wife, Mary Ann (Johnson) Trabandt and children. The full obituary and story of his life can be found at https://www.crematecolorado.com/2020/09/11/hubertus-hugh-trabandt/.
On Sept. 2, U.S. Army veteran Hugh Trabandt, a well-known celebrity of sorts on Fort Carson as well as in the local community, passed away.
Life before the U.S.Trabandt’s early childhood was spent on the family
farm — in what is now Poland — where he was bilingual in Polish and German.
In 1945, his father was actively fighting the war on the Eastern front and his mother fled as an Eastern European Displaced Refugee with her son, Trabandt, who was just 10 years old at the time. His mother was a Red Cross nurse, and managed to smuggle the children via train. At the German border, Trabandt was taken from his mother to be part of the war effort, where he was assigned to a large horse-drawn gun that no longer had ammunition along with other little boys and older men. It was a bitter cold winter and they had no protective clothing, food or supplies. Trabandt credited an old sergeant with keeping some of the boys alive.
As the war ended and Trabandt dreamt of being a cowboy in America, the 14-year-old boy made an attempt to fulfill those dreams. Unsuccessful the first time, his determination eventually led him to the U.S. by 1950.
Persistence yields resultsWith a bit of a rough start in the new country, the
adventurous young man — in his late teens —joined the U.S. Army.
During his stint in the military, he traveled to Korea and Berlin, and he even lost hearing in his left ear due to artillery. But through his travels, he found his passion.
In Berlin he served with the last horse-mounted platoon, the 287th Mounted Military Police (MP) Constabulary, where he represented the U.S. military on the show-jumping team in international competitions. He earned the German Silver Riding Medal, the only American serviceman to do so. Even at this time, horses in the military were a thing of the past and were used
mainly for MP duty, border patrol and in ceremonies and parades. While in Berlin he earned his GED, having had haphazard and piecemeal formal schooling due to the war.
Returning to the U.S. after his tour of duty, Trabandt used his military education benefits and studied at Arizona State University, majoring in animal husbandry.
This career path led him to his passion, and he worked in the Broadmoor Stables having taken a job at the Broadmoor Hotel managing the riding stables, training jumping horses and driving a stagecoach.
MCG formsTrabandt experienced many big life events during
this time from getting married and having kids to buying a ranch in Colorado Springs. But everything led to the formation of the Mounted Color Guard (MCG) in 1965 when he managed the stables at Fort Carson.
This horse mounted military pageantry is still alive and flourishing on the Mountain Post. It has also been recreated on other Army installations within the U.S. Outside of family, he considered creating the MCG as one of his finest accomplishments, according to his daughter.
Laurie Zickefoose, Trabandt’s firstborn daughter said his first marriage to her mother, Cynthia Lawson in 1959, was the beginning of a horse-loving, military-inspired family.
Laurie was born in 1960 and her sister, Tamara in 1965, the same year as the MCG. Both Laurie and her sister, Tamara, were inspired and loved by the first Fort Carson MCG troops.
“The only thing dad (Trabandt) was more proud of than the MCG, was his family,” she said. “His children and grandchildren have been so inspired and goal oriented by their patriarch.”
“Laurie’s daughter, Trabandt’s first grandchild, Jenny, accompanied him on the 2018 Honor Flight to Washington as a Korean War Veteran,” said Zickefoose. “Memories are even more special now.”
Trabandt met his second wife, Mary Ann Johnson in 1971, and the pair traveled the world, raised two children and built a house together.
“Hugh’s life story teaches us, above all, about determination and resilience. Very few people have overcome as many obstacles to reach to their firmly set goals,” said Mary Ann Trabandt, his wife of 47 years.
The couple traveled across the world, built a house and businesses, raised two children, Eric and Eve, all while maintaining their occupations of fire chief and teacher, respectively.
Community involvementHugh Trabandt’s unique life was full of meaningful
achievements. He was able to make a positive impact in the lives of many as well as many significant contributions to his community, both civilian and military, Mary Ann Trabandt added.
“The Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard (FCMCG) is eternally indebted to the foundation Hugh laid for us,” said 1st Lt. Brady J. Carroll, officer in charge, FCMCG, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division. “His influence as a true cowboy and gentleman has resonated with the team through the years, giving rise to the perception that the Mounted Color Guard of Fort Carson is the most unique and technically skilled of all the horse detachments within the U.S. Army.”
