Inside this issue Message from RG6/RG9 2 B/2-20TH wins AAME 3 Resiliency training for Rail Gunner Soldiers 4 Soldiers reach new heights with fitness 6 Promotions and Re-up 10 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— Soldiers within Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade made a pre- diction last year and it came true. Not only did the Black Knight Soldiers accomplish what many Soldiers only dream about, but they did it twice. Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt. was announced as the small unit category winner for the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence throughout Forces Com- mand. The Black Knight Soldiers beat-out 26 other units in the small unit cate- gory to achieve the prestigious award for a second consecutive year. The AAME provides incentive and recognition for units running outstanding maintenance pro- grams throughout the Army. “It feels good to win the award again,” said 1st Lt. Cody Kness, executive officer for Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt., 41st Fires Bde. “It’s good to get recognized for doing a good thing, but more impor- tantly than that, it’s good to know that we’re doing the right thing. This award not only shows that we have a solid maintenance program, but it also gives overdue recognition the Soldier’s for their hard work.” Besides the almost endless packet of various maintenance records and reports that the unit had to put together for sub- mission, the unit was also inspected on their vehicles, maintenance reports, NBC equipment, arms rooms, and some logistics. Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson 41st Fires Brigade, PAO VOLUME 3 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 2 See AAME on Page 3 Pfc. John Horton, track mechanic, checks over maintenance conducted on an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt. won the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence throughout Forces Command for the small units’ category.
Transcript
Inside this
issue
Message from
RG6/RG9
2
B/2-20TH wins AAME 3
Resiliency training for
Rail Gunner Soldiers
4
Soldiers reach new
heights with fitness
6
Promotions and Re-up 10
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—
Soldiers within Battery B,
2nd Battalion, 20th Field
Artillery Regiment, 41st
Fires Brigade made a pre-
diction last year and it came
true. Not only did the Black
Knight Soldiers accomplish
what many Soldiers only
dream about, but they did it
twice.
Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA
Regt. was announced as the
small unit category winner
for the Army Award for
Maintenance Excellence
throughout Forces Com-
mand. The Black Knight
Soldiers beat-out 26 other
units in the small unit cate-
gory to achieve the prestigious
award for a second consecutive
year.
The AAME provides incentive
and recognition for units running
outstanding maintenance pro-
grams throughout the Army.
“It feels good to win the
award again,” said 1st Lt. Cody
Kness, executive officer for Btry.
B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt., 41st Fires
Bde. “It’s good to get recognized for
doing a good thing, but more impor-
tantly than that, it’s good to know that
we’re doing the right thing. This award
not only shows that we have a solid
maintenance program, but it also gives
overdue recognition the Soldier’s for
their hard work.”
Besides the almost endless packet of
various maintenance records and reports
that the unit had to put together for sub-
mission, the unit was also inspected on
their vehicles, maintenance reports,
NBC equipment, arms rooms, and some
logistics.
Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
VOLUME 3 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY ISSUE 2
See AAME on Page 3
Pfc. John Horton, track mechanic, checks over maintenance conducted
on an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th
FA Regt. won the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence throughout
Forces Command for the small units’ category.
