Pershing

able

Vol. 'Z1, No. e

51th Field Artillery Command
Mlrch 1989

Update FYI
E-4 promotions curbed

_ . ,Dorr
During G-2'1 Command Poet Exll'CIM Spec. Danlll Shllttuck (right) and $Sgt. Charin Arrington, both from G-2,
plot enemy units and movement routea on the blttletllld, 11ter 1nalyzlng lntalllgence collected by "tllld unite.

Intel pierces fog

by Troy Darr
Pershing Cable Staff Writer
The enemy sweeps over the border, while intelligence analym huddle around a map. In the face of
the enemy tide, surprised and stunned U.S. units fall
back to <lefensive positions, ready to counterattack
when the "fog of war" lifts. Nobody knows what's
happening.
Well, not exactly nobody. Intelligence analysts
have been collecting, processing and distributing information since the first tanks began rolling.
The analysts' missions are to lift the "fog of war"
and prov:ide commanders a clear picture of the battlefield.
To remain prepared for their combat mission, 56th
Field Ar1tillery Command intelligence analysts hold
an annual Command Post Exercise (CPX). This year
it was held during the week of Jan. 30.
To prepare for the CPX and sh:lrf'en the G-2 and
S-2 soldier's skills, G-2 noncommissioned officers
conducted a full day of classes.
An overview of the exercise, given by Lt. Col.
Dale Coffman, assistant chief of staff for intelligence,
G-2, was followed by a class on Soviet unit and
equipment identification, tactics and intelligence collection and reporting procedures.
The last class the intelligence analysts received was
on the intelligence preparation of the battlefield
(!PB). !PB consists of supporting the commander's
decision making process by analyzing the enemy,
weather :and terrain in the area he expected to fight
in. If this is done correctly he will have a clear picture
of what could happen in various circumstances, explained Sgt. David Hastings, Missile Analyst.
On the day of the CPX, the soldiers formed four
cells. Three of the cells acted as the G-2 of an infantry division. The fourth cell acted as a control
center for the exercise.
The three cells consisted of four people each. The
soldiers divided up into cells so each soldier would
get a chance 10 be Cell Commander.
According to SSgt. Melinda Ivins, NCOIC of
Analysis and Production Section, G-2, the control
cell oversaw the other cells and "maintained the scenario and supplemented the cells with spot reports

and answered questions on collection assets. Spot

reports arc information about the enemy. Collection
assets are agencies available to G-2 where they can
gather information or task to gather information.
As the control cell," Ivins said, it was our job to
supply the cells with the information they needed.
"To enhance their briefing skills, everyone in each
cell gave a brief to G-2 officers," said Sgt. Frank
Norquist, G-2 Trainin$ NCOIC. Briefing skills are
important because soldiers must be able to relay information to their commander after it is collected, he
said.
The day after the two-day CPX the best cell gave a
final intelligence brief to Command Chief of Staff.
Col. Douglas Middleton.
At any time a specialist should be as knowledgeable as an E-7 or captain." Norquist said. "The CPX
helps a lot of analysts break out of their shell, by
making them brief a captain or even a colonel.
If the %-Bravos (intelligence analym) get taken
away from intelligence.analysis by security clearance
paperwork or physical security, the CPX brings them
up to date on current information about proper pro
cedures," he said.
According to Ivins the CPX is used primarily as a
training aid for the SQT (Skills Qualiiication Test)
and to sharpen analysis skills.
Tue success rate of the exercise is very good," said
Norquist. "Last year the average SQT raised 15 to 20
points. This year we hope we'll even go higher.
"The CPX was very successful this year," Ivins
said. "The soldiers were very enthusiastic. The 56th
inteHigcn~ analysts enj~y fetting together and finetuning their analysts skills.
Spec. Raymond St. George from Headquarters andi
Headquarters Service Battery agreed with her andi
said, "The CPX ~ave me good hands on experience in
the %B field. Being here continues to keep our skills
honed to a fine edge."
The 56th Fie.Id Artillery Command's intelligence
an,alysts bustle around in a fevered pitch, preparing
for the final brief for Col. Middleton, wrapping up
this year's G-2 Command Post Exercise.
So, if the enemy comes sweeping down on us, 56th
intelligence analysts will be prepared to keep their
commanders up-to-date on the information th~y
need to win the war.

The Army is slowing the pace of promotion 10

E-'4 in an effort to trim the overgrown population
of corporals and specialists. Some 25 percent fewer
privates first class will be eligible for early promotions under a policy change that took place Jan. J,
1989.
If recommended by their commander, soldiers
are eligible for immediate promotion to E-'4 after
26 months of service and six months time in grade
as Private First Class.
However, Privates First Class with 12- 25
months in service and 3-5 months in grade could
have been recommended for accelerated promotions with a time-in-service waiver.
Designed to speed advancement of outstanding
junior soldiers, the Army limited these waivers by
allowing no more than 20 percent of the E-4s in
any unit to have less than 26 months in service.
As of January I, the Army restricted chis to 15
percent, resulting in 25 percent less accelerated
promotions.
Officials added that the effect of the new policy
should mean an average promotion delay of one
or two months.
(ARNEWS)

GI Bill 2nd shot

Washington - Some soldiers who chose not to
participate in the Montgomery GI Bill when they
enlisted now have a second chance to enroll.
Thanks to legislation signed by former President Reagan, soldiers have until June 30 to reenroll in the Montgomery GI Bill.
The GI Bill allows soldiers to have an amount
withheld from their pay until they have
accumulated $ 1,200. In return, the government
offers basic education benefiu of $ 9,000 for a
two-year enliscment and $ t 0,800 for a three-year
or longer tenn of service.
To re-enroll, soldiers must fim visit their local
military personnel office. The next step is a visit to
their finance office to arrange for the base-pay reduction. Tbc monthly reduction will be determined by the finance officer based on the soldier's
remaining service and available base-pay, but it
can't be less than $ JOO.