As the founder, he institutionalized a mentality of hard work and uncommon grit that continues to define the service men and women, said Carroll.
“We owe our very existence as a renowned and unrivaled mounted unit to Hugh Trabandt, which is a fact that will be passed down to every generation of American Soldier who proves themselves worthy to earn a place in the ranks of the ‘Cowboy Color Guard,’” Carroll added.
As a token of the MCG Soldier’s appreciation to the man who started it all, MCG Soldiers gave Trabandt and his guests a mounted cavalry demonstration. Many people echoed Carrolls sentiments in giving praises to Hugh Trabandt.
“Hugh created far more than a Mounted Color Guard,” Carroll said. “He created a legacy. As the current officer in charge of the FCMCG, I would like to offer my heartfelt thanks and condolences to Hugh’s family for supporting the man we honor as our founder. Finally, I say to the larger-than-life Hugh Trabandt, ‘well done, be thou at peace.’”
Hugh Trabandt visited Fort Carson several times over the years, most recently in September 2017, when the 4th Inf. Div. commemorated its 100th birthday. The same year marked the 52nd year of service for the MCG.
During the demonstration Sept. 13, 2017, at Fort Carson’s Turkey Creek Ranch, the performance included horseback techniques demonstrating marksmanship and saber skills. Riders jumped their horses over obstacles to display their expert equestrian skills. Another highpoint in the demonstration was cavalry Soldiers waving sabers and riding full speed, hitting cartons and slicing pineapples to show their control of the saber.
Hugh Trabandt was known for keeping busy, and even thought he successfully ran businesses, tended to family commitments and fire chief duties he still made time to improve his talents and volunteer in the community.
Courtesy photos
Hugh Trabandt, founder of the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard (MCG), with his granddaughter. He passed away Sept. 2 but played an important part in Fort Carson’s history.
Hugh Trabandt leads the first parade for the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard (MCG). Trabandt was the founder of the MCG; he passed Sept. 2.
9Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
Foundational readiness day
Photos by Capt. Daniel Parker
Left: Spc. Hunter Stoner, a signals intelligence analyst assigned to Delta Company, 299th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, leads a discussion about resources on Fort Carson available to Soldiers and Family members as part of the 4th Inf. Div.’s foundational readiness day at Fort Carson, Oct. 2. Stoner discussed the many unit and installation resources available to Soldiers. Below: Soldiers with 1st SBCT listen to a briefing Oct. 2 about installation resources as part of the division’s foundational readiness day.
trapped, injured or immobilized in some way on the side of a mountain or cliff face.”
Because medical evacuation units in the civilian sector cannot land or hoist off steep rock faces, the heavy rescue unit must be able to move the patient to an area where the recovery unit can land or extract the patient, he said.
Green Berets perform similar casualty evacuation operations in a tactical or combat situation. The training gives teams greater capabilities in the operational environment.
“For them, it may be on the civilian side, but a lot of these guys come from military backgrounds,” said the team’s medical sergeant. “They have the same mentality, they understand the concept of a high-risk situation, and because of that, we can relate to them.”
The training is important for every member of the team to know and
understand hoist tactics, he added. In real life situations, the team’s medics may not be the only ones packing and moving a casualty. Every SFOD-A member should be able to receive and conduct tasks delegated to them to accomplish the mission.
Just last year in Afghanistan, this very SFOD-A found itself on a tactical mission with 15 casualties in need of extraction from rugged terrain.
“Every guy on this ODA takes it personal and makes it a mission to
understand how to do a better job should that situation present itself again,” said the medical sergeant.
Rapid fire, he listed operational questions, “How can we do this better if we didn’t have a MedEvac platform? How can we do this if we didn’t have that hoist capability? Could we get those patients to a more advantageous position on the mountain to where we could land a bird?”
“That’s why we’re training these skills,” he continued. “We’re trying to
connect the dots between what we know now and what we can do better.”
Not every unit has the luxury of a mountainous backyard to train in; one that emulates real-world operational environments. The ability to shoot, move and communicate over rocky, hazardous terrain is essential to accomplishing the mission downrange. Along with the expertise of local civilian professionals, 10th SFG(A) has an even greater advantage toward success.
