Apr 12, 2013

The Army published a Finding of No Significant Impact following completion of the Programmatic Environmental Assessment for Army 2020 Force Structure Realignment. The PEA analyzed the environmental impacts of two action alternatives for reducing and reorganizing the Army's active component force structure at 21 installations between now and 2020. This action is necessary to achieve the fiscal reductions directed by the Budget Control Act of 2011, consistent with the National Military Strategy and ending of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Apr 12, 2013

Acquisition workforce members in the Mission and Installation Contracting Command are following revised procedures aimed at ensuring equitable consideration between small businesses and nonprofit agencies for award of Army contracts.

Apr 12, 2013

The U.S. Army Transportation Corps bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Stephen E. Farmen, Chief of Transportation and Transportation School commandant, during a relinquishment of command ceremony April 12.

Apr 12, 2013

FORT HOOD, Texas -- Six Division West Soldiers traded their baggy camouflage uniforms and bulky combat boots for skintight Spandex shorts and featherweight cycling shoes to ride in the Killeen-to-Waco leg of the Ride 2 Recovery -- Texas Challenge April 11.

Apr 12, 2013

Officers at Fort Bragg employ a traditional tool of officer development -- the 'staff ride' -- to immerse themselves in a little-known, but very local historic battle.

Apr 11, 2013

American Soldiers with a mission to advise the Afghan uniformed police finished securing a key coalition compound with the assistance of deployed U.S. Army civilian engineers and technicians.

Apr 11, 2013

Any Soldier going through the medical board process can benefit from Fort Carson's Soldier and Family Assistance Center -- whether a Soldier is separating from the military or returning to duty, is in the Warrior Transition Battalion or falls under the Individual Disability Evaluation System, the SFAC has much to offer.

Apr 11, 2013

Fort Carson's new Special Olympics program has created two teams to compete during the basketball season.

Apr 11, 2013

Tears were shed on more than one occasion during the Holocaust Remembrance Ceremony hosted by the 174th Infantry Brigade at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 8, 2013. The Patriot Brigade's 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment worked with joint base partners to facilitate a touching and educational event. Service members and civilians in attendance honored both those who lost their lives during the Holocaust as well as those who survived the atrocities perpetrated by Adolf Hitler and the Third Reich.

Apr 11, 2013

As deployments draw down and employment rates continue to fluctuate, First Army Division East is committed to helping Reserve and National Guard Soldiers face the challenge of returning to their civilian lives with financial and career planning.

Apr 11, 2013

The SEC Army Reprogramming Analysis Team (ARAT) - Program Office is the Executive Agent for Army rapid software reprogramming of force protection systems, charged with Software Reprogramming for Army, Joint Services, and coalition Aircraft Survivability Equipment for Airborne Platforms, as well as providing sustainment support to Ground Force Protection Systems (CREW) for Joint Services

Apr 11, 2013

The First Army Training Academy held a commencement for 15 students attending the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course Video Teleconference Training recently. This was the first time the FATA hosted the VTT course.

Apr 11, 2013

"Train for combat" is the motto of First Army Division East; it is what they do every day. "Our brigade exists solely to prepare service members for deployment; therefore, we must be expert trainers," expressed Col. Craig A. Osborne, commander, 174th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East, in his vision and command philosophy.

Apr 11, 2013

The Sacramento Police Department Honor Guard traveled nearly 3,000 miles to get hands on memorial affairs training with The Old Guard.

Apr 11, 2013

Waiting with anticipation for their turn to begin the examination, the two young medics run through the tasks they have learned over the past week one last time in their heads before taking off into the woods.

Apr 11, 2013

Paratroopers who were declared by their brigades to be the best of the 82nd Airborne Division sat outside the All American Conference Room March 22. They quietly concentrated their calloused, exhausted minds on hundreds of Army regulations, Soldier tasks and their respective units' histories. The outward appearance of calm patience belied their inner rehearsals of possible answers to any number of questions they could face once finally seated face-to-face with the division's command sergeant major.

Apr 11, 2013

"I'm a woman phenomenally. Phenomenal woman, that's me."

Apr 11, 2013

On Feb. 21, Sgt. Luis X. Herrera, a licensed practical nurse with Company C, Womack Army Medical Center, XVIII Airborne Corps, received an Army Commendation Medal for saving the life of a 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division paratrooper.

Apr 11, 2013

Lines of vehicles travel along a main road on Fort Bragg just after Soldiers are released from physical training. As they pass the illuminated safety sign flashing the message 'Troopers don't plan to fail, they just fail to plan,' they notice the heap of twisted metal and shattered glass at its base -- the battered remains of a silver sedan.

