Great Magazine produced by the 81st Brigade, Public Affairs Office, Washington Army National Guard featuring the citizen-soldiers of the Washington Army National Guard while serving their two weeks on Annual Training at the Yakima Training Center.

1. Annual Training 2013
Washington State National Guard – June 2013
MEDIVAC REHEARSAL
Charlie Med Dusts Off at Range 55
SKILLS THAT PAY THE BILLS
Soldiers Speak Out About the
Skills They Use on Duty and Off

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Cover Top​ MEDEVAC training at the Yakima
Training Center June 12. U.S. Army photo by Sgt
Andrea E. Meyer.
Cover Center Left A Paladin from the 2-146
firing at the Yakima Training Center firing down
range during the June 2013 annual training. U.S.
Army photo by Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina
Cover Center Right 1st Lt. Jordan B. Villeneuve,
of the 161 Charlie Company, smiles big for his
tanker’s chance at qualifying the multipurpose
training range. U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrea E.
Meyer.
Cover Center Bottom 81 ABCT Soldiers during
this year’s Annual Training. U.S. Army photo by
Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina
Left 1st Lt. Peter D. Taylor and Sgt. Jeffery
Sandell of the 161 Charlie Company headquarters
platoon, prepare for their turn at the multipurpose training range at Yakima Training Center.
U.S. Army photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
Annual Training
81st Armored Brigade
Combat Team Public
Affairs
Public Affairs
Non-Commissioned Officer
Staff Sergeant E. James Omelina
Public Affairs Specialists
Sergeant Andrea Meyer
Specialist Jon T. Taylor
Designer
Staff Sergeant E. James Omelina
Page
5
Brigade Chaplain’s Message
Page
8
Charlie MEDEVAC Training
Page
10
Dances with Tanks
Page
14
KP Duty: A Day in the Life
Page
16
Eye in the Sky
Page
19
When Careers Converge
Page
20
Keeping Data Sailing
Page
23
Fueling the Fire
Page
24
Soldiers Finding Balance
Photographers
First Lieutenant Austin Danielek
Staff Sergeant E. James Omelina
Sergeant Andrea Meyer
Specialist Jon T. Taylor
Special thanks to
The men and women of the 81st
Armored Brigade Combat team
and their families.
To absent friends.
This we will defend.
Contact
81st Armored Brigade Combat
Team Public Affairs
Staff Sergeant E. James Omelina
edward.j.omelina.mil@mail.mil
or ejomelina@gmail.com
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 3

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4 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team

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Chaplain’s Message
right A Paladin from the 2-146 firing at the Yakima Training
Center at dusk during the June 2013 annual training.
Photo by Staff Sgt E. James Omelina
bottom
Major David Hatheway, 81st ABCT Chaplain
I am one of those guys that came into the Guard
somewhat late in life at the age of thirty-eight. This
has some advantages and disadvantages. One
disadvantage is that when people see the gray hair
and rank, the assumption is that I have been around
forever, and thus know exactly what I am doing. But
the advantage is that I am able to bring my years of
civilian education and job experience into my Guard
duties.
In addition to having sixteen years of clergy
work as a minister to youth and families, I have spent
the last six years working as a commercial glazier,
installing glass curtain wall and storefront, for a
Seattle company. In the last two years I have been a
job foreman.
So how does this benefit the Guard? There are
four good answers. The first is, providing guidance
and direction in accomplishing a mission. The
“...the advantage is that I am able to bring my
years of civilian education and job experience
into my Guard duties.”
Major David Hatheway Brigade Chaplain
second is, placing a higher value on people over
products. The third is, bringing out the best in each
and every person. And the fourth is, returning home
safe at the end of the day.
Some of my favorite phrases that I use in both
my civilian and military roles are:
“What do you need to succeed?”
“How can I be of service to you today?”
“Keep your eye on the prize.”
“Go. Fight. Win!”
I am grateful that my civilian experiences have
set me up for success in the Guard. The reverse is
also true, my guard experience is helping me in my
civilian career. GO GUARD!
Go, Fight Win!
CH (MAJ) David Hatheway
BDE Chaplain
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 5

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Practice means the difference
between life and death
181st Brigade Support Battalion, C Company conducts air ambulance MEDEVAC training at the
Yakima Training Center, June 12. Preparing for casualty evacuation is a vital part of a soldier’s training.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 7

