1. Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 126 May 31, 2013
‘Warhorse’ NCOs receive mentorship, guidence
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
A
ground-shaking HOOAH echoed throughout the
hills of Fort Carson as more than 1,000 “Warhorse”
noncommissioned officers sounded off to the question;
“Warhorse, where you at?”
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen, senior enlisted leader,
2nd ABCT held noncommissioned officer professional development
training on Fort Carson, Colo., May 20.
“It’s a great day to be a Warhorse NCO”, said Lehtonen. “Matter
of fact, it’s a great day everyday to be a noncommissioned officer in
the United States Army. It’s not a right; it is a privilege to lead our
Soldiers.”
The NCOPD, an event focused on building esprit de corps and
raising NCOs’ knowledgebase, started with a four-mile run, and later,
classes that ranged from standards for the wear of multiple uniforms,
to methods to help track a Soldier’s career.
“I know everyone here, including myself, takes our jobs extremely
serious,” said Lehtonen. “It is a very, very important job; probably the
most important job that you can have in the Army, if not the world;
leading and taking care of our Soldiers.”
NCOs appreciated the time set aside for the training.
“It’s a great pleasure, especially with the high caliber of NCOs that
we have in this brigade,” said Staff Sgt. Casey McEuin, infantryman,
HHT, 2nd STB. “From the command sergeants major all the way
down; very high class and very professional individuals.”
During the event, Staff Sgt. Geoffrey Gates, field artillery
See GUIDENCE, Page 3
Capt.AdamSperry,commander,CompanyA,2ndSTB,2ndABCTdivestomakeacatchduringthe“Warhorse”ChallengeIIatMemorialPark,ColoradoSprings,Colo.,May,22.
Approximately450seniorleadersfromacrossthebrigadeparticipatedinthedouble-eliminationtournamentthatwasgearedtowardsincreasingtheworkingandpersonal
relationshipsbetweenSoldiersofdifferentbattalions.
Making the catch
Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2. Warhorse PridePage 2 Issue 126 May 31, 2013
Story and photo by
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
Spouses earn silver spurs
KelseyPapez,wifeofSpc.MarkPapez,cavalryscout,TroopA,1stSqdn.,10thCavReg.,2ndABCT,performspush-upsduringthe
squadron’sSpouseSpurRideatFortCarson’sIronHorsePark.Papezjoinedmorethan60“Bison”spousesinconductingamodifiedArmy
PhysicalFitnessTest,whichincludedaone-milerunandoneminuteeachforpush-upsandsit-ups.
Earning the silver spurs of a
cavalry scout has been a long-
standing tradition since troopers
rode horse-back into war.
The tradition continued, but
this time for 60 spouses, as the
1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., 2nd
ABCT, hosted its Spouse Spur
Ride at Fort Carson’s Iron Horse
Park, May 18.
“Earning your spurs has been
a tradition since the cavalry has
been on horses,” said Lt. Col.
David Guthrie, commander, 1st
Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg. “A trooper
would earn their spurs when
they showed that they had the
skills after arriving to their unit.”
Six teams, consisting of eight
to 10 spouses each, worked
through multiple events, that
included a modified Army
Physical Fitness Test, a simulated
hand grenade course using water
balloons, reporting a situational
report on enemy activity, and
evaluating a medical casualty.
“It’s nice to get to meet
other spouses and know we
are all in this together,” said
Megan Wadsworth, wife of
Capt. Brendan Wadsworth,
commander, Troop A, 1st Sqdn.,
10th Cav. Reg. “Sometimes you
feel isolated as a spouse. We
are all out here working hard,
getting tired, getting sweaty and
getting dirty together.”
“Bison” leadership’s intent
for the day was to reinforce
the bonds between spouses
before the upcoming month-
long training event at Fort
Irwin, Calif., and any future
deployments.
“We wanted to build the team
that is going to take care of us
when we deploy,” said Command
Sgt. Maj. Brian Vogl, senior
enlisted leader, 1st Sqdn., 10th
Cav. Reg. “Get them together and
get some camaraderie built so
they know each other. It really
helps build that team that will be
back here.”
The spouses know it is
important to support their
husbands and see what they go
through.
“It’s really good for their
morale,” said Wadsworth. “If you
don’t have a really good, strong
home base, you suffer at work.
Seeing their spouses out here
working hard, basically in their
honor, makes them feel good.”
Leadership had a message
for the spouse who earned their
silver spurs before their Soldiers.
“As a cavalry spouse, if you
earn you silver spurs, those are
the ultimate bragging right,”
said Guthrie. “If your trooper
does not have their silver and
you earn yours today, there is
only one silver spur holder with
bragging rights.”
When it was all said and done
and the dust cleared, the spouses
had a new respect for their
husbands and what they do.
“I think the cavalry has great
tradition for the Soldiers,” said
Wadsworth. “It is nice (the
squadron) brought the spouses
into it. We don’t do what Soldiers
do, but we support them just as
much and work just as hard, so
it’s nice that we get to be a part of
those traditions.”
After the spouses completed
all the events, the squadron put
on a Barbecue for the Soldiers
and Family members and
encouraged more camaraderie.
“It helps the Soldiers,” said
Vogl. “It gives them the ability
to deploy knowing that there is a
spouse network back in the rear
that can help them out.”
Bison leadership plans to host
another Spouse Spur Ride later
this year, as well as a Spur Ride
for the Soldiers sometime in
September.
