Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Issue 3 March 11, 2010

1-67 gives back to community

Story and photo by Spc. April York
PAO, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
Soldiers from Company G, 1st Battalion,
67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division have volunteered
their time at the Marian House Soup Kitchen
over the last two months in order to give back
to the community.
“I think we should do what we can to help
out the people the economy hit hard,” said
Spc. Joshua Butler, an armor crewman, who
helped out on two different occasions.
There is a misconception that most of the
people that come to the soup kitchen are
homeless, but over 50 percent of them are
working-poor, said Paul Konecny, the director
help other volunteers, mostly from church
organizations such as Catholic Charities and
1st Presbyterian, make the food and ready the
facility. On their most recent visit they made
vegetable beef soup, sloppy joes, fruit salad, an
egg dish and gingerbread cookies.
On a typical day the soup kitchen needs 40
to 50 volunteers and they serve between 600 to
700 meals, Konecny said. The volunteers serve
lunch Monday thru Saturday and on Sundays
they serve breakfast.
Konecny, a native of Wichita, Kan.,
remarked that Soldiers are the best workers we
ever have. “Everyone loves having them here,”
he said. “They are a good influence to the other
volunteers.” (Photo by Spc April York )

of the soup kitchen. “When I use that term
I’m referring to families trying to make ends
meet,” he said.
According to Butler, when the Soldiers
volunteer their time it gives them a chance to
see what their lives could be like without the
Army. It helps them to be thankful for what
they have.
The Soldiers report around 7 a.m. to
Some volunteers for the soup kitchen have
been coming in for years. Retired Sgt. Maj.
Joseph A. Madril Jr., originally from Alamosa,
Colo., has volunteered his time every Monday
since February 1998. He volunteers to give
back, he said. “I enjoy the camaraderie, the
same thing you have in the military.” It’s not just about the camaraderie. It’s also
Konecny echoed his sentiments, “we
have become a family ourselves with all the
Spc. Joshua Butler, an armor crewman with Company
G, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, prepares gin-
gerbread cookies at the Marian House Soup Kitchen
on March 4.
volunteers and with a lot of the guests that
come through.”
about helping people out and doing the right
thing, Butler said.

Commander’s Column military occupational specialties

Lt. Col. Patrick Stevenson, commander
2nd Special Troops Battalion
Since taking command
of the Lonestar Battalion in
November, I have had ample
opportunity to witness the
professionalism and remarkable
work of our officers, non-
commissioned officers and
Soldiers. Their hard work and
competent leadership enables
this battalion to stand ready to
support the Warhorse Brigade
and our nation.
During the next six months
we will steadily be increasing
our training posture as part of
our Road to Readiness, which
will include exercises at the Joint
Readiness Training Center, La.;
Yuma Proving Grounds, Ariz.;
the U.S. Military Academy at
West Point, N. Y.; Pinon Canyon,
Colo.; and here at Fort Carson.
The battalion has over 130
that require us to leverage training
opportunities across the country,
and with all this movement we
must make safety a priority.
Over the last few months the
battalion has demonstrated its
dedication to safety in numerous
ways.
One of the most important
of these is the fact that we have
had the fewest serious incidents
in the entire brigade. I am very
proud of this fact, and expect our
Soldiers to continue to uphold
this standard.
This battalion is like a Family,
and like any good Family we will
continue to support, protect, and
take care of one another.
To promote the well-being and
safety of each and every Soldier
and Family in our battalion, we
are conducting several events
during the spring and summer
months for our companies that
will be participating in off-
installation training.
We will have pre-
deployment fairs before our
Soldiers leave, and we will also
conduct safety training during
Family Readiness Group
meetings so that our Families
are well-informed and can
make safety a priority in their
homes.
With so many training
events upcoming in the next
six months, we must rely on
each other for support and
continued on page 2
page 2
Short range marksmanship class
Sgt. Jose Ramirez, a short range marksmanship instructor, who traveled from Fort Benning, Ga. with the
2nd Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment, instructs Staff Sgt. James Gibbs, from Company A, 2nd Battalion,
8th Infantry Regiment, as he goes through the qualifing course Feb. 26. The training is a five day course
taught to leaders who can then teach their Soldiers the new skills they have acquired. It is taught entire-
ly on the range, which is also where the graduation takes place. Students are given instruction on how
to shoot from the prone, kneeling, sitting and standing positions. “We teach them to trust themselves
and shoot in a way that feels natural to them,” Ramirez said.
204th recovery team acts quickly
Story and photo by 1st Lt. Kimberly Culman
204th Brigade Support Battalion
(Photo by 1st Lt. Kimberly Culman )
Staff Sgt. Samuel Farmer and Spc. Kimberly Velazquez
hook up their M984 Wreaker while recovering a vehicle
March 4.
Soldiers of Company B, 204th Brigade
Support Battalion were participating in
individual training March 4 when they were
interrupted with an order to recover an
inoperable vehicle out at Fort Carson’s Range
65.
Having prepped and dispatched their M984
Wreaker earlier that week, a recovery team
consisting of Staff Sgt. Samuel Farmer and Spc.
Kimberly Velazquez were prepared to break
from training in the event of a rare real-world
mission such as this.
Warhorse Pride
(Photo by Spc. April York )
Farmer and Velazquez were notified at 10:15
a.m. that a Palletized Load System weighing
over five tons had become inoperable on a
range and in need of immediate recovery, and
they were able to put their individual training
on hold to recover the vehicle in less than an
hour, spending only ten minutes on site.
The quick reaction and technical skills they
demonstrated in their unplanned mission
demonstrated the ability of the 204th BSB
recovery teams to fulfill mission requirements
at a moment’s notice – an ability essential for
maintaining combat effectiveness.
Culinary Arts Competition
(Photo by Amy Perry, Fort Lee PAO )
Three Warhorse Soldiers have placed in the U.S.
Army Culinary Arts Competition at Fort Lee, Va.
Pvt. Daniela Cassina, 2nd STB, won the overall
Junior Chef of the Year. Pfc. Jacob Mankowski from
1st. Sqdn. 10th Cav. Reg. won a silver medal in the
nutritional/ hot food challenge and Spc. Joshua
Hoyt, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg., won a silver medal for
contemporary cooking.
Issue 3 March 11, 2010
continued from page 1
ensure that we protect the Lonestar
Family. As Soldiers we will do this by
checking on our peers over weekends
and holidays, and as leaders we will do
this by maintaining a safe environment
through genuine concern for each other’s
well-being.
I am proud of everything this battalion
continues to accomplish, and I know
with certainty that we will continue to
carry the proud tradition of the Lonestar
Battalion forward. FIRST IN!
Join your FRG
Why should you join your FRG?
To develop friendships with others who
understand your situation while at that same
time staying up-to-date with what’s happening
in your unit and community.
What can you do for your FRG?
You can volunteer for positions of
leadership, help with planning activities,
fundraise, write stories for this newsletter, or
simply stay informed and make some friends.
If you or someone you know would like to
join your Family Readiness Group, or would
simply like to learn more, please contact your
battalion FRSA or visit www.myarmyonesource.com.
Free self defense
classes for women
In recognition of April being sexual assault
awareness month, 2nd BCT will be sponsoring
women’s self defense classes in Waller Gym on
Wednesdays next month, from 7:30 p.m. to 9
p.m. Register at the gym, limited to 100 people.
Classes will focus on situational awareness
and tactics for escaping a predator, and are
open to all female Soldiers, Civilians, and
Family members over sixteen years of age.
The point of contact for this event is
Sgt. 1st Class Natasha Massicott: 719-503-2015.
page 3 Warhorse Pride Issue 3 March 11, 2010