TrainingFrom Page 5 “Every guy on this ODA takes it personal
and makes it a mission to understand how to do a better job should that situation present itself again.
Medical sergeant
“
10 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
Hours of operationDirectorate of Public Works work orders — Directorate of Public Works Business
Operations and Integration Division Work Management Branch, located in building 1219, is responsible for processing work orders (Facilities Engineering Work Requests, DA Form 4283). The Work Management Branch is open for processing work orders and other in-person support from 7-11:30 a.m. Monday-Friday. Afternoon customer support is by appointment only and can be scheduled by calling 526-6112.
Joint Personal Property Shipping Office (JPPSO) — Monday-Thursday the office is open 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The office will be closed from 7:30-9 a.m. for training and will open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. every Friday. A face-to-face personal property counseling briefing is mandatory for JPPSO. At this time, the self-counseling option to process applications through the Defense Personal Property System (DPS) is not authorized. JPPSO is located in the Mountain Post Soldier Center at 6351 Wetzel Ave., building 1525, cubicle B. Call 526-3755 to schedule a DPS appointment.
Army Field Support Battalion (AFSBn)-Carson — The facility located at building 1525 does not launder all of the Soldier’s Organizational Clothing and Individual Equipment (OCIE) as directed by Army Support Command (ASC), Annex A, which provides a list of non-OCIE and OCIE authorized to be laundered by the AFSBn laundry facility. Annex A is posted at the Central Issue Facility (CIF) and laundry facility in building 1525. Soldiers are responsible to clean their OCIE prior to turning it in to the CIF. The CIF will not accept OCIE turn in that is not clean or free of dirt and debris regardless of the serviceability criteria. Point of contact for further information is Larry Parks at 524-1888 or email [email protected].
Fort Carson Retirement Services — Operates Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to noon and 1-3:30 p.m. in building 1525, room 308. The phone number is 526-2840.
Fort Carson Trial Defense Service — is able to help Soldiers 24/7 and is located in building 1042. During duty hours, Soldiers should call 526-4563. The 24-hour phone number is 526-0051.
Military briefsEditor’s note: See www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com for the complete list of military briefs. Due to the COVID-19 closures and cancellations, contact the respective points of contact for updated information and hours of operation.
530 Communication Circle Colorado Springs, CO 80905
719.722.4179
Vist us online at VeteransCetner.org
Our PromiseAt Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center, all
veterans, service members and their families can access many community services in a single location! We make it easy for you to receive the
support you deserve after serving our nation.
Our ServicesVeteran Benefi t Support
Supportive ServicesEmployment Assistance
On-Site Behavioral Health EducationFinancial Counseling & Classes
Support GroupsYoga and Art Therapy
& More!
@MtCarmelVSC
@Mt-Carmel-Veterans-Service-Center
Mt_Carmel_VSC
Mt_Carmel_VSC
Fort Carson Ivy Warrior Restaurants hours of operation: Ivy Warrior Restaurants, LaRochelle Dining Facility and the Outpost Kiosk have reopened for limited dine-in seating.
Friday-Monday
Stack Brunch: 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.Supper: 5-6:30 p.m.
Community gathers pets for blessingsStory and photos by Walt Johnson Mountaineer staff
Fort Carson Family members and their pets gathered at the Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel on post Sunday to participate in the 3rd annual Blessing of the Animals celebration.
The event is held as close to Oct. 4 as possible because in the Catholic calendar it is the feast of St. Francis, according to Capt. Lukasz J. Willenberg, chaplain, 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). Saint Francis is a saint who lived in the
12th-century and was known for living a holy life and ministering to the poor and needy in Italy, in addition to his great love for animals.
“So based on his life and, again, for Catholic church — his love for all God’s creatures — it became a fun tradition of the church, not just the Catholic church but a lot of church communities to have the blessing of animals during his feast,” Willenberg said. “We do it to honor him and to honor the relationship we have with all God’s creatures. I think it is a great way to honor the relationship with our
four-legged friends. Our relationship with our animals in many ways also represents our spiritual relationship with God. The way God is taking care of us, we take care of all of God’s creatures that he entrusts to us in the extension of that love and care. At the same time our animals provide comfort and protection for us and support us emotionally and spiritually and they are our faithful companions in our journey of life.”