Apr 10, 2013

Armed with radios, Blue Force Tracker systems and antennas, 12 Army Signal Corps soldiers welcomed the challenge of instructing Raider Brigade soldiers from a variety of specialties at the Black Death Communications Academy, Camp Buehring, Kuwait.

Apr 10, 2013

Sailors grunted, shouted commands and worked together as a team to carry 200-pound dummies under the barbed wire and dirt. Through the cloud of yellow smoke, horizontal figures emerged, helmets close to the ground, sweaty faces determined to get their "casualties" to safety. "It's very realistic," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Cory Burkholder, one of the sailors preparing to deploy with U.S. Navy Customs. "You've got the background noise, the bombs going off, and you have to take cover; you have to pull security and take care of your teammates out there."

Apr 10, 2013

Fort Huachuca, AZ. - Command Sgt. Maj. Maurice A. Rambert assumed responsibility as the 11th Signal Brigade command sergeant major Friday during a ceremony on historic Brown Parade Field at 10 a.m.

Apr 10, 2013

Having an expert on-hand who recognizes the unique skills, talents and abilities associated with serving the nation can make a tremendous difference for a candidate seeking the right fit.

Apr 10, 2013

Even with four back-to-back deployments, fertility issues, timing constraints, and an eight-year-old daughter, Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Oravetz of Division West's 166th Aviation Brigade and his wife, Stephanie, "felt a calling to adopt" another child to add to their Family.

Apr 10, 2013

SHARAN, Afghanistan (April 9, 2013) -- The National Directorate of Security for Paktika held a legal seminar on evidence based operations, rule of law and the proper treatment of detainees, at its headquarters in the Provincial Capital Complex in Sharan, April 2-3.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- A woman dedicated to the development and well-being of the children of 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers received special recognition this week for her years of hard work and innovative ideas at the post's Child, Youth and School Services.

Apr 10, 2013

III Corps cased their colors at a ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, April 4, 2013, marking the final step before the nearly 600 headquarters Soldiers begin a year-long deployment to Afghanistan.

Apr 10, 2013

With the recent sequestration and deep budget cuts underway across the entire Army, it was uncertain whether Division West's 166th Aviation Brigade would conduct training for the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, set to deploy to Kuwait, in the sophisticated flight simulation center at Fort Rucker, Ala., last month, said Col. Kevin Vizzarri, 166th Aviation Brigade commander.

Apr 10, 2013

FORWARD OPERATING BASE BORIS, Afghanistan -- Afghan National Army soldiers assigned to the 2nd Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 203rd Corps, left their base to conduct a three-day mission designed to interact with residents of nearby villages March 12-14.

Apr 10, 2013

Knowing your father caused a serious auto accident while driving under the influence is something you never forget.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The Boston Celtics, Montreal Canadians, New York Yankees, and the Headquarters and Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion. What do they all have in common? They've all won their respective "championships" at least four times in a row.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The St. Lawrence University football team visited Fort Drum on Saturday to see what the Light Fighters School had to offer the Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division (LI).

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- When Makayla Rast was 4, her parents began noticing that she was "different." She preferred to be alone, and she didn't get along with her siblings. By the time she reached the first grade, she was having problems reading; the next year, Makayla was placed in special education classes at her school.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- The 63rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion "Disruptors" hosted a physical fitness challenge April 5 on an open field located behind the 10th Special Troop Battalion's barracks to honor the memory of a fallen Soldier.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT POLK, La. -- Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (LI), attended an Air to Ground Operations class March 15 here.

Apr 10, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Children of Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 87th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, had an opportunity to live a Soldier's life for a day, as the "Catamounts" held their first Take Your Kids to Work Day at the battalion's headquarters April 4.

Apr 10, 2013

Vernon Schmidt, a World War II 90th Infantry Division Tough 'Ombre soldier, met some current-day Tough 'Ombre soldiers from the 90th Sustainment Brigade during a training exercise at Fort Hunter Liggett, Calif., March 21.

Apr 10, 2013

McGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- Division West's 5th Armored Brigade conducted unarmed self-defense training here March 25 for Soldiers of the Army Reserve's 724th Military Police Battalion from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. The MPs are training for their upcoming deployment to Afghanistan. (Photos by Sgt. 1st Class David Parish, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, Public Affairs)

Apr 9, 2013

As the home of the 82nd Airborne, it is not unusual to see paratroopers floating from the sky but a 10,000 pound heavy artillery weapon attached to four parachutes might turn a few heads. This M777A2 Howitzer "heavy drop", March 15, was just a small part of a joint exercise ensuring combat readiness of soldiers and Marines.