Super Gas
Munich - AAFES-Europc customers need to be
careful when pumping gasoline into their vehicles
at ESSO A. G. stations.
At the beginning of the year, ESSO began conducting a test on a new super plus unleaded (bleifrei) gasoline at more than SOO filling stations in
Germany. The new gasoline has a U.S. octane !eve.I of 93, which is the same level as super le.aded
gasoline.
"The present unleaded coupons available
through AAFES are not permirted to be redeemed
for the super plus unleaded fuel since it is a violation of customs regulations," said Walt Kania,
chief, automotive branch, AAFES-Europe. "In addition, customers arc not permitted to use the present coupons and pay the difference in price.
Those tanking up with the new fuel will be re,
quired to pay the full pump price in DM.
(AAFES-Eurooe News Release,

PfNlhingCIJble
M.arc;h 1989

Ml11lle Maintenance Technician, W01 MIChHI Pul1II, H1igned to Charlla Battery, 2nd B1tt1llon, 9th Field Artll
lery Is put to the teat, H TAG students from the Sc:hwliblsch GmOnd ind Gilpplngen elementary school 11k
questions a'bout !tie Per1hlng II missile system.

TAG kids starry-eyed

Missile crew hosts

junior astronauts
by Rosalyn R. Coleman
Pershing Cable Staff Writer
We look :at the night sky and sec stars. They look
at the stars and see their future.
With eyes full of wonder and minds full of questions, a group of school children from the Schwiibisch Gmiind and Goppingen elementary schools,
went on a field trip where they saw sights few people
outside the military have seen.
Their trip was only 10 the Missile Storage Area
(MSA) in Mutlangcn, but for the students, it was
something cha1 will be forever etched in their memory.
The students, who are in the Talented and Gifted
(TAG) enrichment pro~ram, were treated like VIPs
for a day, as 1hc soldiers of Charlie Battery, 2nd
Battalion, 9th Field Artillery, 3rd Platoon demon
strated why their battery's motto is, 'above the rest'.
According to their teacher, Lynn Langford McDa
nicl, the demonstration was given to help peak the
students interest in space.
And by the 'oohs' and 'aahs' heard as the missile
went erect, the demonstration did jus1 that.
Matt Mitchell, an eighth grade TAG student, said
that he thought the field trip was great.
"I enjoyed everything about the field trip, Mit
chdl said. "But, I really got excited seeing the missile
go up."

Langford McDaniel said 1he men of Ch.arlic Battery did an excellent job of explaining the missile on
the kids level.
'They explained things like the missiles rocketry,
how it goes up and what kind of engine the system
has," Langford McDaniel said.
'That was panicularly imponant, because these a.r e
little bodies, they have good minds, but they arc still
kids, she said.
Langford McDaniel said the dcmonmation, heightened the studcni's enjoyment through involvement.
"The instructors had one student turn the knob to
erect the missile and another lowered the missile,
she said.
Ac.cording to Langford McDaniel, if a student has
a personal involvement with what they are studying,
they'll remember it much longer.
"The young people are totally curious about
space, she said. "They wane to know what's in space
and how do 1hey launch missiles into space.
Vincent Tolliver, ano1her TAG smden1 in Lang
ford McDaniel's sixth grade class, said that he liked
space because it's differem.
"When you think of it or see all these pictures of
it, you wonder what it would be like to go there, he
said.
According to their te~chcr, while studying space,
1hc s~udents are exposed to informaiion in a wide variety of subjects.

Teacher Lynn Lanford McDaniel and her Talented and

Gifted (TAG) 1tudenta pole tor picture during their
recent trip to Muttngen Ml1llle Storage Area (MSA).
The lleld trip to the MSA w11 to help peak !tie etudenta Intern! In their upcoming epece studies.

"Not only arc they studying space, but because of

the demonstration given by the men of 3rd platoon,
they are also learning social studies. Right now if
they look across the valley, they can see history on
top of that hill, she said.
"Pershing is a pan that is going out of our history," she said. "But the fact that our young pe oplc
could, at another time in their lives say, 'I remember
when that pan of our defense system was up', js really special."
"So, not only was it just a field trip, it was also po
litically educational, scientifically educational and it
was also curren1 events, Langford McDaniel said.
May 20th will be a very exciting day for Langford
McDaniel's TAG students, when they'll be visited by
Dr. Ernst Messerschmid, an astronaul with the Euro
pcan space agency.
"Dr. Messerschmid is going to present any TAG
student who completes a space science project for che
science fair, with a certificate from the European
Space Agency, making them junior astronauts," she
said.
On May 22nd, in Goppingen, the public can view
the '400-foot exhibi1ion, from the American Embassy
on the history of the American space program.
The excursion 10 the MSA was a small trip for 1he
Schwiibisch Gmilnd and Goppingen students, but
perhaps a giant first look for America's future astronauts.