Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day

By Karen SampsonJuly 1, 2022

Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Joseph Smith (left), battalion commander for 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion; Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Halstead (center-left), command sergeant major of 40th ESB; lead a round of applause as Capt. Andrew Schmit (center-right), commander of Headquarters & Headquarters Company, hoists a trophy cup high in the air honoring the company's overall win at the “Renegade Olympics.” Schmit accepts the honor with 1st Sgt. Leilani Caracciolo (right), first sergeant of HHC, during an awards ceremony held at an impromptu barbeque celebrating the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22. (Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson)) VIEW ORIGINAL
Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Jackie S. Smith (left) serves up cupcakes while Sgt. Dante Dickson (right), materials manager for Bravo Company, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, helps his daughter prepare a hot dog at an impromptu barbeque celebrating the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22. (Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson)) VIEW ORIGINAL
Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day
3 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Renegade Soldiers from the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion eat a feast and play games during an impromptu barbeque celebrating the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22. (Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson)) VIEW ORIGINAL
Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day
4 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Renegade Soldiers from the 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion and their families keep traditions alive mentoring the next generations to master the game “corn-hole,” a challenging staple at most Army barbeques, during the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22. (Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson)) VIEW ORIGINAL
Renegades celebrate with final Organization Day
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Lt. Col. Joseph Smith (left), battalion commander for 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, signs awards at an impromptu barbeque celebrating the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field, Fort Huachuca, Arizona. The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22. (Photo Credit: (U.S. Army photo by Karen Sampson)) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Soldiers from Bravo Company and Headquarters & Headquarters Company, 40th Expeditionary Signal Battalion (ESB), held an impromptu barbeque celebrating the Renegades’ last Organization Day on June 28 at Brown Parade Field.

"We are celebrating in preparation for final inactivation," said 1st Lt. Alexandra Chorlian, a platoon leader with Bravo Company, 40th ESB. "This is our big, culminating barbeque to eat together, socialize and spend time together in recognition of the battalion."

The white tents normally used for formal ceremonies on the historic parade field shaded the Soldiers and their families, while a multi-colored, bouncy castle looked like a vibrant party-crasher. The inflated, puffy guest shook vigorously, and with no shame burst into uncontrollable shrieks and giggles.

Plenty of hamburgers, hot dogs, pasta salads, soft drinks and everything in between created a full-blown picnic spread heaped in big portions on paper plates while Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen played in stereo.

"We had a sports event this morning," Chorlian said. "We had our last two standing companies, Bravo Company and HHC going head-to-head in competition for the ‘Renegade Olympics.’ We also held individual competitions for those with special strengths and abilities."

Lt. Col. Joseph Smith, battalion commander, 40th ESB; and Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Halstead, battalion command sergeant major, 40th ESB; had an informal awards ceremony during the barbeque for the Renegade Olympics winners.

Capt. Andrew Schmit, commander of HHC, and 1st Sgt. Leilani Caracciolo, the senior enlisted representative for HHC, hoisted a trophy cup high in the air honoring the company's relay-race win.

"The event pushed people," said Sgt. Dante Dickson, materials manager for B Co., 40th ESB. "Army fitness is our job, and what we usually focus on is delivering the maximum standard."

Dickson attended the barbeque with his two kids flanking close to his side.

"This competition had everyone going above what is expected, and they had to challenge themselves," he added.

Dickson stood above his peers in the dead-lift competition winning two events.

"For the three-rep competition, I lifted 600 pounds, and for the one-rep competition, I lifted 650 pounds," he said. "Events like this are good for morale and camaraderie, and there were team efforts too – so, there were many people motivating others!"

The 40th ESB Soldiers and staff have busy completing the heavy tasks involved with the battalion's upcoming inactivation and also individually concentrating on their new follow-on assignments, Dickson explained.

"The organization day is a welcome break," Dickson said as a red beanbag soared through the air toward a corn-hole. Meanwhile a baseball slammed into a catcher's mitt and a soccer ball traveled across the field at the mercy of various players.

The battalion will finish with the B Company and HHC inactivation ceremony on July 22.

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Fort Huachuca is home to the U.S. Army Intelligence Center of Excellence, the U.S. Army Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM)/9th Army Signal Command and more than 48 supported tenants representing a diverse, multiservice population. Our unique environment encompasses 946 square miles of restricted airspace and 2,500 square miles of protected electronic ranges, key components to the national defense mission.

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