Rail Gunner 6 & 9 Send tated the competition by 38 points! Congratulations to our competitors, and thanks to all of the Soldiers and Family members who came out to support our team! The Brigade also executed a Certification Exercise in which our Soldiers confirmed their readiness to take on any assigned mission. In the weeks and months to come, our Soldiers will execute additional field problems. These training ex-ercises will focus on individual and collective tasks designed to main-tain proficiency and prepare for large scale operations. Our Soldiers, deployed in sup-port of Operation Enduring Free-dom, continue to an outstanding job. Whether training Afghan Sol-diers or executing secure moves in support of ISAF leaders, these Sol-diers are planning and executing all missions in a way that makes us all proud. They’re more than half way through the deployment, and re-main in our thoughts and prayers. We all look forward to welcoming them back to Fort Hood! The summer will be here soon, which means it’s a great time to get out, hit the road, and have fun – especially over Spring Break (11-17 March). Each and every one of us has a part in ensuring that our fellow Rail Gunners adhere to safety standards! Part of our safety focus must be on encouraging and coaching our Motorcycle Riders as they grow in their proficiency. This will be supported by a Brigade Mo-torcycle Mentorship Ride (20 March) in which our senior mentors will help develop our younger rid-ers. Together we can ensure that
Colonel
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2012
William E. McRae
41st Fires Brigade
Command Sergeant Major
Dear Rail Gunner Family, CSM Hughes and I would like to thank our Soldiers and Families for aspiring to exceed the standard in everything we do! It is our dis-tinct pleasure to continue to serve and support the best Soldiers in the Army! February was a great month for the 41
st Fires Brigade. From Feb-
ruary 13th-16th, an elite team of Rail Gunners participated in the Fort Hood Combatives Tourna-ment. We enjoyed several signifi-cant wins: first place finishes from SPC Cole and PFC Langarica; third place finishes from SPC Chavez and SGT Pequeno; and three fourth place finishes - PFC Horta, PFC Barro, and 1LT Sloan. Their success contributed to the 41
st Fires Brigade being crowned
Fort Hood’s installation champi-ons, as the Rail Gunners devas-
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
every Rail Gunner stays safe. Finally, it is with great sadness, but incredible appreciation and respect, that we prepare to bid farewell to CSM Hughes, as he changes responsibility on 27 March. Please join the BDE in thanking him for over 32 years of service to the Army during the ceremony on Cooper Field. We wish him the best of luck in his fu-ture endeavors! Again, thanks for all that you do in making the 41
st Fires
Brigade the best unit it can be!
Rail Gunner Strong!
though we’ve achieved the stan-
dard, we have to continue working
hard to maintain it,” said Coggins.
“We’re going to move forward with
the same systems in place. How-
ever, our next milestone is the
Phoenix award where we will com-
pete against all branches of service.
We’ve never made it that high but
this is a new year for great things to
happen.”
AAME cont. from Page 1
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 3
“When competing for the
AAME, you have to be thorough
with your records,” said 1st Lt. Leo
Butler, the maintenance officer for
Btry. B, 2nd Bn., 20th FA Regt.,
41st Fires Bde. “It’s all about hon-
est and accurate reporting. Inspec-
tion teams will go out and check all
of our equipment and balance that
with the corresponding mainte-
nance records to see if everything is
matching and up to date. The in-
specting teams want to see if our
maintenance program is being con-
ducted according to standards.”
III Corps sent inspection prepa-
ration teams to the unit through the
month of January, and official in-
spections took place in February.
The Soldiers and leadership
were happy to have won the award
along with the recogni-
tion but most of them are
celebrating more for hav-
ing a successful mainte-
nance program.
“We’re going to con-
tinue to work hard and
uphold the standards,”
said Staff Sgt. Scott Cog-
gins, motor sergeant for
the combat repair team
with Btry. B, 2nd Bn.,
20th FA Regt., 41st Fires
Bde. “Leaders have to
continue to uphold the
standards so Soldiers
know what the standards
are. If the Soldiers see
their leaders working
hard and setting the right
example then they will
continue to
work hard.
As leaders,
we can’t just
sit around
and point
fingers. We
have to be
out there
showing them what to
do and how it needs to
get done.”
The Black Knights
have proved them-
selves at the FOR-
SCOM level and they
are not planning on
taking a break.
“It took a lot of
work to get where we
are now, but even
Sgt. Renardo Prevo, a track
mechanic noncommissioned officer
with the combat repair team, pulls
out a set of cables while
performing maintenance on an M-
270 Multiple Launch Rocket
System. After the next level of
AAME awards, the unit may be
able to compete for the Phoenix
award.
Pfc. James Jacob, a track mechanic with the combat repair team, finishes
his maintenance on an M-270 Multiple Launch Rocket System. After the
maintenance, the drivers and mechanics will take the MLRS on a road
test.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2012
Rail Gunners; Strong and resilient
See RESILIENT on Page 5
ment. Leaders in the 41st Fires Bri-
gade aggressively approached the
training and continue to make pro-
gress in minimizing the critical in-
cidents on Fort Hood.