Adolfo Campos, his wife and daughter, brought their two dogs to the event. Campos said he wanted to be at the celebration for pets because he loves his dogs as if they were his own daughters, and he thought
it would be a great thing to have them take part in the event. He and his family felt it was important to participate so they could be blessed with the holy water and recognized for being an integral part of his family.
“This has the same meaning for me as when my kids have their confirmation and first communion,” Campos said. “When we found out they offered this for the pets, we felt we should bring them out here. I’m very thankful for a program like this, and I am pretty sure my puppies are grateful for the program also.”
After the ceremony, Willenberg walked around the chapel parking lot and sprayed each pet with holy water, signifying the cleansing of sin from the animals and a protection against evil spirits.
Community members prepare their pets for a blessing during the Blessing of the Animals event Sunday.
Capt. Lukasz J. Willenberg, chaplain, 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), welcomes Fort Carson Family members and pets to the Blessing of the Animals event Sunday at Soldiers’ Memorial Chapel.
Capt. Lukasz J. Willenberg, chaplain, 4th Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), sprays pets with holy water during the Blessing of the Animals event Sunday at Soldiers Memorial Chapel.
By Sgt. Liane Hatch3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Throughout September and into early October, the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team “Iron,” 4th Infantry Division, conducted gunnery qualifications for the first time since its return from Kuwait in late fall 2019.
“Gunnery is just another term for crew qualifications,” said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Flanagan, master gunner, 3rd ABCT. “It evaluates the individual crew’s ability to detect, identify and destroy targets from their platform, day and night — from both offensive and defensive positions, and during replicated (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) conditions.”
Typically, Flanagan said, the brigade conducts gunnery at least every six months, but recovery operations from the 2019 deployment and the onset of the pandemic, required shifts in the training schedule and in the time between qualifications, the brigade experienced about a 70% crew turnover.
“Some crew turnover is normal, especially after an overseas rotation,” he said. “However, because of COVID-19, we weren’t able to execute the training we had scheduled for April and May 2020, which would have given many of our new crews some practice. There were certainly some growing pains. There are many issues that can arise on combat vehicles that are difficult to identify until you’re able to send a few rounds downrange. However, our crews demonstrated outstanding resilience and were able to push through the challenges and be successful.”
Between the brigade’s seven battalions, crews tested their proficiency on Bradley fighting vehicles, M1A2 Abrams tanks, vehicle-mounted machine guns and Paladin Self-Propelled Howitzers.
On Monday, brigade leadership recognized the “Top Tank” crew, led by Sgt. 1st Class Mark Backer, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd ABCT, who qualified with 964/1000 and 10/10 engagements and “Top Bradley” crew, led by Capt. Keys Yon with 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd ABCT, which scored 963/1000 and 10/10 engagements.
In his 10 years in the Army as a tanker, Backer said this was the best score he ever received, and he did it with an almost entirely inexperienced crew.
“My crew’s performance was impeccable,” he said. “I couldn’t have asked for anything better, especially since it was a first-time gunnery for all of them except me.”
Backer attributed the crew’s success to the time they spent in train up and rehearsals, and he said he hopes the experience makes a positive impact on the careers of his young crew members.
“I hope it shows them how rewarding and fun gunnery can be; you see a lot of guys come in and their first gunnery is really lackluster, but I think my guys got more out of it than that, and I hope it has impact on their future decisions.”
However, a high rate of crew turnover among the brigade also meant that many of the teams working together to qualify had just met for the first time in months, or even weeks, before firing.
Sgt. Iris Barajas, a tanker with 1st Bn., 66th Armor Reg., 3rd ABCT, was a gunner on one
such crew, having just arrived to the Iron Brigade from Fort Hood, Texas, in August.
Despite the quick introductions, “the cohesion was almost immediate,” she said. “We worked really well together regardless of the bumps and hiccups we had. We pushed through them, and as a crew we got better throughout each day and we learned from our mistakes.”
Barajas’ crew scored 873 out of a possible 1000 and 9 of
10 engagements and was pleased with her score, especially as a first-time gunner, she said.
“I was really nervous at first, but I’m really glad that I got the platoon and crew that I got,” she said. “They came to me with open arms, very willing to teach me and let me teach them.”
While Backer and Yon impressed brigade leaders with their individual crew scores, Flanagan said that overall qualification numbers painted a better picture of the brigade’s proficiency.
