Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 31 Oct.

21, 2010

Volunteers work with Habitat for Humanity

Story and photo by 2nd Lt. christine Breckenridge
204th Brigade Support battalion
Soldiers throughout the 204th Brigade
Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division had the chance
to participate in a variety of exciting activities
during the Battalion’s Resiliency Week, Oct
4-8.
Just some of the activity choices were paint
ball, golf, a tour of the local Rodeo Hall of
Fame and volunteer opportunities through
Habitat for Humanity. It was motivating
to see how many Soldiers decided to use
their free time to volunteer with Habitat for
Humanity.
Staff Sgt. Brenda Strange-Curry with
Co. A., 204th BSB continued her work
with Habitat for Humanity by heading the
team of Soldiers who volunteered with the
organization. Nineteen Soldiers participated
Sgt. Moyer, Sgt. Baird, Staff Sgt. Curry, Sgt. Callies, Spc. Ashcroft,
Staff Sgt. Grace, Pfc. Burwell, Sgt. Payton and Sgt. Houchin are
just some of the Soldiers from Co. A. who volunteered at the
Habitat for Humanity build site.
at the Habitat re-sale store and 20 soldiers
volunteered at the Habitat site east of Powers
Blvd.
Work at Re-Store, the Habitat’s re- sale
center, included stocking the store with
building materials, performing yard
maintenance, and organizing new materials
received by the store.
Work involved with the Habitat home site
was more physically demanding. The Soldiers
Sgt. Payton with Co. A. is restocking shelves with boxes of tile in
the Habitat for Humanity re-sale store. Soldiers from the 204th
BSB volunteered to assist and help the Colorado Springs com-
munity during their Resiliency Week activities.
painted, built a foundation, installed dry-
wall, and did other maintenance work.
Those who volunteered worked diligently
throughout Resiliency Week to accomplish
the mission that Habitat had given them.
The volunteer efforts are a part of Co. A.’s
ongoing efforts to give back to the Colorado
Springs Community. The Soldiers, who
volunteered their time, believe there is not a
better way to give thanks than by showing it.

Commander’s Corner adjustments that had to be

HBCT Gunnery, Unstabilized
Gunnery, Combined Arms Live
Fire Exercise, Platoon Lanes,
Troop Lanes, and the Brigade’s
Warfighter Exercise. All of
these events focused on the
fundamentals of combat on
preparing Soldiers and leaders
for future combat environments.
We, along with all of 2nd BCT,
4th Inf. Div., are now focused
on using lessons learned this
summer to ready ourselves for
Lt. Col.John Cook, commander the upcoming deployment.
1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment One of the most significant
steps towards preparing 1st
For 1st Squadron, 10th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. for the
Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Brigade deployment is reorganizing for
Combat Team, 4th Infantry the mission at hand. To prepare
Division the summer was a for success in our specific
very busy time. Like our fellow operating environment, 1st
battalions, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. and 2nd
Reg. completed numerous field BCT, 4th Inf. Div. leadership
training exercises including identified several significant
made.
The first of these significant
steps has been transforming our
equipment set from a Heavy
Reconnaissance Squadron to that
of a light Cavalry Squadron. To
accomplish this, we’ve traded
in our 25 ton M3A3 Cavalry
Fighting Vehicles, along with
our heavier tracked vehicles, for
lighter and more maneuverable
5 ton up-armored HMMWVs
and the 12 ton Mine Resistant
Ambush Protected All Terrain
Vehicles. These lighter vehicles
are well armored, equipped with
the latest technology, and overall
better suited for Afghanistan
than the heavy M3A3s, giving
us a distinct advantage as we
prepare for combat.
At the same time, some of
the Troops have transitioned
from two platoons of Soldiers
to three platoons of Soldiers.
The transition has resulted
in a marked increase in the
capabilities of the squadron.
With the changed equipment
and the additional platoons, 1st
Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. gains the
ability to move faster, be in more
places, and to be able to fight
even larger than we are.
Furthermore, this transition
better facilitates the Soldiers and
leaders in our efforts to apply the
fundamentals of reconnaissance
that are absolutely vital to
success in combat, particularly
maintaining freedom to
maneuver and ensuring
maximum reconnaissance forces
forward.
Command Sgt. Maj. Dale
Veneklasen and I look forward
to continuing to lead a lighter,
trimmer, and faster 1st Sqdn.,
10th Cav. Reg. as we and 2nd
BCT, 4th Inf. Div. prepare for the
rigors of combat.
As always, “Buffalo Soldiers,
Ready and Forward”
page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 31 Oct. 21, 2010

