Tflr newsletter 22_feb2013
- 1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY A publication of the 2/138th FAR February 22, 2013 Volume 1, Issue 18 CPT’s Corner Earning the right to wear the Last we spoke I mentioned getting your financial house in order. Hopefully you’re Red Cord Story and photos by Capt. Daniel Van Horn, 2-138th PAO saving money, paying off debt, or making smart and informed purchases. The CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Soldiers from Task Force Financial Peace University class the Base Longrifles will tell you that the 2013 edition of the Longrifle Chapel offered had a lot of good and sound Raid was anything but easy. The Longrifle Raid began two advice. I recommend using that course if you need motivation years ago when the previous Battalion Command Sgt. and insight on how to become debt-free. Fleet & Family Major, Thomas Chumley designed an event that would test Support has a new Personal Financial Manager, Martina a Soldiers physical endurance, military skill, and artillery Simpson. They are offering some really good workshops in knowledge. Soldiers who successfully completed each event the next few days, February 26th – March 1st 1500-1630 would earn the right to wear the coveted Red Cord on their at the Oasis. They will cover credit and debt management, dress uniform. investing and retirement, car buying, and home buying. If This year’s Raid started with twenty-seven Soldiers from you could use some help getting your finances squared away across the battalion. The first event of the day was a you should take advantage of some these workshops. If you standard Army Physical Fitness Test at 0500 in the morning. find yourself struggling with how to deal with finances, let someone in your chain of command or a close friend know However, each Soldier had to score a minimum of 70 points so they can help you help yourself. in all three categories. This means that just passing the APFT was not enough. The APFT consists of push-ups, sit- A Soldier’s finance issue is easy enough to fix, but we need to ups, and a 2-mile run. After successfully completing the let them know where to get help. As leaders we need to make APFT, Soldiers were able to get breakfast and change into a sure we listen to our Soldiers and point them in the right clean uniform before an inspection, followed by a drill and direction. Problems back home can seem insurmountable ceremonies competition lead by 1st Sgt. Robert Burns from and adversely affect performance in our daily duties. With Headquarters Battery, 2-138th. half this deployment behind us, we need to ensure we keep our eyes and ears open and stay the course. Make sure you “Drill and ceremonies is one of the skills that a Soldier watch out for your fellow Soldiers and keep them motivated should never lose. It’s a snapshot of their attention to detail,” and safe. ~Capt. R.J. Hill said Burns after the last squad finished the event. “Having Soldiers from different units compete as one team also helps 1SG Thoughts build camaraderie and teamwork which will be important for the rest of the Raid,” added Burns. The Djiboutian summer is getting closer every day, so we need to continue hydrating and acclimating ourselves. The weather has been pleasant so far, so we have a gradual change ahead of us, yet injuries and illness have been a big factor in the past months. We need to stay aware of our surroundings and be as safe as possible in the months to come. Hydration, well balanced meals, and as much sleep as possible are contributing factors to the beginning of a productive and successful day. When vigilance and situational awareness become second nature, safety of you and others will become second nature. What happens at the beginning of your day will make the mood for the rest of the day. So maybe start it out with a run, some pushups and sit-ups, or a great functional fitness workout. Prepare yourself for greatness every minute of every CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - 1st Sgt. Robert Burns, a Radcliff, Ky. native, day. It is expected of us as professionals in the United Stated gives the command of open ranls prior to an inspection during the Longrifle Raid on Feb. 15, 2013. Look for the names of the Soldiers that earned the Red Armed Forces. in next month’s coverage of the official award ceremony. Cord ~1st Sgt. Rodney Mitchell CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >
- 2. EARNING THE RIGHT CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > > Soldier to Soldier The next event was the obstacle course, which gave each • Any Soldier interested in participating in a shout- Soldier another opportunity to get dirty and sweaty. The course was physically demanding. The Soldiers had to out should stop by the Public Affairs office located complete fifteen push-ups, flip a 180-pound tire five times, in building 150, Monday through Friday from 1300- high-crawl, low-crawl, carry two 30-pound ammunition 1600. POC is Capt. Van Horn, ext. 4807. cans for twenty yards, then raise one 30-pound ammunition • Any Soldier interested in volunteering for Troops can over their heads 15 times, and finally sprint 100 yards with both cans to the finish line. and Teachers on Tuesdays and Thursdays, contact 1st Lt. Weiler in building 150 or ext. 5031. As the morning wore on, it continued getting hotter making the events that much more difficult. Soldiers began preparing • The Chaplain’s Office will be collecting donations for their next event, a 9-mile road march with 35 pounds of of 550 Cord from now until further notice. Any weight in the backpack. This event proved to be the most Soldiers interested in making donations can stop by challenging of the day with several Soldiers dropping out building 150 between 0900-1600. due to the heat(those Soldiers were provided with medical attention and no injuries were sustained). The route wound • April 1st is the deadline for Soldiers planning on its way along the perimeter of the camp with Soldiers having using their State Tuition Assistance for the fall term. to make three laps in less than 2.5 hours to qualify for the To submit application, go to https://ky.ngb.army.mil/ next event. tuitionstudent/frmLogin.aspx “Because of the heat, distance, and weight we had to carry, the road march was by far the hardest part of the Raid,” said Chaplain Reflections 2nd Lt. Denis Babiyev, executive officer from Bravo Battery, While in Ethiopia visiting solders we 2-138th. where given an opportunity to go on a With the physically demanding part of the raid complete, memorable journey. That afternoon we the events moved to military skill and artillery knowledge. found ourselves in a dusty riverbed This would include loading and filling a radio, call for fire, surrounded by steep mountains and 9-line MEDEVAC, un-exploded ordnance report, and react instructed to follow our native guide up to enemy contact. the ridgeline. As we climbed with a group Spc. Tyler Douglas, a Field Artillery Automated Tactical of troops we discuss a few good theological ideas and life Data Systems Specialist with Charlie Battery, 2-138th, said lessons until we reached our destination. completing the raid this year in Africa was a big goal. “I figured this deployment would be the best time to prepare After a very difficult climb we found the cave that served as for the Raid. In the future, not many Soldiers will be able to a home for thousands of years. The beauty of this cave was, say they earned it while deployed to Africa, so it’s a once in a not only did it provide protection from the elements it also lifetime opportunity,” said Douglas. provided safety from enemies. The final event consisted of Non-Commissioned Officer It is possible that this early occupant upon entering the board with the battalion Command Sgt. Major and battery valley had an almost unlimited choice of where he would 1st Sgts asking one to two questions about unit history, reside, but he chose this cave, and when he did he made it military customs and courtesies, artillery facts, and warrior his own. ethos. The day was challenging, hot, and long, but by the end The point of the climb was not to see a cave it was to see of it, 21 Soldiers had earned the distinct privilege of calling themselves ‘Longrifle Raiders’ with a braided Red Cord ancient cave paintings, and it is hard to imagine the artist adorning their shoulders. would expect this work to outlast him by generations; but it did. This is a good lesson of all of us to remember. Our actions have a lasting impact. The decisions we make including our friendships and marriages are passed on like an inheritance shaping those that follow us. Be wise and think about the life long impact of what at the time can appear to be short- term decision. ~Chaplain Mark East Longrifles Weekly Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles Page 2