Soldiers transition to civilian life

minimum of a Masters Degrees and are in
constant communication with many national
and international businesses to help Soldiers
Story By Capt. Andrew Rossow maximizing their time by attending a wide find meaningful employment in their life after
1st Squadron, 10th Calvary Division variety of Army Career Alumni Program the Army.
Soldiers of Troop E, 1st Squadron, 10th classes in preparation for their transition back Staff Sgt. Kenneth Gottsman, one of Eagle
Cavalry Regiment, one of 2nd Brigade Combat to civilian life. Troop’s platoon sergeants, states that the
Team’s newest transition companies, have The classes, ranging from basic resume resume course was integral in his preparation
taken their transition mission to heart over the writing to interviewing techniques, help the to find employment after leaving the Army.
last few weeks by focusing on their return to Soldiers of Fort Carson develop the knowledge As Gottsman said, “The Transition
civilian life. and skills necessary to successfully re-enter the Company is a great program that really allows
The Troopers, formerly of 4th Squadron, civilian sector. wounded warriors the ability to prepare
10th Cav. Reg., 3rd Brigade Combat Team, are All of the ACAP instructors hold a themselves for the future.”

Chaplain’s Corner: living together

There was once a man and a woman who from selling all the doilies I made through the
were married for over sixty years. They shared years.”
everything and kept no secrets from one This is a tale I came across in a book
another – except a shoe box the old woman about relationships, and it tells a humorous
kept in the top of her closet and cautioned the story about how to deal with tensions in a
husband never to open or ask about. relationship. I’m sure that if my spouse were
For many years the husband never thought following rules like these she would have even
about the box, but one day the little old woman more money than that in a shoe box.
fell very ill and the doctor said she would not What is your relationship like? Is there true
recover. In trying to sort out their affairs, the harmony or peace? Or is there only harmony
little old man took down the shoe box and because one of you is covering the issues?
brought it to his wife’s bedside. She agreed it Maybe there isn’t harmony and peace at all.
was time he should know what she had been Perhaps you are in a cycle of conflict, living
keeping in the box. When he opened it he from one explosion of anger to the other.
found two crouched doilies and a stack of You know, life does not have to be like that.
money totaling over $25,000. There are times that issues in a relationship
Puzzled, the little old man asked his wife need to be passionately discussed, even argued
about the box’s contents. if done fairly, but repeated conflict, anger, and
“When we were married,” she said, “my a lifestyle of arguing over turf has never been a
grandmother told me the secret of a happy prescription for a happy relationship. Domestic
marriage was never to argue. She told me that civil wars such as these are the fallout of self-
if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep centered concepts and hearts that are focused
quiet and crochet a doily.” on receiving instead of giving.
The old man was so moved that he had to If just one of you will commit to change,
fight back tears. In over sixty years of loving your relationship can be improved. But if both
marriage she had only filled the box with two of you will commit to change, your relationship
doilies. He almost burst with happiness. can be revolutionized.
“Honey,” he said, “that explains the doilies,
but what about all the money? Where did that Blessings
come from?” CH (MAJ) Ricky Way
“Oh,” she replied, “that is the money I made 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Chaplain

Warhorse
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team
interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Public Affairs Office.
Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles,
Pride Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded newsletter commentary, and photos from readers. The
authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit
Col. John Kolasheski.......................2nd BCT Commander Contents of The Warhorse Pride are submissions selected for the publication.
Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Barteau.....2nd BCT CSM not necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be
Lt. Col. Richard Stebbins................................2nd BCT PAO the, U.S. government, Department of Defense, viewed online from your home computer at
2nd Lt. Philip Axt............................................................Editor
Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry www.facebook.com/2bct4id
Staff Writers Division. All editorial content of The War- Submissions should be emailed to the
Sgt. Seth Barham and Spc. April York horse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and editor: philip.axt@us.army.mil