Post Combatives Team trains for All Army Fight

Story and Photos by Spc. Eugene H. Cushing “It’s hard to imagine anyone else could get
4th Brigade Combat Team PAO that training,” he said. “Plus the altitude gives
The Fort Carson Combatives Team has us an advantage.”
been training at multiple locations throughout Beyond the competition, Miller went in
Colorado for the All Army Combatives depth about the lasting impacts of the time
Championship held in Fort Benning, Ga, Oct. the Soldiers were putting into Combatives.
1-3. “They’ve really been putting their time,
Sgt. 1st Class Vincent S. Miller, the Fort which is a credit to the Soldiers,” he said.
Carson Modern Army Combatives director, “It’s also a credit to the units and their
said that once a year Fort Benning hosts the commanders for allowing them to do this.”
championship, where they invite teams from Miller explained that during the training
Army bases across the world to compete. Spc. Raymond Dobrick, a gunner and combat engineer assigned period the Soldiers were released from their
“It’s usually about 350 of the best fighters in to the 62nd Engineer Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, keeps regular units to prepare for the competition.
the Army,” he said. Capt. Jake Kramer, the executive officer for Headquarters and “They’re losing a Soldier for a limited
Headquarters Troop, 2nd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 2nd
Miller pulled the team together from the Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at bay using the
period of time,” he said.
Fort Carson Combatives Tournament in guard during combatives training at Easton Brazilian Jiu Jitsu in “But they’re going to get back a better
June. Miller said the Fort Carson tournament Boulder, Colo., Sept. 17. rounded warrior.”
featured 168 fighters facing off. Miller said all the techniques the Soldiers were
“That gave us the best 21 fighters on Fort Kramer, the most senior ranking member learning relate back to the battlefield.
Carson,” he said, adding that the team has of the team, was invited to join after doing “The only reason we hold these
been training since that time. well in the Fort Carson tournament. However, competitions is to train, motivate and give
Capt. Jake Kramer, the executive officer for he said he still had to fight to earn a spot on purpose and direction,” he said.
Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd the team. “I don’t care if they place first or thirtieth,
Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat “I had three fights at 155 pounds,” he said. they are still going to be better Soldiers than
Team, 4th Infantry Division, spoke about the “I lost one by points and I won the other two when we got them.”
high level of training the team was receiving. by submission.” Miller said that although the tournament
“Everyone here has gotten better Kramer said the team was training with will be one-on-one fights, points are acquired
exponentially from the time they began to world class Brazilian Jiu Jitsu coaches, which as a team.
where we are now,” he said. “And they are only he felt gave the team an advantage over other “It’s done as a team,” he said. “These guys
getting better.” posts. represent the entire post.”

New Commanders take over 3-16

Cpt. Adam Cmerek hands the unit colors to Lt. Col. Thomas Lt. Col. Thomas Munsey thanks outgoing commander
Munsey during a Change of Command ceremony for Battery Cpt. Jonathan Holm (right) while welcoming new commander
B., 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. Cmerek relinquished command to Cpt. Cpt. David Pierce (left) in a Change of Command ceremony for
Baudelio Arias, Oct. 15. Battery A., 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg, Oct 15.

Warhorse Pride
Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM
Maj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAO
Spc. April York........................................Layout and Design
Sgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor
Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the fairs Office.
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