SANTA VISITS EARLY - Due to hie hectic schedule and limited Spece "A" evallllble In Frankfurt, Santa Cl1ua

made an early vi11t to the 90ldill!S o f the 56th Field Artillery Brigade at Bleman:k Kaaeme. Soldiers gathef round to
whet i1 in Sant1'1 bag for them. At right, the Brigade Chrl1tmn Traa llghta up Iha kHerne at night during the
holiday aeHon. (Photo, by Todd Amar)

l)ershina
December 1982
Vol. 19, No. 12

Cable

56th Field Artillery Brigade

Promotions and
Reenlistments
see Page 4-5

CSG assumes guard posts Pershing

by Jim Frey
Soldiers in Schwaebisch Gmucnd are looking forward to a
day in late December, but it's not Christmas. h's the day
that a new security force will assume the responsibilitiy of
gua.rding Bismarck and Hardt Kasernes, relieving the soldiers of HHB, 56th FA Bde., of approximately 2,880 com
bined hours of guard duty per month.
Guard duty will also be reduced for soldiers of the I st
Bn., 41St FA, who are tasked with nightly motor park and
housing guard.
The 47 member< of the 4056th Civilian Suppon Group
(Guard) arc tentatively scheduled to assume the responsibilities of gm guard and walking patrols on Dec. 20, according
to Lt. Rudolf L. Galewskv., the unit's commander.
Training for the task or'securing the k>rncs consintd of
two pans. The first phase included an orientation on the
Army, as well as instruction on stcurity, Army ranks and
ptr<onal appearance.
The second phase included classes on self-deftnse, weapons training, familiariiarion firing, first aid and Nuclear,
Biological and Chemical (NBC) training.
The security guards will be rtcognizeable by their uni
forms; olive-drab fatigues with black helmets bearing the
lmer< SP (Security Police). The guards will also wear a red,
whito and blue patch similar 10 ,he U.S. flag in the shape of a
shield.
S~ Katherine Lewis, a clerk typiSt with the brigade's
Administration and Spcrts Offict is "definitely looking
forward to th reduction of guard duty. "I can't see where
guard duty would pltase anybody," she said. "I hate it - two
hours of walking in the cold at a time, freezing and trying to
stay alert."

TAKING AIM- Members of the 4056th Civilian Support

Group (Guards) practices with the M-16 rifle as they
familiarize themselves with American weapon,. The
guards wll1 be taking over the gate and roving guard
on Bismarck and Hardt Kaserne. (Photo by Jim Frey)

Lewis estimated that she has spent on day per week on

guard duty and sometimes two a week with weekend
duty," she said.
"It's a great step forward toward job satisfaction for E-4s
and below, commented HHB's 111 Sgt. George C. Shorm.
"The security force will alltviate , lot of the Soldier's
tensions and pressures and give them more opponunity 10
conctntratc on their sptcial skills."

"They'll have a much more satifying atmosphere and put

in more productive hours," he added. "Now, there's not
enough time for anything buc duty."

Notebook
Term Ill Schedule
Looking for a way to earn needed promotion po
inu? Why no, check out your local Education Cen
ter. Reginration for Term Ill is from 13 Dec- 7 Jan.
Classes are from JOJanuary to 2S March 1983.
The Bismarck Kaserne Education Center is offer
ing:
- MATH 007
Business Math
- MGMT 1309
Income Tax
Automatic
Transmissions
- AUTO 2403
(Tenn dares: 10 Jan.-10 June)
Elementary German
- GERM Ill
Hinory of the Unit,cd Stam
- HIST 156
10 1865
Survey
of Industrial and orga
- PSYC 361
nizational Psycholog.J
Intro. 10 Busintss Manage- BMGT 110
men1
Students are reminded that the Army provides
TUITION ASSISTANCE. For E-ls through E-4s,
the Army will pay 75% of tuition com. For E-Ss
through E-9s, they will pay 90% of your tuition with
less than 15 years in service.

Army Drunks
An Army-wide crackdown on drunk drivers will
cost offenders their driving privileges for at least one
year according 10 Defense Secretary Cspar Weinberger.
In a memorandum to all services, Weinberger called drunk driving the, "No. 1 killer in (Dol)) and the
worst form of drug abuse."
(cont. on Page 6)

Pershing
Notebook
Improper BOU wear
According to Arm)' officials, many soldiers are
improp<rly wearing the Battle Oren Unifonns
(BDUs).
Soldiers are reminded 1ha1:
1. The BOU cap should not be starched or block,
ed. Unit in,ignias and skill badges, such u airborne
or air uuuh wings. may not be worn on the cap.
2. The pocks of ,he BOU should not be sewed
down.
). Enliucd soldiers must wear subdued r,nk insignia on both th uniform and ,he cap. Officers may
wear non-subdued r,nk on 1he cap.
4. Because of ,he infrared defeating capabilities of
,he uniform, it should not be mrched.
ln/onnation concerning the BOU can be found in
Anny Re~ulation 670- 1 (We-or and Appearance of the
Army Un1fonn).
(ARNEWS)

