JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The 2nd Infantry Division Artillery conducted the first DIVARTY run on Main Post Joint Base Lewis-McChord to build unit cohesion, motivation and improve Soldier fitness Feb. 20.
Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Infantry Division Artillery; 1st Battalion, 37th Field Artillery Regiment and 2nd Battalion, 17th Field Artillery Regiment, seized the opportunity to foster camaraderie during a three-mile run Friday.
"The run was very good for our unit. It was cool to see the two triple-sevens lined up for us during the run," said Pfc. Joseph Dunn, cannon crewman, 2-17 FA. "They even fired off some of the howitzers as we ran by."
Units held their guidons high while calling field artillery cadences during the run that started and ended by passing under M777 howitzers.
After the run, a select number of junior Soldiers attended breakfast at the Courage Dinning Facility with Maj. Gen. Thomas Vandal, commander, 2nd Infantry Division, and Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew J. Spano, command sergeant major, 2ID.
During the breakfast Vandal spoke to the Soldiers about the various policies and programs within the division.
"I think it shows a lot about someone when they take the time out of their busy trip to sit down with us younger Soldiers and talk about important matters," said Spc. Timothy Demese, cannon crewman, 2-17 FA. "We talked about our jobs and mission for the future as well as the training we need to complete."
The conversations spanned from what each Soldier did for the unit to the topic of sexual harassment/assault response and prevention, and its training.
"The division command sergeant major and myself just finished a SHARP conference before coming to Lewis," said Vandal. "We want to know how the Soldiers think the program is going. The Army has noticed a change in the way sexual assault is affecting the Army in a positive way."
Vandal ended the breakfast with some words for the Soldiers to take back to their units and thanked them for their time.
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