Bowling brings a "strike" to training

By Pfc. Angel Washington, 4th BCT, 1st Cav. Div. Public AffairsMarch 29, 2010

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FORT HOOD, Texas- Spc. Clayton Hendricks, an unmanned aerial system maintainer assigned to A Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares to bowl during a unit event at Phantom Warrior Lanes M...
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Spc. Clayton Hendricks, an unmanned aerial system maintainer assigned to A Company, 4th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, prepares to bowl during a unit event at Phantom Warrior Lanes M... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT HOOD, Texas - With the smell of pizza, the sight of various colored bowling balls and the feel of shoes that serve a much different purpose than combat boots, the atmosphere of conquering bowling lanes was far from that of conducting field training.

Leaders released troops assigned to A Company, 4th Brigade Support Troop Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division early to go home, change and come back with their spouses for a night of bowling at Phantom Warrior Lanes, March 25.

"They worked ten days in a row for their last field training exercise," said 1st Sgt. Jason Grant, a native of Presque Isle, Maine. "We're using this as their unwind time; everyone can joke around and get together while not in uniform."

This was the first unit function of the year. It gave Soldiers a chance to mingle amongst each other and also become acquainted with the unit.

"We haven't had a lot of time to get together on a non professional level," said Grant. "New Soldiers can get the chance to integrate and meet new people."

Family Readiness Group representatives organized the event with the unit so Soldiers could have a chance to relax as a unit prior to going back into the field.

"It's a good thing to get the mind off of training; coming from the field and getting ready to go back into it," said FRG representative, Seanna Hiltner.

Bowling came as an idea because it is enjoyable for both single and married Soldiers said Hiltner, a native of Killeen, Texas.

Troops had the chance to take their mind off work and learn more about each other prior to deployment.

"It's very good team building," said Pvt. Eileen Weirich, a human intelligence collector from Portland, Oregon. "It's nice to interact with Soldiers you normally don't get to talk to and meet their families."