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bottom Some of the
soldiers that participated in
MEDEVAC training, Pfc. Jess T.
Yeh, Spc, Matthew R. Johnson,
Spc. Tyron L. Earnest, 1sg.
Chris M. Edwards, 2nd LT.
Drew J. Nevins, at a range
at Yakima Training Center,
June 12. Photo by Sgt. Andrea
E. Meyer.
right Sgt. 1st Class Paris N.
Purnhagen prepares to brief
soldiers participating in the
medical evacuation rehersal
at the Yakima Training Center.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
Charlie MEDEVAC
Training
A soldier lies on the ground,
screaming for help. A group of medics
hear his cries and rush to his aid. The
soldier thrashes as others struggle to
hold him down and treat his injuries.
In just a few minutes, he is stabilized
and hoisted onto a stretcher by
four of the medics and shuffled at
break-neck speed towards a waiting
Medical Evacuation helicopter, as
others keep an eye out for the enemy.
It sounds like a battle, but in reality,
these soldiers are in the middle of very
important training.
Soldiers from 181st Brigade
Support Battalion, C. company, based
out of Marysville, WA participated in
MEDEVAC training, June 14, at Yakima
Training Center, WA.
Sgt. 1st Class Paris N. Purnhagen
was the medical NCOIC, and was in
charge of the training that day.
“I didn’t do all the work” said
Purnhagen. “I can’t do it without
my joes.”
The purpose of the training was for
her troops to hone and maintain their
skills at triage and medical treatment,
she said.
The training was in support of the
brigade and would help the medics
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bottom 81st ABCT medics,
and combat engineers, unload
a mock patient, June 12. Photo
by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
bottom 81st ABCT medics,
and combat engineers, race
toward an air ambulance,
June 12. Photo by Sgt. Andrea
E. Meyer.
of her unit learn how to correctly
MEDEVAC patients under any scenario.
Purnhagen said that every month
her unit does a little training at a time,
and she has to designate soldiers
among the different tasks essential for
MEDEVAC operations. This made it so
that every soldier was trained in the
different roles necessary for treating
injured soldiers on the battlefield.
It was very important that her
soldiers train hard and get it right.
“I didn’t do all the work.
I can’t do it without my Joes.”
Sgt. 1st Class Paris N. Purnhagen
They only get to do the training once
a month and then a few weeks out of
the year, when the unit goes to the
field, she said.
Purgenhagen said it was essential
that the medics trained correctly. They
had to keep the MEDEVAC training
as similar as possible to a real-life
situation overseas.
“Communication is vital”, said
Purnhagen.
Her soldiers had to keep communicating with each other and be aware of
what the other soldiers in their team
were doing at all times, she said.
Purnhagen also said that it was
essential that the medics train with
the soldiers in other units throughout
the brigade.
“It’s about building stronger bonds
between the medics and the units,”
said Purnhagen.
Sgt. Andrea E Meyer
81st ABCT Public Affairs Specialist
left 81st ABCT medics, and combat engineers,
participate in MEDEVAC training at a range at
Yakima Training Center, June 12. Photo by Sgt.
Andrea E. Meyer.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 9

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right Soldiers of 161 Charlie
company headquarters
platoon, take a second to
get a group photo moments
before they go off to qualify
at the multipurpose range at
the Yakima Training Center.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer
Dances with tanks
161st Infantry Regiment Charlie Company, qualifies tank crews
during annual training at Yakima Training Center
by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer
A rumble is heard in the distance, as the
treads of a tank revolve slowly, making a clanking
noise as it rolls along. A loud whining sound
pierces the air as the turbine engine that powers
this mechanical behemoth increases speed. The
tank crawls along the ground with ease, climbing
over rocks, hills and plants without a problem.
It’s turret raises as the soldiers inside take aim at
a target thousands of meters away. With a flash
of fire and a puff of smoke, a round is shot and
the target is demolished. This isn’t a far away
field overseas, but a range where tankers perfect
their skills.
top
A soldier of 161 Charlie
company, demonstrates the
amount of head room in the
driver seat.
Soldiers from the 161st Infantry Regiment,
Charlie company, qualified their crews on the
M1-A1 Abrams tank, June 17, at Yakima Training
Center, WA.
1st Lt. Peter D. Taylor was the executive
officer of C. company, and had been training
with his unit for months in preparation for
annual training.
Taylor said that during the training, his unit
would be focusing on safety, firing procedures,
medical assistance, crew evacuation, bore
sighting and basic function checks. The training
“We practice, eat, sleep and we do
everything together. We’re like a
reality TV show.”
Sgt. Norm R. Loethen
essential to identifying weaknesses in the crews’
equipment and honing their skills.
“You can have the best tankers in the world,
but one little glitch and your tank is done,”
he said.
Spc. Sephiroth W. Pierce, a tank crew-member with 2nd platoon said that the training
was all about achieving proficiency, but there
were definitely elements of the training that
he enjoyed.
“These things are fun to drive and shoot,”
said Pierce. “Each tank crew is like a family.”
Sgt. Norm R. Loethen said that teamwork
was a very important element to the success of
tankers, and it was developed during the bonding that took place when crews were training in
the field.
“We practice, eat, sleep, and we do everything together, “ he said. “We’re like a reality
TV show.”
1st Lt. Jordan B. Villenuve is a tank commander from 3rd platoon, and has two years of
experience with the company.
“You need to demonstrate that you can take
your tank out and shoot,” he said. “If you can
master the task at hand, it shows that you’re
proficient with the weapons system.”
was meant to get soldiers familiar with their
equipment and to help them perfect the more
technical aspects of tank operations.
Villanuve also said that he too enjoyed the
camaraderie and challenge it took to work with
the tanks, and that training with them was fun.
Sgt. Jason D. Johnson, a tank crew member
with 1st platoon, said that the training was
“It’s a big gun,” said Villanuve. “You can’t go
wrong with that.”
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81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 11