Rail Gunner Soldiers are pro-
vided the chance to attend an MRT
class several times a quarter. Nearly
thirty Soldiers with the 1st Bat-
talion, 21st Field Artillery Regi-
ment, 41st Fires Bde. partici-
pated in the most recent training
session.
“The Master Resiliency
Training program is designed to
provide Soldiers with the tools
that they can use prior to situa-
tions happening,” said Sgt. 1st
Class James Cook, Newark, N.J.
native, the brigade Master Resil-
iency Trainer, of Headquarters
and Headquarters Battery, 41st
Fires Bde. “Resiliency training
teaches Soldiers how to keep
everything in perspective and
how to bounce back. But proba-
bly one of the best qualities of
the course is that it teaches Sol-
diers how to look inward. The
FORT HOOD, Texas—Soldier de-
ployments are steadily decreasing,
which is good in the opinion of
some Soldiers, spouses, and family
members. However, the decline in
the domestic violent rates through-
out the Army is slow in compari-
son.
To combat domestic violence or
any other critical incident, the De-
partment of the Army instituted the
Master Resiliency Training pro-
gram in 2009. MRT is designed to
help Soldiers deal with the rigors of
everyday stress, focus less on the
negative, become more resilient,
and refocus catastrophic thoughts.
This program is also structured to
encourage spouses and family
members to participate.
Since September 2010, the MRT
training has been an annual require-
Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
Pfc. Natalia Clark, an automated logistics specialist, reads a section in the master resiliency training manual during an
MRT class. MRT is an annual requirement and was instituted in 2009.
Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, work on an exercise during a
master resiliency training class. During the exercise, the Soldiers wrote down three positive words to help them to
focus on positive thinking.
evaluate their current situations and
learn to “put things into perspec-
tive.”
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 5
RESILIENT cont. from Page 4
program helps to teach Soldiers
how to modify their own behaviors
to get a better outcome to any situa-
tion.”
Soldiers learning to modify
some of their own behaviors could
possibly help curtail some of the
domestic violence issues that oc-
cur. Domestic violence isn’t al-
ways physical, sometimes it’s ver-
bal.
“There are numerous cases that
occur on Fort Hood,” said Ken
Dickerson, Corinth, Ky. native,
occupational health and safety
specialist for the 41st Fires Bde.
“MRT is an excellent program
that can help young and senior
Soldiers. When you are young
you don't always have the skills
sets to deal with issues the right
way.”
During the course of the MRT
training, the Soldiers learn to
“What we learn in class is
not just for work,” said
Cook. “MRT will not solely
diminish domestic violence,
but if everyone involved in
those situations would prac-
tice what they learn on a
regular basis, then it could
possibly help reduce the
numbers. One of the skills in
this training that the Soldiers
learn is effective communi-
cation.”
There are no tests or grad-
ing during the training, but
most Soldiers leave the class
with some learning points.
“This class has helped me
a lot,” said Pfc. Natalia
Clark, an automated logistics
specialist for the 575th For-
ward Support Company, 1st
Bn., 21st FA Regt. “The
most important aspect of this
class that I’ve learned is to listen
and go into all situations with a
positive attitude.
Sgt. 1st Class James Cook, brigade master resiliency training instructor, instructs nearly 30 Soldiers on how to “chase
the good stuff” during an MRT training session. “Chasing the good stuff” allows Soldiers to focus on the positive rather
than the negative.
Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade, listen intently and answers questions during
a master resiliency training class held at the Soldiers Development Center at Fort Hood. Rail Gunner Soldiers receive a chance
to attend MRT classes every quarter.
Spiritual fitness takes Soldiers to new heights Story and photos by
Staff Sgt. Kyle J. Richardson
41st Fires Brigade, PAO
HARKER HEIGHTS, Texas—
Several First Strike Soldiers along
with the help of their battalion
chaplain and his assistant, made
small work of some oversized
boulders while showing the true
strength of their combined spiri-
tual fitness.
