Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Issue 8 April 15, 2010

1-67 excels at HBCT Gunnery

version of an M1 tank, the Abrams Main Battle
Tanks thundered across down to the concrete
pad to install cameras and microphones inside
Story by 1st Lt. Colin O’Toole Upon reaching the open area at range 143,
the turrets. These cameras and microphones
1st Battalion 67th Armor Regiment the headquarters sections quickly set up their
would broadcast the image and conversations
It was well before daybreak and the motor equipment and established communications.
inside the tank for evaluation during the
pool was buzzing with activity. Tanks, Many pieces were moving at once; the
qualification tables.
Bradleys, trucks, humvees, and armored antennas went up, the tents were assembled,
Meanwhile, range 109 was occupied by
personnel carriers were running and eager to the Tactical Operations Center vehicles were
Assassin company, the first of two Infantry
move down range for some intense training. positioned to access the command cell, and
companies to test their mettle during the
On March 22, the 1st Battalion, 67th the Battalion TOC came together. Not to let
intense exercise. The M2A3 and M3A3
Armor Regiment began its first gunnery since our Soldiers go hungry or vehicles empty,
Bradley Fighting Vehicles are capable of
arriving at Fort Carson. the Forward Support Company quickly took
engaging multiple targets while safely
This operation started months ago when to setting up the Mobile Kitchen Trailer and
carrying dismounts, another crucial part
the equipment first came back from low use maintenance support areas.
of this gunnery. In the coming weeks, the
storage at building 8030 and from the leave At range 143, the most
battalion will come to know the capabilities of
behind equipment. The crews maximized updated
the vehicles they are assigned.
the use of available time to become familiar
The companies will work together to create
with the equipment and train on
one of the most effective and destructive types
engagement scenarios.
of fighting force on today’s modern battlefield;
The day had finally
the combined arms battalion. The tanks will
come with Assassin
fight side-by-side with the Bradleys, using the
and Dog companies
massive 120mm main gun to cover dismounts.
moving to ranges 109 and 143
AH-64D Apache Longbow helicopters, 120mm
to begin their qualification tables.
mortars, and M109 Paladin Self-propelled
Bonesaw and Chaos
Howitzers will destroy targets downrange that
Companies would be
are identified by the companies’ Bradley Fire
soon to follow along
Support Teams. The support company will
with the scouts and
continue its mission pushing combat logistics
mortar platoons from
patrols out to the company’s tactical assembly
the Headquarters and
areas to ensure the fighters keep fighting and
Headquarters Company.
the armor keeps rolling.

Command Sergeant Major’s Corner biggest problem

Soldiers or the Army today
facing

and what can be done to

Command Sgt. Maj. Shawn Alvarado, CSM
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
What is your background
(where you grew up, notable
assignments or experiences,
deployments, family info, pets,
etc.)?
I grew up in Southern
California. Specifically in Indio,
California, which is by Palm
Springs.
Some of the notable
experiences in my career have
been, participation in Joint
Military Exercise Flintlock in
Zimbabwe; going to Gabarone,
Botswana; time in Germany;
being in Egypt and Israel as part address it?
of the Multinational Forces and Operational tempo is the
Observers. biggest problem and it can be
What are your hobbies / what addressed with dwell time.
do you enjoy doing in your free Let’s all slow down and take a
time? breather.
I like cycling and playing golf. If you could leave the
Why did you join the Army? soldiers of this BDE (or your
To get and see the world. BN) with one piece of advice
What is the best experience from your experience, what
you’ve had in your military would it be?
career? The best times will be those
Serving in the 1st Ranger times when you were cold, wet,
Battalion tired, and hungry.
What do you think is the
page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 8 April 15, 2010

Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division, participate in a simulated drunk driving course during battalion
safety day on March 31. The Soldiers were wearing goggles that simulate intoxication,
and attempted to navigate a golf cart through a series of cones. (photo by 2nd Lt. Ian Faison)

Bubonic Plague infections.

The bubonic plague kills about two out of
areas that have numerous burrow holes, and
mounds, and do not have any vegetation grow-
As the units within the brigade start moving three infected patients in 2-6 days without ing on them. Also Soldiers are cautioned to
deeper into the training phase and are out on treatment and may have been the cause of the not attempt to trap or mess with these rodents.
the ranges more and more and in the training Black Plague that swept through Europe in the Wear insect repellant to repel fleas and other
areas of Fort Carson, Soldiers and units will 1300’s killing more than 25 million people. insects that can be found on the ranges.
start encountering the prairie dog and prairie The plague is very infectious and symptoms Caution should be used when Soldiers are do-
dog towns. are: heavy breathing, fever, continuous blood ing off-duty activities like camping or hiking
These rodents are a fixture on Fort Car- vomiting, headaches, urination of blood, in the wilderness areas in Colorado. Soldiers
son and in this part of Colorado and must be chills, aching limbs, extreme tired- should use extreme caution and warn their
avoided. The prairie dogs carry a flea that is a ness, coughing, gastrointestinal family members about the dangers these
carrier of the bubonic plague. The prairie dogs problems, extreme pain and black rodents pose.
on Ft. Carson do carry the plague. dots on the body. If pets are taken on camping trips, they
Bubonic plague is the best known manifes- Units are cautioned when should be controlled so that they do not
tation of the plague, and is an infection that setting up their sites, to not use chase these rodents. If they come into
enters through the skin and travels through the areas where the prairie dog contact with a dead rodent Soldiers should
the lymphatics as is often seen in flea-borne towns are located. These sites are keep their pets away from the carcass.

