33d Infantry Brigade XCTC Crosswire Issue 1
- 1. Crosswire The Issue 1 | July 10, 2012 Official Newsletter of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team The Illinois Setting up shop Showcase by: Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd IBCT Public Affairs Specialist by: Brig Gen. Johnny Miller, Asst. Adj. Gen. of the ILANG Soldiers with the 33rd In- fantry Brigade Combat Team, I want to welcome you all to Headquarters and Headquar- Camp Ripley, Minnesota. It is ters Company (IBCT HHC) Soldiers with the 33rd Infantry a distinct honor to be the Task in Urbana erected a Tactical Brigade Combat Team, Headquar- Force Illini Commander dur- Operation Center (TOC) July ters and Headquarters Company ing this Annual Training. The pull open one of seven modular 7 in preparation for the three- eXportable Combat Training tents as a part of setting up of a week long eXportable Combat Capability (XCTC) is an out- Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Training Capability (XCTC) to standing opportunity for us to at Camp Ripley, Minn. (U. S. complete the fourth stage in the highlight the quality of the Illi- Army photo by Spc. Christopher Brig. General Johnny Miller is the deployment cycle. Garibay/released) nois Army National Guard and Assistant Adjuntant General of The training will place the our Soldiers. I like to call this the Illinois National Guard 33rd IBCT in the “ready” phase exercise to bring out the best in Annual Training “The Illinois of the deployment cycle, mak- our Soldiers, said Col. Paul C. Showcase;” it will demonstrate but it will equally challenge the ing the brigade of nearly 3,000 Hasting, brigade commander of the high caliber of our organiza- 108th Sustainment Brigade and Soldiers deployable. the 33rd IBCT. This XCTC will tion to key decision makers at all aspects of our organization. “The TOC consists of seven give us keen insight into our the national level, the commu- This challenge is an opportu- modular tents, powering three strengths and weaknesses, mak- nity leaders where our armories nity to strengthen our team and Extremely Lightweight Air Mo- ing sure our Soldiers are well are located, and our Polish part- provide a setting for our expe- bile Systems, four command equipped to meet the needs of ners. This exercise is the culmi- rienced veterans to pass along post platforms powered by gen- our state and our country, said nation of over a year’s planning those hard ‘lessons learned’ erators air controlled climate Hastings. and coordination. from theater to our young Sol- diers. These efforts help keep us systems,” said Staff Sgt. Joshua XCTC is focused on the 33rd “Illinois Strong!” Stoner from Champaign with Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 33rd IBCT HHC. Distinguished While there are still a few Visitors arriving Soldiers make the long haul • Polish Land Cmdr things that need to get done, July 11-12. • MG Celletti the layout is set for operations for special training • CSM Robinson to commence and continue all by: Allison Lampe, 33rd IBCT Public chesney Park to Southern Illi- throughout XCTC, said Stoner. Affairs Specialist nois, had to ensure that not only We are running millions of Soldiers with the Illinois Army all the Soldiers arrived safely, dollars worth of equipment, National Guard’s 33rd Infantry but also the vehicles and equip- navigate through data on our In this issue Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) ment needed to support them as servers and stream live feeds traveled to Camp Ripley, Minn. well. through our command, said Commander’s Brief page 2 this week by bus, plane and con- Chief Warrant Officer (2) Sgt. 1st Class Adam G. Gordon, voy for the eXportable Combat Kenneth Morris of Headquar- Data Systems Integrator with Long Haul (cont.) page 2 Training Capability (XCTC) ters and Headquarters Company, the 33rd IBCT HHC. Dozens of Tactical Battle Commands op- Safety Message page 2 program as a part of their annual 33rd IBCT in Urbana, the acting training. logistics officer, was responsible erate through the TOC, coordi- Validating lanes page 3 The 33rd IBCT, consisting of for assembling the 597 vehicles nating the thousands of Soldiers approximately 2,150 Soldiers and 209 trailers required for the taking part during the XCTC, Brigade Run page 3 attending XCTC from 30 com- training. said Gordon. panies based as far north as Ma- We anticipate this training BSTB saves mission page 4 continued on pg. 2 Page 1