Forty Soldiers from the 1st
Battalion, 21st Field Artillery
Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade took
on the challenges at Boulders
Sport Climbing Center located in
Harker Heights on Jan. 11.
Spiritual fitness is a display
of individual characteristics
needed in stressful times on the
battlefield or during the rigors of
day-to-day life. Spiritual fitness is
also one of the five dimensions of
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2012
“If a Soldier’s spirit is broken,
he will not be able to complete his
mission,” said Ravenscraft. “When
a Soldier’s spirit is strong, he can
reach new heights.”
During the training event,
some Soldiers conquered fears and
reached new heights while climb-
ing the various rock walls.
“This is my first time
climbing and I think it’s a great
idea that my unit is willing to do
something like this,” said Spc. Al-
vin Greenwood, Beech Island,
S.C. native, petroleum specialist
for 575th Forward Support Com-
pany, 1st Bn., 21st FA Regt.
While the training event
helped Soldiers expand upon their
spiritual fitness, it also served an-
other purpose.
“We have Soldiers from all
the batteries in the battalion,” said
Spc. Gabriel Figueroa, Adjuntas,
Puerto Rico native, a chaplain’s Pfc. Michael Selman, a fire direction specialist, climbs a
rock wall. Selman was able to scale the wall and ring the
bell at the top.
the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness
program which was launched
Army-wide in 2009.
Because spiritual fitness
is a continuous aspect of a Sol-
dier’s life, individuals should
continue to train and develop this
characteristic.
“We put on spiritual fit-
ness training events to build mo-
rale in Soldiers, increase team-
work, and improve the compre-
hensive soldier,” said Capt.
David Ravenscraft, Cincinnati
native, battalion chaplain for the
1st Bn., 21st FA Regt. “It’s im-
portant to develop Soldiers in all
areas, but spiritual fitness can
keep them moving when times
get tough.
During the training,
Ravenscraft quoted Napoleon
Bonaparte—‘The strongest
weapon a Soldier has is his
spirit.’
Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 21st Field Artillery Regiment, 41st Fires Brigade participated in group team-
building activities at Boulders Sports Climbing Center. One of the stations was the ball in the bucket were
Soldiers had to throw the ball in the air and catch it without the ball touching the ropes or the floor.
See SPIRIT on Page 7
climbing drills,
team building
exercises, and
toward the end of the day
they were able to conduct free
climbing and rappelling.
“This training is about
more than a Soldier’s reli-
gious background,” said
Ravenscraft. “We’re here to
develop not only individuals,
but the team.”
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY PAGE 7
SPIRIT cont. from Page 6
assistant for the 1st Bn., 21st FA
Regt. “Normally, these Soldiers
wouldn’t get the chance to work
with one another unless we’re in the
field or deployed. So this training
provides an opportunity for all the
Soldiers to get together. It’s impor-
tant for Soldiers throughout our bat-
talion to know one another and
work with each other. The Bible
says ‘two ropes together are
stronger than just one.’ If all the
Soldiers in the battalion were pieces
of rope, constant training makes us
stronger, especially in a demanding
deployed environment.”
Although the Soldiers at-
tended a spiritual fitness training
event, Ravenscraft said that the Sol-
diers do not have to be religious to
attend the event.
Soldiers worked on multiple
Spc. Chris Welter, a medical specialist tests out the Dino Jump wall. The
Soldiers worked with professional rock climbers throughout the day.
Pfc. Donald Chellette, a multiple launch rocket systems crewmember climbs through a
rock wall. More than 40 Soldiers were able to take part in the training event held at
Boulders.
Pfc. Sean LoSavio, a multiple launch rocket
systems crewmember rappels down a wall.
The spiritual fitness training event was the
first time some of the Soldiers had a chance
to work with one another.
VOLUME 3, ISSUE 2 THE RAIL GUNNER MONTHLY FEBRUARY 2012