Apr 9, 2013

Afghan and U.S. soldiers gathered on March 20, to celebrate the beginning of Nowruz, the Afghan New Year, over a traditional meal hosted by the 2nd Kandak, 3rd Brigade, 205th Corps Afghan National Army.

Apr 9, 2013

Pulling hard on the lanyard gripped tightly in his hands, a cannon crewmember sent a 155mm M107 high explosive artillery round thundering from an M109A6 Paladin Self Propelled Howitzer, arcing over the Kuwaiti desert.

Apr 9, 2013

FORT BLISS, Texas -- The Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 362nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Task Force Renegade, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, increased their unit cohesion and esprit de corps with a Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Family and Team Building session on the Leaders Reaction Course here March 14. The course gave Soldiers an opportunity to step away from the training lanes where they prepare joint warfighters to deploy. (Photos by Capt. Kevin Lockett, 1st Battalion, 362nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West)

Apr 9, 2013

FORT BRAGG, N.C. --Assist, Protect, and Defend. To some, just words on the side of a car; to the military police, they are the lifeblood of the occupation. Weeks of training are conducted to ensure personnel on Fort Bragg are kept safe day in and day out.

Apr 9, 2013

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 6, 2013) -- Soldiers assigned to Camp Clark, Afghanistan load onto a rickety looking dust-covered bus heading for Camp Parsa. One noncommissioned officer climbs aboard, clean-cut with the look of motivation and pride on his face as bright as day, sits down and discusses the training plan for the day with another NCO. Army Sgt. Daniel Clampitt, an artilleryman and member of the partnership team assigned to 3rd Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), has been training artillerymen from the Afghan National Army since September 2012.

Apr 9, 2013

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan (April 2, 2013) -- The engines of the CH-47 Chinook roar deafeningly through the main cabin like the winds of a monsoon. Through nightvision, the stone-chizzled faces of Soldiers stare engrossed with the view out of the back ramp of the helicopter while in flight. "Five minutes," yells the back door gunner. Five minutes. The gravity of the mission flows through the cabin like a white water river. This is not just an everyday mission, this is an air assault. The bread and butter of the 101st Airborne Division.

Apr 9, 2013

McGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- Several noncommissioned officers from Division West's 5th Armored Brigade and Soldiers from three deploying Army National Guard units recently trained here on a non-lethal weapons system used for riot control operations.

Apr 9, 2013

Approximately 250 medical soldiers from across the U.S. will attempt to earn the Expert Field Medic Badge April 7-12. Of those who participate, an estimated 20 percent or less usually qualify at the end.

Apr 9, 2013

A paratrooper and Wounded Warrior joins his old unit during a live-fire training exercise at Fort Bragg to spend quality time with his brothers-at-arms.

Apr 8, 2013

To address the need for widely available transition resources, the Department of Defense created the Hero2Hired program as a central, user-friendly resource for Active Duty, Reserve and National Guard service members to connect with military-friendly companies who want to hire them.

Apr 8, 2013

Recruiting Command has launched an update to its Family Strong Resource Guide, a comprehensive source of information, phone numbers and Web links for Soldiers and Families making the transition to recruiting duty.

Apr 7, 2013

The Soldiers of the engineer Tolai of 4th Kandak, 2nd Brigade, 203rd Afghan National Army, completed Paktika Province's "Super FOB," without any hands-on assistance from coalition forces.

Apr 6, 2013

Marmion (Ill.) Academy and North Miami Beach (Fla.) Senior High School win the armed and unarmed divisions, respectively, in Saturday's second annual Army national meet.

Apr 5, 2013

Here's a pop quiz: What sport leads all others in injuries for troops in combat theaters? The answer may surprise you - it's basketball. Nearly 300 basketball-related accidents were reported to the U.S. Army Combat Readiness/Safety Center between fiscal 2008 and 2012, and the cost associated with those accidents was more than $1.5 million! And it's no secret that many more basketball injuries go unreported. I realized anyone is susceptible to these injuries when I became a victim of the hoop demon during my second tour in Iraq.

Apr 5, 2013

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- Capt. Jack Defabio of Charlie Team, 2-358th Armor Battalion, 189th Infantry Brigade, Division West, is a trainer/mentor who takes his role very seriously. During the two-month Operation Warrior Protector training exercise here, Defabio's role is not only to train and mentor, it's to make sure the training is safe.