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U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer
Sgt. Jason D. Johnson enjoys
some fresh air on the top of his
tank at the Yakima Training
Center
Sgt. Jason D. Johnson, a tank crew member with 1st
platoon, said that the training was essential to
identifying weaknesses in the crews’ equipment and
honing their skills.
“These things are fun to drive and
shoot. Each crew is like a family.”
Spc. Sephiroth W. Pierce
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81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 13

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bottom Some of the qualified soldiers that run the 81st
BSTB DFAC at the Yakima
Training Center.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
right Sgt. Monica P. Alvarez,
NCOIC of the 81st BSTB DFAC
team, reads the nutritional
facts on the back of canned
foods while preparing that
day’s dinner chow for 81st
ABCT 2013 Annual Training.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
KP Duty:
A Day In
the Life
by Spc. Jon T. Taylor
With a quick flip of a switch, a soft
buzz erupts from above. After a few
moments, each utterly dim light flickers to a standstill. Just like the movie
Joe Versus the Volcano, I find myself
in Tom Hanks’s shoes, wondering why
every other light is brighter than mine.
As sounds from the kitchen begin to
roar, and pots and pans begin to clink
and clank, I quickly realize that I’m
in a junior Soldier’s worst nightmare:
Kitchen Preparation, or more commonly known as KP duty.
A day in the life of a 92G, a food
service specialist. For the love of Betty
Crocker, do not call them that. “We’re
culinary specialists,” said Spc. Doug
R. Brown of the 81st BSTB Annual
Training DFAC team.
The normal staff size varies by unit,
but today’s team consisted of five
92G’s, and one KP staff member per
50 soldiers. “1 per 50 soldiers for KP,”
according to Spc. Kory L. Caze of the
81srt BSTB DFAC team. “That never
happens!”
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bottom Close up of the main
knob on the stove used to
cook the daily meals served to
soldiers at this year’s Annual
Training.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
bottom Spc. Doug R. Brown,
of the 81st BSTB DFAC team,
prepares onions.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
On my day for KP, we had seven KP
members. Our mission was to help
serve up to 900 meals in one day.
Working with only one-third of the
normal staff, I’m quickly understanding why every junior Soldier dreads
doing this duty, it’s a lot of work.
“You wanna see something really
cool,” beamed Spc. Brown with a
devilish smile. His eyes blazed with
intensity, the kind of look the Grinch
had while plotting to steal Christmas
from the citizens of Whoville. Off we
went to a giant hot tub time machine,
well, at least that’s what I called it. Spc.
Brown’s name for it was ‘tilt grill.’ In it,
a giant sea of ground beef, chopped
onions, and spices that were slowly
cooking. “How many pounds,” I asked.
“50 to 55,” Spc. Brown said. I gulped
again, but this time, it was because
I was hungry for the beef gravy he
was cooking.
The team is under a lot of pressure.
The crew spends countless hours on
paperwork, planning what goes into
creating a menu, ordering food, and
even food preparation.
“We’d rather have the soldier wait
an extra five minutes for a fully cooked
meal than serve them something
that’s not prepared correctly,” Spc.
Caze said.
Sgt. Monica P. Alvarez, the NCOIC
of the 81st BSTB DFAC at the Yakima
Training Center, handles a lot of paperwork, and relies heavily on her soldiers
to do the right thing when she’s not
overseeing the main operation.
“We’ve had a few hiccups, but we
don’t do this everyday. It’s all about
getting a routine and getting the
wheels greased to roll,” said Sgt.
Alvarez.
left Spc. Doug R. Brown, of the
81st BSTB DFAC team, carefully
slices and dices onions for that
evening’s 55 lbs of ground beef to
help feed the soldiers at Annual
Training.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 15