204th gets smart
with their money
Story and photo by Capt. Timothy Bushnell
204th Brigade Support Battalion
The Soldiers of 204th Brigade Support
Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th
Infantry Division, conducted their third
Family awareness training event March 31
at McMahon theater. This event focused on
basic financial preparedness for Soldiers and
Families.
The event brought more than 160 Soldiers
and Family members and featured Dallas
Shrawder, a financial planner from Army
Community Services. The goal was to
help Families become more aware of the
importance of managing their finances and
help them create a budget for themselves.
“Our goals as a command team for this
night, are to increase personal readiness –
specifically financial readiness, and assist in
Dallas Shrawder, a financial planner from ACS, ad-
dresses Soldiers from 204th BSB, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf.
Div., about their finances March 31.
increasing awareness of saving, debt reduction
and predatory lending, said Lt. Col. Todd
Bertulis. “Most of the Uniform Code of
Military Justice actions that come across my
desk are rooted in money issues.”
Shrawder shared his experience as a
financial planner and stressed the importance
of understanding a budget and how to stick
within it.
“My goal is to give you insight on how to ask
the right questions before you go downtown
and spend your money, ” Shrawder said. It all
starts with the financial plan, he added. “You
have to have a budget and know where every
dollar goes. You have to set financial goals and
communicate them clearly with your spouse.”
Shrawder outlined several budgets that he
had helped create and pointed out places where
people were spending money that they did not
need, such as expensive cable and telephone
services while ignoring their car payments.
Everyone that attended was given a
handout that broke down and explained
their LES statement and a blank budget sheet
to start their financial planning process.
Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Dugan emphasized
the importance of the financial plan to the
Soldiers and Families.
“Get after your finances before you get
into trouble,” he told them. Over 75 percent
of the judicial actions that have come to the
commander’s attention since taking command
have, been financially related, he emphasized.
Getting out of debt and keeping yourself
there is an important part of being ready and
resilient as we move into combat readiness,
Dugan said.
page 3
Engineers work with live demolitions
Story and photo by Spc. April York
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
Engineers from Company C, 2nd Special
Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division blasted their way to
qualification at a demolition range held on
Range 121A March 17.
Their mission was to certify all individual
sappers on Engineer Qualification Tables
two, three and four. These tables consist of
placing and detonating charges and arming
and disarming anti-tank mines, said 1st Lt.
Christopher Gillespie, Company C executive
officer.
The demo range was not only meant to keep
the engineers up to date on their semi-annual
qualifications, but it was also good training
to prepare them for upcoming field training
exercises, Gillespie said.
“This training actually prepares the Soldiers
for full spectrum operations, which
includes breeching and demolition on
buildings and bridges,” he stated.
Soldiers are excited to get hands on training,
said 2nd Lt. Christopher Cadieux, a platoon
leader for Company C.
“This training absolutely prepares us
Chaplain’s Corner: strength from prayer
God’s power is available to us when we come
to Him in solitude, when we learn how to focus
and center our hearts and be quiet before Him.
When we learn the discipline of stillness before
God, we find that His leadings come through to
us clearly, with little interference. That is why I
believe that it is essential to spend some time
each day in prayer and communion with God.
The important thing is not to get locked into
a particular method or system but find a way
that works for you to speak to God and even
hear His response, that still, small voice that
brings guidance and peace.
I sometimes ask questions like: What is the
Warhorse
Pride
Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Barteau.....2nd BCT CSM
Lt. Col. Richard Stebbins................................2nd BCT PAO
2nd Lt. Christopher McMillan....................................Editor
Staff Writers
Sgt. Seth Barham and Spc. April York
Warhorse Pride Issue 8 April 15, 2010
for battle,” said Spc. Brandon Kerr, a heavy can’t be surprised by what you’re doing.”
equipment operator for Company C. “We The Soldiers worked with M15, M19 and
can sit in a classroom all day and do death M21 anti-tank mines. They were actually
by PowerPoint, but when you get out there arming a live mine that was sitting beneath
and you’re wiring it up and then you feel the them and then disarming it, Gillespie said.
concussion and the blow back falling over your This helps them become more proficient and
head as you’re lying in the prone position, that builds their confidence.
is what really prepares you.” The Soldiers also worked with claymore
To put in all in perspective Kerr said, “You mines, cratering charges, shape charges and
don’t get second chances on the battlefield. You Bangalore torpedoes.
“This training helps the Soldiers understand
how to clear an improvised explosive device,”
Gillespie said. “It’s a unique training element
that makes us self sufficient.”
“We don’t always have to depend on
someone else to accomplish the mission,”
Cadieux said. “We can do everything from
route clearance to pulling our own security.
Our EODA (explosive ordinance disposal
agent) qualified Soldiers can even detonate and
place small IEDs.
“Time is what makes us essential to the
Spc. Michael Long, a Soldier with Company C, 2nd mission,” Kerr said. “If you call us; we are
Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, already there. You don’t have to provide
4th Infantry Divison, disarms a M15 mine during
demolition training on Range 121A, March 17. The security and you don’t have to wait in a
training consisted of placing charges and arming and vulnerable position waiting for someone to
disarming mines. show up.”
next step in developing my character? What is
We invite all Fort Carson Volunteers to
the next step in my relationships?; What is the
join us to celebrate the National Volunteer
next step in my ministry? What should I do
week- 18-24 April 2010.
to enhance my children? What should I do to
further my education? How could I better serve
WHAT: Fort Carson Volunteer BBQ
my community?
(FREE)
Whatever you ask the Lord, you will be
amazed at the way He leads. As you build this
WHEN: 20 April 2010, 1100-1330 HRS
discipline of stillness into your life, you will
find these quiet moments in God’s presence
WHERE: ACS /Commissary Picnic area
becoming incredibly precious to you.
Blessings
WHO: All Fort Carson Volunteers are
CH (MAJ) Ricky Way
invited
2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Chaplain
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team
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horse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and editor: c.mcmillan2@us.army.mil