Apr 5, 2013

Suicide is always a tragedy, but it is one with certain earmarks individuals can often spot in advance if they're attentive. In the health-care industry, these are called suicide indicators.

Apr 5, 2013

1st Battalion, 46th Infantry Regiment, ceremony commemorates overseas campaigns, Mary Ann tragedy For more than a quarter of a century, veterans and Soldiers of the 46th Infantry Regiment have staged a memorial torchlight ceremony to remember those who came before them -- particularly those who gave their lives in service to their country.

Apr 5, 2013

The Army Substance Abuse Program at Fort Bragg, currently offers five different programs to help tackle the problems associated with substance abuse as part of the Army's Ready and Resilient campaign.

Apr 5, 2013

Six members of the Cavalry lineage were memorialized forever Wednesday as the Soldiers of 5th Squadron, 15th Cavalry Regiment, gathered to dedicate the unit's headquarters and barracks facilities.

Apr 5, 2013

From 600 to 900 Soldiers take a motorcycle riding course every year through the Maneuver Center of Excellence Safety Office. The goal is to encourage safe driving and, ultimately, fewer motorcycle-related injuries and deaths. "Approximately 75 percent of the Army's fatalities are associated with riding a motorcycle or driving a car," said Brian Blanton, safety and occupational health specialist for the Safety Office. "The Army Traffic Safety Training Program is required for all Soldiers who operate a motorcycle on or off post, on or off duty, anywhere in the world. It's another tool for Soldiers to better and hone their riding skill."

Apr 5, 2013

McGREGOR RANGE BASE CAMP, N.M. -- For longer than two years, Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 362nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Task Force Renegade, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, trained deploying service members to operate Mine-Resistant Ambush-Protected vehicles here. But, last month, they handed over their duties to another 5th Armored Brigade battalion, this one composed entirely of mobilized Army Reserve Soldiers.

Apr 4, 2013

Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit held one of the shortest yet most significant ceremonies in the unit's 57-year history, donning new Shoulder Sleeve Insignias, April 2, 2013, at the unit's Ceremony Hill on Fort Benning, Ga.

Apr 4, 2013

A Fort Carson military working dog handler adopted Canto, his first working dog, when the dog was deemed unable to continue his duties.

Apr 4, 2013

To reduce costs and achieve its objective of Net Zero water, Fort Carson has partnered with Johnson Controls under a federal Energy Savings Performance Contract to replace water fixtures in 124 facilities, which includes installing pint flush urinals, low-flow toilets, aerators for faucets and low-flow shower heads. The project began in mid January and completion is anticipated by August.

Apr 4, 2013

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. - The APG community kicked off Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a ceremony at the Post Theater April 2. This year's SAAM theme is, "We own it ... we'll solve it ... together."

Apr 4, 2013

McGREGOR RANGE, N.M. -- Division West's 5th Armored Brigade recently conducted route clearance training for four Army National Guard companies from Arizona, Georgia, Iowa and Ohio. The units are training for their upcoming deployments to Afghanistan.

Apr 4, 2013

EL PASO, Texas -- Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment, "Task Force Warhawg," 5th Armored Brigade, Division West, recently mentored and coached Collins Elementary School students who were selected to spend time with positive adult role models.

Apr 4, 2013

Much like Soldiers who find ways to make things happen under battlefield conditions, a team of engineers and technicians deployed with Soldiers apply their skills and knowledge to find a rapid solution to problems that Soldiers bring to them.

Apr 4, 2013

The U.S. Army Quartermaster School welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer L. Gray as the 11th regimental command sergeant major during an assumption of responsibility ceremony April 4.

Apr 4, 2013

One after another their faces fill the screen. They are familiar. They are men and women we served with, from our neighborhoods, from our lives. Their stories are each unique and yet somehow the same. One by one, from each of the services, enlisted and officer, they talk about being sexually assaulted while serving in the military. These interviews are the focus of a 2012 documentary, "The Invisible War," which highlights the ongoing issue of sexual assault within the military. In February, the I Corps issued an operational order that all corps personnel in the rank of sergeant and above view the film.

Apr 3, 2013

WATERVLIET ARSENAL, N.Y. -- Oh, 1813 was such a good year … at least looking back with 20-20 hindsight. "Uncle Sam" was first used to refer to the U.S., pineapples were introduced to Hawaii, and the first bricks and mortar were set in place in what would become the Watervliet Arsenal to help defend against the second British invasion.