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right Sgt. Clark R. Yoder, a
UAV operator supervisor with
the 81st BSTB, proudly shows
off the RQ-7B UAV. U.S. Army
photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
Eye in the sky
81st Brigade flies UAVs at Yakima Training Center
by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer
A propeller begins to turn as a
small engine sputters to life, making
a loud, strained buzz that splits the
air. A couple of soldiers stand nearby,
earplugs in and safety glasses on,
anticipating the moment to come.
Another soldier gives a signal, and
Sgt. Clark R. Yoder is a UAV operator supervisor. With his radio and
clipboard ready at hand, he monitored
the other troops operating the vehicles and oversaw nearly everything
that went on with the flights and
the training.
“Soldiers like having the eye in the
sky. It’s like big brother from
above.”
Yoder said that UAVs were essential to overseas operations and
missions, and that many deployed
ground troops didn’t want to go on
missions that weren’t assisted by
the UAVs.
Sgt. Clark R. Yoder
within seconds, a puff of smoke shoots
from the tail of the aircraft. With surprising speed the small airplane zips
off its launcher and high into the air.
It eventually circles at 6,000 feet. The
aircraft doesn’t have a pilot, at least
not in the conventional sense. It is an
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.
Soldiers from the 81st BSTB were
hard at work, checking their maintenance logs, monitoring video screens
and lining up cones and nets along the
runway during annual training on June
13, at Yakima Training Center.
The training is in preparation for
real-world missions overseas, in which
UAVs are launched to gather information and locate targets.
“Soldiers like having the eye in the
sky,” he said. “It’s like big brother
from above.”
According to Sgt. Yoder, the RQ-7B
UAVs can stay in the air for six hours
at a time, and helped the U.S. Mission
overseas by providing essential information for the U.S. Army.
There are different kinds of UAVs,
but the ones that Yoder worked with
were used to give soldiers a ‘bird’s
eye view’ of what was going on at the
battlefield.
Spc. Jacob L. Gappmayer and Spc.
Adam J. Torres, were also operators of
left A group of soldiers
from the 81st BSTB setting
up a RQ-7B UAV for its next
mission.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
16 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team
right The 81st BSTB’s RQ-7B
UAV, just from taking off,
climbing the skies to get to
monitoring height
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.

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the UAVs, though their role was a bit
different from Yoder.
They sat in the back of a humvee-mounted shelter, and monitored
video screens, which played the footage captured by the UAV’s camera.
The detail and information gathering abilities of the RQ-7B UAVs is
amazing, said Torres. During overseas
missions, the UAVs could be launched
in shifts, so that one was in an area,
monitoring events on the ground at all
times. When one UAV was low on fuel,
another could take its place.
Gappmayer said that he loved the
technical emphasis of his job, which
was a challenge. It was an exciting
thing to be a part of. Soldiers in his unit
were commended for their abilities
and the focus on the mission was the
main emphasis.
“The greatest thing about this job
is that the rank doesn’t matter,” said
Gappmayer. Getting the job done
was the focus and that was what he
enjoyed.
Top A grounded RQ-7B UAV, prepped and ready for takeoff.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
left Spc. Jacob L. Gappmayer
of the 81st BSTB, operating
a RQ-7B UAV from the main
control center.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
right (close to far) Spc.
Adam J. Torres from Ft. Lewis,
and Spc. Jacob L. Gappmayer
of the 81st BSTB, manually
operate a RQ-7B UAV from
the ground.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 17