3. Warhorse PridePage 3 Issue 126 May 31, 2013
Raven operators prepare for NTC
automated tactical data system specialist,
Battery A, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., led the
brigade corps of NCOs in reciting the Creed
of the Noncommissioned Officer.
“If the hair didn’t stand up on the back
of your neck during the creed, when Staff
CommandSgt.Maj.RobertLehtonen,seniorenlistedleader,2ndABCT,cheersonSoldiersof2ndSTBattheendofafour-
milerunonMagrathAve.onFortCarson,Colo.,May20.Aftertherun,morethan450“Warhorse”NCOsparticipatedina
NCOPD,focusedonraisingtheknowledgeofthebrigadesNCOs.
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry
Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-funded news-
letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1.
Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily
the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government,
Department of Defense, Department of the Army
or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of
The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and
approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public
Affairs Office.
The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary
and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride
reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the
publication.
All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed
online from your home computer at www.facebook.
com/2bct4id
Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor:
andrew.a.porch.mil@mail.mil
Col. Omar Jones IV........................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen....2nd BCT CSM
Maj. Chris Maestas.................................................PAO OIC
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOIC
Staff Sgt. Ruth Pagan.........................Layout and Design
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch............................................Editor
Warhorse Pride
Sergeant Gates was up here, you have got to
check your pulse,” said Col. Omar Jones IV,
commander, 2nd ABCT. “I will tell you what,
just to listen to this entire corps of NCO
throughout this brigade combat team say the
creed together, to understand and know that,
represents what makes being in the Army
great.”
The NCOs of 2nd ABCT, know it’s
important to teach, but also to listen to their
Soldiers.
NCOs must know they can learn from their
Soldiers, said McEuin. There are things that
Soldiers have done that their leaders haven’t,
so they like to learn from their Soldiers’
experiences, as well as the experiences of
higher-ranking leaders.
Leadership made sure the Soldiers know
they are appreciated, and how the progress
made during recent training events by the
brigade couldn’t have been done without the
NCOs.
“Iwanttotellyouhowvery,veryproudIam
of the brigade,” said Jones. “By any measure,
what we are doing right now and what we
have done the past year is truly unique, and it
is truly blazing the trail for where the Army is
going to go over the next ten years.”
As the Brigade prepares for a month-long
rotation to the National Training Center next
month, the NCOs will be relied upon to train,
mentor and guide Soldiers to accomplish all
missions.
“We are the best NCO corps in the world,
the best Army in the world, and by far the
best brigade in the world, and it’s all because
of everyone standing in this formation today,”
said Lehtonen.
Soldiersfrom 2nd
ABCTparticipatein
Ravencertifications
onFortCarson,
May8.Morethan
30operators
completedthe
courseandarenow
certifiedtoflythe
unmannedarieal
vehicleduring
trainingatthe
NationalTraining
Center,FortIrwin,
Calif.
From GUIDENCE, Page 3
Photos by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
4. 3-16 FAR
Dyanne Beckman.........................................................526-1635
dyanne.m.beckman.civ@mail.mil
1-67 AR
Valerie Mansapit...........................................................524-1476
valerie.j.mansapit.civ@mail.mil
204th BSB
Barbara Young...............................................................526-4172
barbara.a.young.civ@mail.mil
2-8 IN
UrsulaPittman...........................................................526-0727
ursula.t.pittman.civ@mail.mil
2 STB
Spc. Morgan Madrick..............................................503-2602
morgan.a.madrick.mil@mail.mil
Find us on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/2bct4id
2nd ABCT
Valarie Adams............................................................524-4797
valarie.a.adams.civ@mail.mil
1-10 CAV
Francy Avizu...............................................................526-1946
francy.avizu.civ@mail.mil
FRSA Information
Family Readiness GroupPage 5 Issue 126 May 31, 2013
31
07 08 09 10 11 12 13
01 02 03 04 05 06Kids Speed and Agility Camp
@ Ed’s Gym
9:00 a.m.
Ringling Bros. and
Barnum & Bailey Circus
@ World Area
7:00 p.m.
(repeats 6 times)
Cheese Making -
Mozzarella
@ Colorado Springs
Senior Center
2:00 p.m.
Cruzin ro Calvary Car Show
@ Rocky Mountain Calvary
Church
8:00 a.m.
Doogie Dash 5K Run
@5400 Nevada Ave.
9:00 a.m.
Dinosaurs!
@Cheyenne Moutain
Library
11:30 a.m.
Ghost Dance, Soofy and the
Walrus (Live Music)
@ Zodiac Venue and Bar
8:00 p.m.
Monday Morning Movie
@ Cheyenne Mountain
Library
10:30 a.m.
Hip-Hop for Kids
with Neil McIntyre
@Ruth Holley Library
Branch
10:30 a.m.
Delicious Downtown Food
Tour
@ Downtown Colorado
Springs
10:15 a.m. and 2:15 p.m.
register at
www.coloradospringsfood-
tour.com
Par-Tee with World Golf
@Wold Golf &
Sand Creek G.C.
5:00 p.m.
Community Violin
Master Class
@ Colorado College,
Packard Hall
1:30 p.m.
Summer Music Festiva
Artist Contest
@ Colorado College,
Packard Hall
7:30 p.m.
World Enviromental Day
Celebration
@ Colorado College,
Worner Campus Center
5:30 p.m.
Visit www.coloradosprings.com for more info