“Out of 225 Abrams and Bradley’s, 3rd ABCT has had 27 crews fire distinguished and 42 crews fire superior,” he said.
Distinguished meant the crew qualified on 9 of 10 engagements or better with a score of 900 or better, and superior means the crew has qualified 8 of 10 engagements or better with a score of 800/1000 or better.
Col. Grant Fawcett, commander, 3rd ABCT, met with the brigade’s “Top Tank” and “Top Bradley” crews Monday, presenting them with coins and sharing some perspective.
“This is really the first step in our training cycle, and as we move on to live-fire exercises and eventually our (National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California) rotation, we need to be sure that every tank, every Bradley, can hit center mass every time, and this is how we build that confidence that we’ll get there,” he said.
With the information gained through these crew qualifications, Flanagan said, the brigade-, battalion- and company-level master gunners will use the scores and Soldier feedback to identify crew strengths and weaknesses, and will make training recommendations to commanders at each level.
“This iteration was absolutely a success because it allowed the brigade to identify training discrepancies that the battalions can train specifically to build more lethal formations and prepare for future operations,” said Flanagan.
Such future operations include an upcoming training cycle intended to prepare the brigade for its scheduled NTC rotation in April.
gunnery crew qualifications at a Fort Carson training
area Sept. 2. Gunnery is the first step in the brigade’s upcoming training cycle,
which will culminate next spring in a rotation to
National Training Center, Fort Irwin, California.
Photo by Sgt. Liane Hatch
Col. Grant Fawcett, right, commander, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, meets with the brigade’s “Top Bradley” crew, from 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd ABCT, Monday to recognize their hard work and present them with brigade coins. From left: Sgt. Skylar Smith, a gunner; Capt. Keys Yon, Bradley commander; and Pfc. Michael Sulkowski, driver; all with 3rd ABCT. The crew scored 963 out of a possible 1000 and 10 of 10 engagements.
Photo by Pfc. Ruby Torres
Tank crews from the Dakota Troop, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, conduct gunnery Table V on Sept. 9 at Fort Carson. Of the 87 tanks across the brigade, the 4th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., boasted the “Top Tank” crew with a performance of 964 out of a possible 1000 and 10 of 10 engagements.
Iron Brigade conducts first gunnery since return from CENTCOM
14 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
We have partnered with 15 local artists to produce a downloadable coloring book of all things we love
about the Pikes Peak Region.
Available now for only $15!tinyurl.com/coscolorbook
A portion of the proceeds will benefi t the Artist Recovery Fund
Join the fun!
THA
NK
YO
U T
O O
UR
PR
OU
D S
PON
SOR
:
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
CSMNGCOLORADO SPRINGS MILITARY NEWSPAPER GROUP
Available now for only
15Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS
YEAR’S BEST OF CELEBRATION
OCT 15TH 2020Join us for the BEST OF the ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90s – and beyond. Put on your leisure suits or your
psychededlic hippy dresses; your spandex or leg warmers, your � annel or acid-washed
jeans, and join us as we dance away the decades!
And thanks to COVID, most of us will be partying from home.
So put on your dancing shoes and celebrate with us virtually!
All of 2020 has been a surprise and the Best Of Colorado Springs party is no exception.
We’ll have surprise musical guests along with a whole host of other inventive, interactive
fun things! You’ll need to be there virtually to experience it all.
Go to CSINDY.COM/EVENTS to sign up today.
Get all dressed up and party 2020 style – remotely!
27TH ANNUAL
SAVE THE DATE FOR THIS
YEAR’S BEST OF CELEBRATION
16 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
Commentary by Lt. Col. Rick BrunsonChaplain, garrison pastoral coordinator
Contrary to popular belief, an ostrich does not bury its head in the sand when confronted with danger. It does not need to. When threatened, an ostrich can sprint up to 43 mph, and it can sustain
a speed of 31 mph over extended distances. The ostrich kick carries
quite a punch. During his prime, Mike Tyson’s
punch generated a force of 1,178 psi which is equivalent to being hit by a college refrigerator
full of beer from a second-floor room.
An ostrich can kick with a force of over 2,000 psi, meaning it can easily kill any predator in its
natural habitat. Needless to say, they do not need to bury their heads in the sand when threatened.