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left 181st Brigade Support
Battalion, C Company conducting MEDEVAC training at
the Yakima Training Center
June 12.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
bottom Spc. Ross M. Coyle of the C
company 181st brigade support battalion, smiling for the camera as he
preps medical supplies for MEDEVAC
training that’ll be held during annual
training.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
When careers converge by Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina
Journalism and medicine seem to be very different
career fields but one National Guard Soldier uses these
different disciplines to benefit his fellow soldiers. Spc. Ross
M. Coyle is a health care specialist with 181st brigade support battalion when on duty, but when he is off-duty he is
a freelance journalist.
The 181st brigade support battalion is on of the elements of the 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team. Coyle
is part of C company, also known as “Charlie med.” Charlie
med supports soldiers in the brigade by providing medical
services for the approximately 2,900 soldiers who make up
the 81st ABCT.
Journalism and medicine both share the need to communicate with an individual said, Coyle. “Communication is
a very important thing. With journalism there will always be
a need to communicate ideas clearly, simply and effectively
to the population. Medicine has the same need to communicate ideas clearly and effectively to patients.”
Coyle originally joined the Guard in Eugene, Oregon
about 4 years ago. He is currently looking for work in the
journalism field but will continue to use his unique blend of
skills in his service to the National Guard.
“It’s fun. It can be a lot of fun when you’re crawling
around on top of tanks or tracked vehicles, or riding
“It can be a lot of fun when your crawling around on top of tanks...”
According to Coyle getting a patient to tell you how
they were hurt can be a challenge for a variety of reasons.
Sometimes a patient is embarrassed or reluctant to tell a
medic what happened to them, he said. “Interviewing is a
big factor in both fields,” said Coyle. “Journalism makes you
more inquisitive.”
around on HMMWVs,” said Coyle about his service in the
Washington State National Guard.
“It’s not something people get to do a lot of. And it’s
still a fun experience. There are some dull moments, but
when it’s fun it can be a lot of fun.”
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 19

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Keeping Data Sailing
A yacht-racing Soldier keeps the 81st Brigade
data networks up and running
by Staff Sgt. E. James Omelina
Imagine a world with no internet. And no
phones. It could be a nightmare, especially for a
unit like the 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team.
Spc. Kevin Sorensen, a Joint Nodal Network team
leader for the Brigade Special Troops Battalion ,
Bravo Company, keeps the brigade’s information
sailing at full speed.
Spc. Sorenson is responsible for setting up
and maintaining the 81st Armored Brigade
Combat Team’s computer network and phone
system when they are deployed. His attention to
detail, which he attributes to sailing, ensures that
thousands of physical and digital connections
keep the 81st ABCT on an even keel.
Racing sailboats with my dad has taught me
to communicate with my crew, said Sorenson.
“My job here is like sailing the boat. On a professional level with my soldiers, just like on the boat,
I can do one little thing over here that could
mess up another platoon, if I’m not talking to
those guys.”
20 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team
“It’s a challenge being on the boat with five
guys who know their own jobs very well but tend
to forget there are four other guys working with
them,” said Sorenson. “Each person has to pay
attention to what everyone else is doing.”
Sorenson said that his sailing experience has
taught him the patience and communication
skills necessary to lead the team that keeps the
81st ABCT networks up and running.
Sorenson said that sailing with his dad and
the rest of the crew of the 29 foot sailboat,
Quintessence, has taught him teamwork.
Sorenson has been sailing and winning races in
his hometown of Sequim for more than 10 years.
“I love doing what I do in the Guard,” said
Sorenson. “I have a lot of fun doing it and I get to
work with some really great people.”

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Bottom Photo courtesy of Sandeman Yacht Company
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 21

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22 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team