Tougher drug stand

Military legal officials have given commanders disciplianary authority over drug offenders. Under new
rules, cenain common drug-rela..d offenses can now
resuh in a dishonorible discharge, reduction to lowest enlosted grade, loss of pay and allowa.nces or
confinement to hard labor for IS years.
What's more, confinement and forfeiture can be
increued by fi,e yem if the milit>ry me-mber commill a drug offense a missile launch facility such LI
Pmhing's QRA sites. The penalty c.n also be funher
increased if the offense was committed while on
lookout or guard duty.
The new rules apply to military personnel who
wrongfully distribute, posseu, use or manufacture
cen ain types of drugs. These new judicial rul<s abo
Standudiie muimum possible punishment brwecn
strvices and bring muimum perminable milimy
sentences in line with those authorized by federal
civilian courts.

Holiday drinking
When friends drop in during the holidays, one of
,he first things a good host does is offer them a drink.
Sin a "drink" automatically means something
with alcohol in it, we often find ourselves drinking
liquor during the holidays 1h11 we really don't want.
Next time a "just dropped by 10 wish you a Merry
Christmas visit happens, why not offer JUtSI plain
<unog, mulle-d cider or a ho, buuere-d spice drink?
Eggnog is ,he simplest "drink" to serve. Simply
serve cold eggnog in a highb,ll glass and sprinkle
n1Jtmcg or cinna.mon on top.
Applt cidtr cin be served cold or simmered on the
stove with cinnamon sticks and a sprinkling of cloves.
Serve piping ho,.
For hot buttered spice drinks, mix:
- 4 qts. war
- 2 ublespoons whole allspice (I ubclspoon ground
all spice)
- I teaspoon cloves
- V, 1uspoon ground or fresh ging<r
- 1 tc-:upoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon aromadc bintrs
Bring ,he ,bove ingredients ,o rolling boil, then
let simmer for a1 leut )O minutes. Ladlt individual
urvings into mugs, s;wcctcn 10 wtc ,r.iith brown
sugar and float a pat of butter 1n the mug.

Pmge6

Maintenance very important

by Brad Mosher
NECKARSULM - There is no ,now on the ground here,
but the late winier won't ca,ch the mechanics and vehicles of
the }rd Bn., 84th FA by surprist when the hanh German
winr finally comes.
Although only one minor 1nowstonn has hit Artillery
Kascrne before the first week in December, the bau.tion still
has their winier vehicle maintenance program .trcady in
progress.
The banalion uses periodic on-the-spot road checks some
of the time, catching battalion vehiclcs as they travel be!Wtcn the battalion's three posts in the Neckanulm-Heilbronn area.
The unit places more emphasis in prC\tntive maintenance
than in their .. road in.sptcuon.s."
Before a dispatched vehicle can leave Anillery Kastme,
the driver must first perform a PMCS (Preventive Main
nance Checks and Services) inspection of the vehicle. After
the driver has gone down the checklist, the vehiclt is then
taken over 10 the battery motor pool, where ii is "T l'ed"
(Technical Inspection). Aftcr the banery motor pool is
linishe-d, the vehicle is then sent over 10 the banalion maintenance bays, where the crew there can perform a safety
inspection 10 cenify the vehicle as safe to drive on the roads.
"We'rt being real careful; said Sgt. Billy W. Dixon, the
usisun1 shop foreman for tht HHSB, 3184th motor pool.
"Btfore any of our vehicles leave here (the kasernt), it is
'Tl'cd' and everything before going over 10 battalion maintcn,ncc for ,he safety inspection, he addtd.
With wet weathtt and snow expected soon, the brake
insptctions arc receiving added emphasis.
"On the 2 '/, and five ion trucks, we have torn down the
brakes and checke-d everything," said Sgt. Daniel Smith, the
stnior mechanic for the bancry.
"We're also checking right now to make sure all the
vehicle's snow chains arc in good shape, added Dixon as
the battery prepares for the fim big snowstorm of ,he
winter.
N,nrby, the battalion main ..n,ncc section is in charge of
performing the necessary safety inspection, but even alter
the vehicles leave, bmalion maintenance keeps an eye on 1he
trucks by doing periodic road checlu or inspcc1ions.
"The roadside spot checks are done off and on. with the
spot checks looking for any dc,dline items, said Sgt. Jeffrey

'
-

Bad~er.
"The inspectors arc lookinK for any malfunctions affecting
the brakes and the lights, in addition to checking for fluid
and exhaust leak,. The inspecrors also examine the Steering
,nd the wheel lugs be/ore they let ,he driver continue.
But ,he fim echelon maintenance (the PMCS inspection,
and minor repairs tht driver perfonn.s prior to driving) is
still considered to be one of the most efftctivc methods of

maintenance by the mechanics.