- 2. Fellow Centurions! by: Col. Paul C. Hastings, 33rd IBCT commander. XCTC is here, and we are in full pursuit noncommissioned officers. It is they that of tactical excellence. Over the next three will provide ground level leadership, main- weeks we will train to be the most lethal tain standards and discipline, and see each and survivable IBCT in the National Guard. mission through to completion. All of us XCTC will challenge all of us in the 33rd are charged with the same. Lets make sure IBCT – from those that have been hardened it happens. by a decade of war, to our newest Soldiers We are mission complete when our pla- eager to contribute to the hard scrabble ways toons successfully conduct live fires, are of an Infantry Brigade Combat Team. proficient in maneuver (day & night) under Clearly, this XCTC rotation is the most the mission command of the company and aggressive and complicated rotation ever battalion; junior leaders are able to appro- contemplated. We have developed 37 dif- priately react to unpredictable, complex ill- ferent training lanes, seven different live defined situations, and all aspects of safety, fire exercises (squad, platoon, mortar, artil- Soldier care and Army values are accom- lery, etc), and we will culminate in a brigade plished. attack field training exercise. The next three Centurions, Forward! Col. Paul C. Hastings is the commander of the weeks will be full of challenge and oppor- 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team tunity. Central to our success is our junior Soldiers make long haul continued from pg. 1 Morris began preparation for Safety first the long haul as early as March, directing members of the 2nd For your Health and Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regi- Safety: ment in Kewanee driving con- • Ticked off: If you get a voys to Fort McCoy, Wis. for tick, please do not attempt their drill weekend and busing to remove it yourself. 68Ws them back. They repeated that have the equipment to prop- process in April. Overall, units erly remove ticks and get managed to pre-position a com- them tested for possible bined 177 vehicles and trailers lime disease. Results take over drill weekends. four days and if positive you Morris also used the Maneu- will receive immediate treat- ver Area Training Equipment ment. Site on Camp Ripley to borrow Soldiers from the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team arrive at Camp • Avoid Dumpster Diving: 179 vehicles and 25 trailers. Ripley, Minn. on a C-130 from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Please remember to dispose Airlift Wing out of Peoria, Ill. July 7. Eight C-130s flew in Soldiers of all unused MRE heaters From there, a combined from across the state for this year’s annual training. (U. S. Army photo 157 vehicles and trailers were in the designated blue bins at by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released) brought on semi trailers and 223 the DFACs. were driven in convoys. • Hit the Track Jack: Run- Maj. Friedrich Josellis, com- ning is only allowed on the munication officer for the 33rd running track. Headphones Infantry Brigade Combat Team, are allowed on the track and explained “Soldiers did extraor- PT belts are required. dinarily well given the trying • Beat the heat: Drink wa- conditions in terms of staying ter! Dehydration is a health healthy and keeping the vehi- risk that is completely avoid- cles running,” able. Severe heat casualties All Soldiers are scheduled to will require immediate med- have arrived on post by July 8, ical aid. with the last convoys rolling in that afternoon. Cpl. William McNeece directs the convoy of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team as they make their way from Urbana, Ill. to Camp Ripley, Minn. July 5 for an- nual training. (U. S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released) Page 2
- 3. Validating training lanes by: Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd Beck of Eagle, Wisc., brigade IBCT Public Affairs Specialist command sergeant major of the Soldiers with the 33rd Infan- 33rd IBCT said the lane valida- try Brigade Command Team tion ensures the brigade com- (IBCT) reviewed training lanes mander’s intent, creating lethal, along with soldiers representing proficient and trained squads the First Army and civilian staff and platoons is met. supporting the eXportable Com- “Brigade and battalion com- bat Training Capability (XCTC) manders and command sergeant for upcoming training. majors walked through 10 areas The preparation is vital be- where Soldiers will be training cause it gives them the opportu- during the next three weeks,” nity to make changes to tactical said Beck. “It also set up a rat- maneuvers to be held over the ing system for us to evaluate the next three weeks. expectations set forth by their The “lane validation” is a battalions and brigades.” Col. Paul C. Hastings (center), brigade commander of the 33rd Infantry standard practice by brigade “The goal of the XCTC is for Brigade Combat Team, along with other members of the brigade staff, conduct ‘lane validation’ for training to be held at Camp Ripley, Minn. and battalion staff to ensure that all the Soldiers in the brigade to (U. S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher Garibay/released) unit’s standard operating proce- achieve tactical excellence, to dures are met. The training also make the most of the training ensures units are prepared for that has been