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Fueling the Fire
Keeping the lights on for the Brigade HQ
by Spc. Jon T. Taylor
Imagine a Tactical Operations Center without
power, and what would you see? No power
means no communication systems. There
wouldn’t be lights, individual work stations,
environmental systems, or tactical maneuver
computer systems that are vital to tasks at hand.
All these systems are powered by a handful
of generators, and these generators run on
diesel fuel.
Left Spc. Charles M. Misner, of the 81st HHC BSTB TAC OPS, refuels the
generators running the Joint Task Force Tactical Operations Center at Yakima
Training Center.Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor
Bottom Spc. Charles M. Misner, of the 81st HHC BSTB TAC OPS, shows off
his achievements of being tasked as the NCOIC of the generators of the Joint
Task Force Tactical Operations Center at Yakima Training Center.
Photo by Spc. Jon T. Taylor.
“Life is what you make it and if you’re willing to learn,
you can do the best you can. If you don’t know
something simply ask as you go.”
Spc. Charles M. Misner
Spc. Charles M. Misner, with Headquarters
company, 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team,
was assigned the task of non-commissioned
officer of the generators at this year’s Washington
Army National Guard annual training.
Misner handles the maintenance of all the
generators for the Joint Task Force Tactical
Operations Center. “It’s a lot of work, but I’ve had
help,” said Misner. It is a very important job that
requires months of advanced individual training,
but according to Misner this operation was his
first time working with these type of generators.
“I felt like Sponge Bob Square Pants, soaking
everything up,” said Misner referring to the
training he received by the local field service
representative at the Yakima Training Center.
In preparation for Operation Evergreen
Ember, Misner learned how to trouble shoot,
maintain, and run the 15 kilowatt and 60 kilowatt
Army generators. One of the most important
tasks Misner completed was the refueling of the
field generators. Misner said that without fuel,
the machine breaks down, and could cause some
serious damage.
“This guy has been running around busting
his hump,” said Sgt. Ted M. Fay of the 66th
Theater Aviation Command, 81st Brigade Special
Troops Battalion out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
“He’s been popping his head in and out of the
TOC to see what’s broken and how things are
running.”
That seems to be a growing trend. Many
soldiers are familiar with Misner, his friendly smile,
and his positive attitude. “Life is what you make
it, and if you’re willing to learn, to do the best you
can,” said Spc. Misner. “Life is what you make it
and if you’re willing to learn, you can do the best
you can. If you don’t know something simply ask
as you go.”
Inspired by the training on this operation,
Misner has a new goal in life. “I want to go to
school for this. I want to be a generator technician,” said Misner.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 23

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Soldiers
finding
balance
can use in their careers as soldiers and
vice versa.
The 81st Brigade Special Troops
Battalion, C. company, Combat
Engineers is no exception, and during
this year’s annual training, there were
plenty of troops who felt that their
civilian lives enhanced their time in
the army.
Spc. Ricardo L. Martinez is a soldier
with the 81st BSTB, C. company,
Combat Engineers, and he loves his
military specialty.
by Sgt. Andrea M. Meyer
The Army National Guard has
roughly 300,000 citizen-soldiers. All
of them have to find the balance
between their civilian lives and their
time in the guard. This isn’t always an
easy task, but many soldiers find that
their civilian lives and jobs teach them
useful qualities and skills, which they
24 81st Armored Brigade Combat Team
top
Soldiers of the 81st BSTB, C. company, Combat Engineers,
participate in a .50 cal range at Yakima Training Center.
Martinez coaches (Other soldier) as he aims a .50 Cal steadily
downrange. Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
middle Rounds of .50 caliber sitting, watching, and waiting for
their time to step up to the plate, and to be fired off- one short
burst at a time. Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
bottom Sgt. Schuyler P. Barbeau of the 81st BSTB, C. company,
Combat Engineers, sitting in the turret, watches as his unit
qualifies on the .50 cal. Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
“The best part is blowing stuff up,”
said Martinez. “Every combat
engineer loves blowing stuff up, and
if they don’t, they’re not a true combat engineer.”
He also said the he is a flight
instructor who has logged 2,500 hours
in his civilian life and has a degree in

25. AT 2013
Aeronautical Schemes. Preparing the
load plan of an airplane, operating and
doing checks and services on planes
taught him to pay attention. Being a
flight instructor taught him to ‘lead
from the front.’
All of these things were keys to his
success as a combat engineer, a
job that involved lots of heavy
equipment and explosions and could
be dangerous.
Sgt. Schuyler P. Barbeau, a soldier
with the same unit as Martinez, is
employed at Boeing as a Final
Body Joiner.
Barbeau said that he is responsible
for joining the head, body and tail
of the Boeing 777, a job that requires
him to be very disciplined and detail
oriented. Those were qualities that
being an Non-commissioned officer in
the Guard taught him very well.
Sgt. Jonathan L. Williams works at
a company called Nylatech,
“The best part is blowing stuff up.
Every combat engineer loves
blowing stuff up.”
Spc. Ricardo L. Martinez
manufacturing everything from ball
bearings and roller coaster wheels to
practice bats for the Seattle Mariners
baseball team. It can be a dangerous
job, and once there was an explosion
in the factory so loud that the local
fire-fighters came without even a 9-11
call. His attention to detail and focus
are both qualities that he has taken
with him during this Annual Training
and throughout his time in the army.
Williams said that while both jobs
in the private sector and army can be
dangerous, the life lessons that he has
learned in both of them help to keep
him and his soldiers safe.
right Soldiers of 81st
BSTB, C. company, Combat
Engineers waiting for their
time to shoot the .50 cals.
Photo by Sgt. Andrea E. Meyer.
81st Armored Brigade Combat Team 25

26. AT 2013