Soldiers, chaplain build morale at clay shoot

By Pfc. Angel Washington, 4th BCT PAO, 1st Cav. Div.May 26, 2010

FORT HOOD, Texas- Spc. Robert Looney (center), a cannon crewmember assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partakes in clay shooting along with other Soldiers in his unit, here, May...
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – FORT HOOD, Texas- Spc. Robert Looney (center), a cannon crewmember assigned to the 5th Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, partakes in clay shooting along with other Soldiers in his unit, here, May... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
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Division met at the Sportsman Center, here, May for a little range time with Chaplain (Maj.) Mike Patterson, of Vero Beach, Fl.

Patterson organized the event for the Soldiers prior to their upcoming pre-deployment exercise at the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC).

"It's important that Soldiers are well rounded," said Patterson. "A little break prior to JRTC is healthy."

The chaplain started the afternoon with ethics and value training on personal courage before picking up his shotgun.

"There has to be an internalization of personnel courage within ourselves as to what we're going to do if a situation arises that has the potential to cost us something," said Patterson.

With their upcoming deployment to Iraq right around the corner, Soldiers continuously work hard to keep the unit operating proficiently and mission ready.

"It gives them a moment to focus on downtime. Soldiers can then reenergize, refuel and then go back tomorrow and focus on the mission," he said.

While the troops learned valuable ethic lessons, mission essential skills were also derived from the clays shooting.

"They are building confidence in marksmanship skills and are working together as a unit to get ready for what they have to do," said Dave Wood, of Harker Heights, Texas, president of the Fort Hood Skeet and Trap Team.

The troops scanned the air and shot at the targets hoping to have more "hits" than their fellow Soldier next to them.

"It boosted the morale of all of the Soldiers by allowing us to set aside work (for a moment) and it taught us how to have fun while learning ethics," said Sgt. Tonnasheka Amos, a chaplain's assistance from Houston Texas.

The troops can look forward to interacting in another fun filled brigade activity in July.