provided for them the most up-to-date combat and and to ensure we are the most humanitarian missions. capable brigade in the state and Col. Thomas Weiss, Director in the country,” said Col. Paul of Plans and Training for the C. Hastings, 33rd IBCT com- Illinois Army National Guard, mander. said lane validation is a way for brigade and battalion staff to Capt. Jason Carter of Chicago , observe the lanes before train- company commander of Battery B ing begins. He said it provides of the 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field them with situations where they Artillery discusses training plans with XCTC staff regarding counter- have to react in real-time and do IED measures. (U. S. Army photo it within the current Army stan- by Spc. Christopher Garibay/ dards. released) Command Sgt. Maj. Timothy Beginning XCTC with brigade run 33rd IBCT soldiers march in formation folllowing a brigade run. The run The 33rdIBCT waits for Reveille after the 2.5 mile brigade run July 8 at was aimed to foster unity and cohesion, as well as set the tone for the Camp Ripley, Minn. Over 2,000 Soldiers participated in the first ever rest of XCTC. (U. S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released) brigade run. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released) Page 3
- 4. BSTB Co. overcomes Annual Training setback by: Sgt. Jesse Houk, 139th Mobile Public Affairs De- tachment Quick and competent response from Com- pany C, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battal- ion (BSTB) July 7-8 along with assistance from the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, civilian subject matter experts, and the Minnesota Army National Guard helped advert a damaging situation before training for the eXportable Combat Training Capa- Spc. Raymond B. Georg, Satellite Transport Spc. Raymond B. Georg, Belleville and Spc. bility (XCTC) program officially began. Terminals (STT) operator, Belleville talks with Adam W. Fager, Carbondale, both Satellite Upon arriving at Camp Ripley it was dis- Transport Terminals operators with Company a level one operator to maximize satellite covered that mission-critical Satellite Trans- efficiency while Spc. Adam W. Fager, STT C, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion work port Terminals (STT) had been damaged in operator, Carbondale assists with inputting on damaged satellites. The unit was success- the transport and were rendered inoperable. appropriate information. Both Soldiers were ful at establishing communication and will “It’s not what you want on day one; to a part of Company C, 33rd Brigade Special continue on with training at Camp Ripley, get off the plane and find that your equip- Troops Battalion that responded to downed Minn. for the duration of the eXportable Com- ment isn’t functional,” said Warrant Officer satellites at the beginning of the eXportable bat Training Capability program. (U.S. Army Robert L Dobbs of Marion, network opera- Combat Training Capability program at Camp photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk) tions chief, Co. C, 33rd BSTB.“But instead Ripley, Minn. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk) of dwelling on that we focused on solving the problem and creating some communica- tion.” Calling all UPARs! The Soldiers immediately went to work trying to troubleshoot and repair the dam- aged equipment. “Charlie companies Soldiers worked Do you have an idea for stories? Did you take an through the night to bring us an alternative awesome photo of yourself or your battle buddies so that if the exercise got to the point where some sort of communication was needed conducting awesome training? Do you want your they could provide a minimal capability for story or picture to be published? voice and data,” said Maj. Fred J. Josellis of Macomb, communications officer with the Headquarters and Headquarters Com- pany, 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Email us! (IBCT). 33rdIBCT.publicaffairs@gmail.com The IBCT was familiar with the work Company C, BSTB does and knew how vi- tal they were to the success of the mission. “They’re our counterpart,” said Master Public Affairs Staff Stay Informed. Sgt. Shawn E. Ward of Peoria, Communi- cations Noncommissioned Officer of the Officer in Command: Stay Connected. HHC, 33rd IBCT.“We don’t move without Maj. Nathan Westby them. We work with them and do training with them once a quarter. We know they’re Noncommission Officer in Command going to work around this and figure out a Sgt. Jesse Houk way to make it work.” The dilemma proved that Company C www.facebook.com/33rdIBCT Public Affairs Specialist was ready for the challenge and set the tone for the rest of the Soldiers involved in the Pfc. Allison Lampe XCTC program. Public Affairs Specialist Spc. Christopher Garibay Follow: @xctc2012ilng State Public Affairs Support Lt. Dutch Grove Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chrisman www.flickr.com/photos/33rdIBCT Page 4