Fear is an emotional reaction to a real or perceived threat, and there are three classic responses to fear: fight, flight or freeze. The offensive and defensive reactions promote survival; but sticking your head in the sand can have lethal consequences, especially in a buffalo stampede. None of us can pack a punch or run as fast as an ostrich, but there are some effective ways to overcome debilitating fear.
• This may sound obvious, but you need to identify the source of your fear.
• Analyze why your giant causes you to be afraid.
• Find someone you trust and discuss your fear. • Face your fear by pulling your head from the
sand and looking it in the eye. • Channel your fear into a superpower;
energy induced from stage fright can create powerful performances.
• Use your strengths, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem, to overcome your fear.
• Pray: Bury your knees, not your head, in the sand when confronted with insurmountable giants.
The entire army of Israel stood frozen in a catatonic state. As they waited on the battlefield skirmish line, the Soldiers thrust their heads in the sand and prayed for a champion to face the Philistine giant, Goliath. Then the unthinkable happened. A short, scrawny teenager named David entered the scene. David accepted the challenge to face Goliath in mortal combat, and he entered the arena with only two things — a handful of stones and prayer. But that was all he needed, because with God all things are possible. And a stone fired from a sling can reach the speed of 150 meters per second and it packs the punch of a .45 caliber round. When the stone hit Goliath’s forehead, he bit the dust and the soldiers of Israel regained their courage to engage the enemy.
Our challenges and crises can bring us to our knees, but we find God on our knees, not under the sand.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you,” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
‘Bury your knees, not your head, in the sand’
Facebook — Search “Fort Carson Chaplains (Religious Support Office)” for events and schedules: visit https://www.facebook.com/4IDCarsonRSO/ or https://www.facebook.com/Our-Lady-of-Fort-Carson-622517474897811 for livestreaming.
Chapel NeXt — Visit https://www.facebook.com/
chapelnextfortcarson/ for livestream. Visit the Chapel NeXt Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/chapelnextfortcarson for details.
Religious Education class — Contact Pat Treacy at 524-2458 or [email protected] for details.
Protestant Women of the Chapel — Sasha Moen can be reached at 845-392-8425.
Native American prayer/spiritual services — The He Ska Akicita (White Mountain Warriors) hosts Inipi (sweat lodge) services at Turkey Creek Ranch, but are suspended until further notice. Contact Michael Hackwith at 285-5240 for more information and protocols. Chaplain sponsor is Capt. Charlene Cheney, 53rd Signal Battalion, who can be reached at [email protected].
Knights of Columbus — a Catholic group for men 18 and older, call 526-5769.
Spanish Bible Study — Call Ted Garcia at 205-3076.
Chapel briefsEditors note: See www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com for the complete list of community briefs and chapel schedules. Due to the COVID-19 closures and cancellations, contact the respective points of contact for updated information. Many religious support activities have moved to a digital platform.
See the Mountaineer online at
http://www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com
Editor’s note: See www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com for the complete list of the chapel briefs and service schedule.
17Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
Claims to the estateSpc. Kevin Griner — With deepest
regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should call Chief Warrant Officer 2 Samuel Gerolmo at 719-503-6635 or 262-960-8095.
Master Sgt. William Burrows — With deepest regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should call Capt. Brian Landry at 524-7420.
1st Lt. Patrick E. Harp — With deepest regret to the Family of the deceased. Anyone having claims against or indebtedness to his estate should call Capt. Joshua Cooper at 719-447-7089.
Of note Fort Carson DFMWR hiring — Apply
online at https://www.usajobs.gov/ to be a Child and Youth Program Assistant to plan activities, create an environment of positivity for children and provide guidance. The candidates must be 18 years or older and have a GED or high school diploma.
Casualty Notification/Assistance Officer training — Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Casualty Notification Officer (CNO)/Casualty Assistance Officer (CAO) recertification timeline for CNO/CAO training is extended from 12 to 24 months. The requirement for in-person training every fourth year is also suspended. In-person CNO/CAO training may be conducted when all COVID-19 health and force protection requirements can be met and followed. The Joint Knowledge Online SIMM 1, SIMM, and SIMM 3 Casualty Training is not a substitute for the Army’s in-classroom CNO/CAO initial certification and remains the Army’s
CNO/CAO recertification training. For more information, call 526-5613/5614 or email [email protected].