"The dash- 10 manual will tell you everything that you
nce-d 10 kno"' about pulling a PMCS," nid Sgt. Roben E.
Reynolds, tht bmalion maintenance shop foreman.
"Every vehicle should have a copy. he addtd, ,nd if you
use your dash, I 0, you can't go wrong."

Drivers Training necessary

by Sylvia Dailey
Would you get into the passenger's sc.a1 of a vehicle if you
'knew the driver next to you couldn't drive?
In order 10 keep today's anny mobile, it nds qualified
personnel to do the job, according to the NCOlC of 1141'
Driver Training program. Driving safety and vehicle maintcnanc,e classes arc csscn1ial for keeping soldiers tr:ained and
their vchiclu on the road.
"Drivtrs' training is <specially important in Pershing."
said instructor SSgt. Manuel Gonzales, "bccaust of the extra
care and training needed to handle the equipment and vehic
les that arc uni9ue to a Pershing unit."
Drivers' training is for any soldier whose commander
designates him 10 have a va~d USAREUR milit>ry license
and is dcsigne-d 10 qualify an individual to operate a specific
vehicle. Through extended training, and individu,J m,y be
qualified on other vehicles. Even for somtone who drives a
priva,cly owned vehicle, one muSI still complete drivers
,raining.
The class, which consiSt of wrincn and hands-on training,
are strictly for military vehicles. If you pass the fin.al test,
you will be licensed 10 drivt your designated vehicle.
In order to nfcly drive in Europt, nch soldier mun know
the imponant differences berwcen driving here and in the
United Stam.
The class aims 10 teach students about the driving condi
1ions and laws peculiar to Europe and suggest ccnain traffic
safety measures. Emphasizing in1em11ional road signs and
Gennan traffic law, ,II soldiers are taught how to drive
defensively in Europe and apply all ufny meuurcs in order
10 avoid acc.idents.
Along with orienting soldiers 10 German traffic law, the
class covers other necossary skills needed for ope ming
vohiclo. One week offers classroom instruction ~nd the
second wcek is set aside for handJ-on training.
Using vehicles common in the batulion, soldien learn
praeticlc exercises which include vehicle orientation, driving
and operation, main1onancc, general safety, convoy proctdum, ground ,uiding and vehicle servicing. Driving exercises include traoning geare-d 10 each individual's e,pcrience
level with the desired goal of qualifying each to drive
designated vehicle.
"Btt2ust of the special equipment ,nd vehicles use-d in
Perehlng C.ble

Pershing. additional 1r,on1ng is needed," Gonules said.

"Besides being extremely long, the Electrn Launcher (used
to corry the missile) requires extra care due to its l<nght and
unique brake system, said Gonzaltz. "The Bantry Control
Center is unique to Pershing and the power s-ution is ,cry
top heavy, he continued.
A Pershing 1ymm 1110 includu different kinds of genera
tors which drive-rs mu.st lum to operate.
"This mak<s the job of an instructor ,cry difficult, he
admitted.
Adding to the regular mining, time is a lso spent explaining the dangers of alcohol abuse and droving while in1oxica1e-d. Posters, as well as films with a 101 of blood and guts are
used to demonstrate Points.
Refresher training u conducted at the battery l,el semiannually on special topics. Drivers training personnel visit
tht baneries' Command lnfonnation classes to gi-. insiruc<ion on sesonal driving hazards, saftty related ropics, speci
fie maintenance problems. trends, convo, prO(edures and
whartvcr else requires special ancntion. Remedial tr;uning is
also offered for drivers with specific problems.
According 10 Gonzale~, being a driving instructor here 1n
Pershing is definitely very different in many ways.
"Mostly, we Stan drivers out with a small Army pick-up
(880) and work up 10 lar$cr vehicles."
The solditrs pnctice dnving on Walldm mountain, way
up ,here" on a steep, winding road where sheer drops border
one sid< and pan of the road is washed away. "h's the only
place without people and cars around, said Gonule,.
Dtspitt difficulties, h, ving positive soldiers 10 work with
makes the job worthwhile. "le helps when soldiers come
he with a positive 111i1udc, one NCO ,ommentcd.
Thtr art a lot of good soldiers who come 10 dri,ers
tnining, but inexperience and lack of care can cause pro
blcms. "Some soldiers have the attitude that they iusi don',
care," an NCO said. "h's a military vch icle that the/re
learning to drive and if 1h<y wreck it, they wreck it. h's no
their cu."
To improve the situation, Gonulct sugi;em gi,in~ ex,n
care and safety classes. "But," he said, "you can ~i"c disses
all day about safety and care but in th< end it has 10 come
from ,he soldier hims,lf.
December 1982