Apr 3, 2013

In today's society, we are bombarded with messages informing us we shouldn't drink and drive because alcohol impairs judgment and slows reaction time, which can make our vehicles deadly weapons. So why do we continue to see Soldiers consuming alcohol and handling firearms, which are designed to be deadly weapons without the addition of alcohol?

Apr 3, 2013

Gen. Bertrand Ract-Madoux, chief of staff of the French Army, or Armée de Terre, visited Fort Bragg, N.C. April 2 to tour and learn about various U.S. Army units on post, including the U.S. Army Forces Command, 82nd Airborne Division, and U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

Apr 3, 2013

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month across the Army and is part of a national initiative that designates the month of April to raise public awareness about sexual violence and to educate communities and individuals on how to prevent sexual violence.

Apr 3, 2013

Sgt. 1st Class Josalette Simmons has been selected the Department of the Army Exceptional Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) of the Year for 2013. Simmons, a Medic assigned to U. S. Army Forces Command, was one of several candidates to make it as a nominee for the DA title.

Apr 3, 2013

Donald Meyer, from the Communications Security Logistics Activity (CSLA) New Equipment Training Team, Fort Huachuca, Ariz., devised a solution for utilizing a USB switch in CSLA's In-line Network Encryptor (INE) KG-175D training.

Apr 3, 2013

Maj. Kara Escajeda, the Environmental Science and Engineering Officer of 85th Civil Affairs Brigade, tells us about the Fort Hood Net Zero 2020 program. She also tells us how the 85th Civil Affairs Brigade is contributing to the program.

Apr 3, 2013

MOS 51C offers NCOs what may just be the best opportunity in the Army. There's more than meets the eye in the world of contracting and "Charlie" has a lot to offer. The Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) 51C classification trains noncommissioned officers (NCOs) to be contracting professionals, provides significant career and educational opportunities, and is one of the few areas of the Army that is expected to grow in the near term.

Apr 3, 2013

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. (April 3, 2013) -- Two new Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army were invested during a ceremony April 2 at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. Keith W. Pritchard and E. Tracy Beckette were selected by Secretary of the Army John McHugh to represent the state of Missouri.

Apr 3, 2013

GATESVILLE, Texas --Even with four back-to-back deployments, fertility issues, timing constraints, and an eight-year-old daughter, Chief Warrant Officer 4 John Oravetz of Division West's 166th Aviation Brigade and his wife, Stephanie, "felt a calling to adopt" another child to add to their Family.

Apr 3, 2013

Bryan McPherson was expecting his 18-year-old daughter, Reinna, to arrive around 10:30 on Easter morning. She and two of her friends, all high school seniors, had spent their spring break in Jacksonville, Fla. They were on their way back home to Grove City, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus, when McPherson's phone rang just before 7 a.m. The news was not good.

Apr 3, 2013

For the past 12 years, one 10th Mountain Division veteran has been supporting his brothers-in-arms recovering at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Apr 3, 2013

Two two-man Ranger teams will represent Fort Drum in this year's David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, April 12-15, at Fort Benning, Ga.

Apr 3, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Remember when you were little, and your mom would take you to the park? Inevitably, you would get a scrape, or splinter, bump or bruise, and mom would reach into that magic talisman that was her purse to produce just the item to make it all better. Well, Kathie Strader, from the Little Theatre of Watertown, hates her purse.

Apr 3, 2013

FORT BLISS, Texas -- After more than a year of courtship, the Casa Ford vehicle dealership and Division West's 5th Armored Brigade made their relationship official last month when Casa Ford joined the Bradley Strong Guardian Program, becoming the brigade's guardian. The Bradley Strong Guardian program is an initiative of the Association of the United States Army to connect the El Paso community and businesses with Fort Bliss Army units. It allows corporations such as Casa Ford to sponsor unit events with monetary donations.

Apr 3, 2013

FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. -- Approximately 240 Soldiers from various companies and battalions of the 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) returned home from a deployment to Afghanistan and were recognized with a welcome home ceremony March 27 at the Campbell Army Airfield.

Apr 2, 2013

The 46th Aviation Support Battalion, 16th Combat Aviation Brigade, conducted "Bellator Stakes," a week-long exercise that combines warrior tasks with a competitive spirit, March 25-29, 2013.