Voluntary leave transfer — The following Fort Carson serviced employees have been approved to receive donated leave due to an emergency medical condition:• Roy B. Adams, Directorate of Plans,
Training, Mobilization, and Security (DPTMS), U.S. Army Installation Management Command (IMCOM)
• Dana D. Carneal, Directorate of Emergency Services
• Eric L. Lewis, IMCOM DPTMS, TSC• Roy B. Martinez Jr., DPTMS/range
operations• Bobby J. McKenzie, G8, 4th Infantry
Division• Jeffrey Morris, IMCOM• Stephanie Jo Smith-Froese, Directorate
of Public Works/Environment Division, Conservation Branch
• Rhonda L. Welles, USASMDC, Task Force Eagle, satellite communication directorate, wide-band division, plans
Any Army appropriated fund civilian employee wishing to donate annual leave to a listed employee, must complete the OPM Form 630a at http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf(underscore)fill/opm630a.pdf. If a non-Army appropriated fund civilian employee from another federal agency (VA, AF, DOD, Interior, etc.) is interested in donating, he must complete the OPM Form 630b at http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf(underscore)fill/opm630b.pdf and provide to his civilian personnel/HR office for annotation. Both forms must then be forwarded to Clinton Moss Jr. of the Fort Carson Civilian Personnel Advisory Center (CPAC) by
fax at 526-7541 or by email to [email protected] with the subject line “VLTP.” Call Moss at 526-3641 for more information. Employees experiencing a medical emergency (personal or Family member) who will exhaust their leave balances quickly should contact the CPAC Management Employee Relations team.
General announcementsDo you want access to
your medical records? Before making a trip to Evans Army Community Hospital, consider logging into TRICARE online and accessing its “Blue Button” feature. Securely view, download and print medical profiles, lab results, immunizations and vital signs for the patient and family members under the age of 12. To conveniently view medical records, visit https://www.tricareonline.com. Proceed to “Health Record,” then “Download My Data” to access medical records. The Correspondence (Release of Information) Office in the Patient Administration Division hours are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; closed Thursday and federal holidays. Call 526-0890 for details.
Soldier Readiness Center pharmacy — located in the Mountain Post Soldier Center at 6351 Wetzel Ave., building 1525, room 402, is open for pharmacy services. All TRICARE beneficiaries can fill new prescriptions and pick up refills at this location. The pharmacy is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Army Wellness Center classes — Upping your Metabolism is every Monday and Friday at 9:45 a.m. and Wednesday at 2:15 p.m. Fueling for Health is every
third Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. Meals in Minutes is every second and fourth Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. Healthy Sleep Habits is every first and third Thursday at 9:45 a.m. Stress Management is every second and fourth Thursday at 9:45 a.m. Stay Fit, Home and Away is every second Tuesday at 9:45 a.m. The Retire Strong class is currently under construction. Performance Triad, P3 and Tactical Sleep for Sustained Operations classes are by request. Classes are subject to change. Call 526-3887 for more information, reserve a seat or sign up for classes.
Community briefsEditors note: See www.fortcarsonmountaineer.com for the complete list of community briefs. Due to the COVID-19 closures and cancellations, contact the respective points of contact for updated information and hours of operation.
Military Clothing We Ship Anywhere
Large Selection
Field/Tactical Gear
Glenn’s Army surplus
SPECIALIZING IN CURRENT GOVERNMENT SURPLUS
719-634-9828877-712-98288:00 am – 5:30 pm, Mon-Sat
www.shopglenns.com114 E. Mill StreetColorado Springs, CO 80903
Don’t settle,we will get you the maximum amount
you deserve*
ACCIDENT?
719.219.31442212 West Colorado Avenue
www.HancheyLaw.com
We receivepayment only if
we win the case for you
Criminal Defense & Personal Injury
LAW FIRM OF MARK S. HANCHEY
• Former JAG Attorney• 25 Years Experience• Free Consultation• Payment Plans
2212 West Colorado AvenueColorado Springs, CO 80904
MARK STAFFORDMark Staff ord always wanted to run his own company. Following college, he joined the Air Force, but continued to carry those aspirations. Now an Air Force reservist, Staff ord launched a career in aerospace engineering and joined Delta Solutions & Strategies LLC in 2015, where he quickly moved into the role of COO before being promoted to CEO last year.
Nov. 18
On Thursday, November 5 from 5:30-7:30 pm, join the Colorado Springs Business Journal as we celebrate 2020’s Women of Infl uence. For the fi rst time ever, we will be honoring 15 local women who are creating a legacy of leadership in Colorado Springs through positive change. This elegant hybrid event will be an evening to remember, whether you attend in person* or choose to participate virtually from the comfort of your home.
VISIT CSBJ.COM/EVENTS FOR TICKETS
Sponsored by
*A limited number of in-person tickets are available and the number of attendees is subject to State and City COVID 19 regulations.
Thursday, November 5 | 5:30 - 7:30 pmThe Pinery at the Hill, 775 W. Bijou St.
Brandon Boone, 127th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, beats the throw to first base during a softball game Oct. 1.MPs continue winning ways
Story and photo by Walt JohnsonMountaineer staff
The 127th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, has played undefeated softball, as of Oct. 1, since the Fort Carson intramural softball league season began in early September.
The team has been able to go undefeated, which is a testament to its unit morale and the ability for them to work as a cohesive unit both on and off the softball field. While the results of the season have been good for the military police team, it was anything but easy. The military police have a roster consisting of 20-
25 players. However, due to military commitments they do not know which of these players will be available to show up for any given game. That means they must do a lot of juggling to put the best 10 players on the field for that day; so far that hasn’t been a detriment to the winning team.
One of the surprising things
about the team is how well it played considering none of the players has a “9 to 5” job, and each of them work various shifts including through the night. In addition, this is the first time the team played together as a unit, which makes it even more remarkable
See Softball on Page 20
20 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
On move
Photo by Walt Johnson
that the team was able to form one of the premier teams in the league.
Kevin Holmes, the team’s assistant coach, said the team weathered a few storms this year, and right now players are currently hoping the season success extends for another couple of weeks.
“So far this season, things have been going rather well for us,” Holmes said. “We have had a couple of close games, but we have been able to survive those. We hope to keep that going throughout the year.”
Holmes said it has not been all fun and games for the team, even though it is undefeated. He said the team can play offensively with any other team in the league but also knows there is an area it must get better at if it is going to be among the elite at the end of the season.
“Offensively we’ve been hitting the ball very well,” he said. “One thing we are concerned about though is, we have some holes on our defense that we want to get cleaned up and straightened out. If we do not get to the final game of the season this year it will be because of our defense. In close games so far, we could have beaten ourselves because of our defensive liabilities. So, we know we must get better in that area. We are keeping teams in the game because of the defense. If our defense comes together, we know we will be one of the top teams in the league at the end of the year.”
Jon Joseph Santiago, shortstop, 5th Sense, circles around and stabs a ground ball before firing to first base to get an out during a softball game Oct. 1 at the Mountain Post Sports Complex. Intramural softball games take place weekly at the complex for the next three weeks as the eight-week season comes to a close. Games are scheduled to be played Wednesday and Thursday nights at 6:30, 7:45 and 9 p.m. each night. COVID-19 safety precautions, including social distancing, must be observed by spectators.
SoftballFrom Page 19
21Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
22 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
23Oct. 9, 2020 | MOUNTAINEER
24 MOUNTAINEER | Oct. 9, 2020
7467 Hunter Jumper Drive$377,611 | 1,792 SF | MLS: 1025744
Bed: 2 | Bath: 3 | Car: 2
AVAILABLE DECEMBER*
The 221B
7479 Hunter Jumper Drive$413,428 | 1,996 SF | MLS: 2629240
Bed: 4 | Bath: 4 | Car: 2
AVAILABLE DECEMBER*
The 223A
7453 Sun Chaser Heights$371,739 | 1,792 SF | MLS: 6517323
Bed: 2 | Bath: 3 | Car: 2
AVAILABLE DECEMBER*
The 221B
AVAILABLE HOMES
NOW SELLING AT HANNAH RIDGEFive urban-style 2-story and 3-story homes designed with a modern streetscape flair, stylish interiors, and 2-car attached garages.
2514 Hannah Ridge DriveColorado Springs, CO 80922
719-419-8146ClasssicHomes.com
NPowers Blvd.
Constitution Ave.
Markshe�el Rd.
MIDTOWN COLLECTION
Priced from the mid $300s.
719-419-8146MidtownCollection.com
*Pricing and availability subject to change without notice.