Apr 2, 2013

By now, readers of this column should know I'm a big advocate of safety culture. The actual definitions of that term, however, can be as varied as the missions we perform every day. That's why it's important we have some measures in place as a litmus test for leaders looking to evaluate their culture and climate. The following six criteria can help you determine both your strongest and weakest areas regarding safety, and also give you ideas for enhancing your existing risk management programs.

Apr 2, 2013

FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- If you're going to train the "good guys" in a military exercise, then someone has to play the "bad guys." In most military training, the "bad guys" are the opposition force, or OPFOR. These Soldiers simulate the people and scenarios a unit may face when deployed to certain environments. For Operation Warrior-Protector, a two-month training exercise held here for reserve units from across America, hundreds of individuals were needed to play OPFOR and create a series of simultaneous events to challenge the units being trained. Division West's 189th Infantry Brigade, "Task Force Cold Steel," supplied those individuals.

Apr 1, 2013

Always setting the standard and paving the way for the Army, The 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), will be the first unit to employ military working cats.

Apr 1, 2013

Using the Training Aids, Devices, Simulators, and Simulations facility, a virtual simulation training facility, Soldiers of the 1-335th Infantry Regiment, 205th Infantry Brigade, First Army Division East, develop realistic training scenarios for the units they prepare to deploy to Afghanistan, Kosovo, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Horn of Africa.

Apr 1, 2013

CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER -- Pre-deployment site surveys prepare units for deployments and helps First Army trainer/mentors develop training that is relevant, realistic, and that reflects the most current conditions Soldiers will face in theater. "This training will prepare them for the current hostile operational environment in country," said Col. John S. Prairie, commander of the 4th Cavalry Brigade, Fort Knox, Ky.

Apr 1, 2013

GATESVILLE, Texas -- The Gatesville Primary School and 1st Battalion, 393rd Infantry Regiment, 479th Field Artillery Brigade, Division West, have been enjoying a newfound relationship since the start of the calendar year. Soldiers from the Coyote Battalion are finding time in their busy days to volunteer at the school and participate in classroom activities.

Apr 1, 2013

As part of its capability set fielding, the Army has fielded Company Command Post training sets that mirror the integrated Capability Set 13 systems that will be provided in theater, enabling companies preparing for deployment to train on the same systems and capabilities they will fall in on when they arrive.

Apr 1, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Soldiers, civilians and Family Members battled for bragging rights during an intense physical challenge Thursday at the Atkins Functional Fitness Facility. Fort Drum's Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers program teamed up with AFFF staff to sponsor its first functional fitness challenge.

Apr 1, 2013

FORT DRUM, N.Y. -- Five fingers. Five toes. Tiny feet. Button nose.

Apr 1, 2013

Approximately 250 medical branch soldiers gathered to put in long hours and hard work toward earning the right to wear the Expert Field Medical Badge during the train-up and standardization week, April 1-6.

Mar 31, 2013

KHOWST PROVINCE, Afghanistan (March 28, 2013) --Within the early days of their deployment, a team of chaplain's assistants came together with a plan: a mutual agreement making something beautiful for all to enjoy, helping make days here in Afghanistan brighter. Within their offices at Forward Operating Base Salerno, Afghanistan, the team of assistants from various battalions within the 3rd Brigade Combat Team "Rakkasans," 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), decided to restore the chapel after it had been heavily damaged in an attack in the summer of 2012. Located in a throughway, the building's only distinguishing features are its tiny steeple and the zebra patterned wood on its exterior. Like battle wounds, the building stood resilient with scars of unpainted wood. When the team arrived from Fort Campbell, Ky, to the large FOB in eastern Afghanistan, much of the chapel was already repaired. However, one feature remained absent. "When we arrived here, the chapel was all boarded up and didn't look like a chapel," said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eric Esposito, brigade chaplain's assistant. "All the windows were covered with wood. It was hard to distinguish where the chapel was." While working long hours with multiple responsibilities, they made it a common goal to repair the stained glass windows within the chapel. The task required many hours of planning, designing and building, much of which would take place during their personal time.

Mar 29, 2013

Fort Huachuca, Az. - Spc. April Moreland is not your average athlete. Not only does she compete in the male predominant sport of boxing, but she began training almost two years ago, at 29.

Mar 29, 2013

More than 40 warfighters from the "Champion" command headquartered at Fort Meade, Md., participated in Exercise Key Resolve 13, which is an annual computer-assisted exercise held March 11-21 on the Korean Peninsula.

Mar 29, 2013

Combined Arms Support Command personnel paid tribute to President John Tyler, the nation's 10th president, in a traditional wreath-laying ceremony held at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Va., on March 29.