Holiday season begins witH tree ligHting, santa visit p7Ho Ho Ho!

New IMCOM dIreCtOr-traININg vIsIts pOst p3

grueling exercise challenges command teams p12-13

Crossing theRubicon

Today Victory Spouses Club11 a.m., NCO Club. Victory Spouses’ Club is open to spouses of all ranks, retirees, DOD civilians, all services, male and female. For more information, e-mail vcsmemberships@gmail.co or visit www.victoryspousesclub.org.

dec. 28Teen Employment 101 Workshop10 a.m. - noon Strom Thurmond Bldg. Rm 222. This workshop is open to teenagers of military Service members and Department of Defense Civilian employees between the ages 14-19.

JaN. 10Job Searching Strategies for Military Spouses8:30-12:00, Strom Thurmond Bldg., Room 222. Military Spouse Job Searching Skills, Resume Writing and Interviewing. Targeted to military spouses, but open to all military and DOD ID Card holders. To register please call 803-751-9460/5452 or sherry.r.major.civ@mail.mil.

JaN. 13 Scholarship Seminarfor Family Members9:00-10:30 a.m., Strom Thurmond Bldg. Room 222. This seminar will

help educate military spouses and the parents of military teens on the various military and civilian scholarships and financial assistance that is available. To register please call 803-751-9460/5452 or email Barbara.l.martin10.civ@mail.mil

JaN. 20MLK Day Luncheon11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. NCO Club.“Facing the Challenge of Change.”Tickets are $10.50 and includes buffet style lunch, a guest speaker and live entertainment. For further information please contact Sgt. 1st Class Rachelle Walker at 751-4117 or the Equal Opportunity Staff Office at 751-2990.

JaN. 27Steps to Federal Employment for Military Spouses9 a.m. - noon, Strom Thurmond Bldg., Room 222. Information on civil service and NAF employment. Targeted to military spouses, but open to all military and DOD ID card holders. To register please call 803-751-9460/5452 or email Barbara.l.martin10.civ@mail.mil

Feb. 22Career Fair Prep Workshop9 a.m. - noon, Strom Thurmond Bldg. Room 222. This workshop will help you learn to do create a resume to showcase your employment

skills & how to make the career fair work for you by developing a strategy plan. To register please call 803-751-9460/5452 or email Barbara.l.martin10.civ@mail.mil.

March 14Military Community Career Fair 9 a.m. - Noon, NCO Club. Open to all military service members, retirees, veterans, military spouses, surviving spouses and Department of Defense civilian employees.Sponsored by ACS Employment Readiness Program and Soldier for Life-Transition Assistance Office. Pre-registration is not required. Bring plenty of resumes and dress for success. View participating employers at https://jackson.armymwr.com/us/jackson/programs/employment-readiness-program.

Fort Jackson, South Carolina 29207This civilian enterprise newspaper, which has a circulation

of 15,000, is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the Fort Jackson Leader are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by the U.S. Government, the Department of Defense, Department of the Army or Fort Jackson.

The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts and supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the Department of the Army or Camden Media Co. of the firms, products or services advertised.

All editorial content of the Fort Jackson Leader is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the Public Affairs Office of Fort Jackson.

The Fort Jackson Leader is published by Camden Media Co., a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army, under exclusive written contract with Fort Jackson.

The civilian printer is responsible for commercial advertising.

For display advertising rates and information call 803- 432-6157 or write Camden Media Company, P.O. Box 1137, Camden, S.C. 29020. For classified advertising information only: call 800-698-3514 or e-mail pmathes@chronicle-independent.com or fax 803-432-7609.

For questions or concerns about subscriptions, call 803-432-6157. To submit articles, story ideas or announcements, write the Fort Jackson Leader, Fort Jackson, S.C. 29207, call 803-751-7045 or e-mail fjleader@gmail.com.

Commanding General ................. Maj. Gen. John P. JohnsonGarrison Commander .................... Col. James W. Ellerson Jr.Public Affairs Officer ................................... Michael B. PondGarrison Public Affairs Officer ......................... Patrick JonesCommand Information Officer ..............Christopher FletcherEditor ......................................................... Wallace McBrideStaff Writer ...................................................Robert TimmonsStaff Writer ..................................................Demetria Mosley

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community calendarSeNd all

SubMiSSioNS To

FJLeader@gmail.com

Deadline for events to be in-cluded in the calendar or Happen-ings is one week before publication. Include the time, date and place the event will occur, as well as other necessary information.

If you submit an article on an event that already has taken place, please send it as soon as possible. Tuesday is the last day we will we be able to accept an article for publication the following Thursday. Include the date and place of the event, as well as a description of what took place. Please include quotations, if possible. With any photo you submit, include IDs — rank, unit, and first and last names.

Questions? Call 751-7045.

On the cOverCapt. Eric Cane, Echo Company, 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, assembles his M4 car-bine during the rifle marksmanship phase of the 193rd Infantry Brigade’s Rubicon Command Team Challenge Dec. 8. SEE PAGES 12-13.

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

BetteropportunitiesCommand Sgt. Maj. John P. Drawbond, Fort Jackson’s Garrison senior enlisted leader, introduces leaders from Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers to those who attended the Single Soldier Town Hall Dec. 8 at the Post Theater.

‘The pointy edge of the spear’

By ROBERT TIMMONSFort Jackson Leader

Vincent Grewatz, Installation Manage-ment Command’s Director-Training visited with Fort Jackson’s senior civilian leadership Dec. 8 and 9 as he made his first visit to the installation.

Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Geddings, senior enlisted leader of IMCOM-Training, who visited the post with Grewatz said it was good to be on Jackson where “the heavy lift-ing” happens.

“You guys are the pointy edge of the spear. You are the ones that make it happen,” he said to a gathering of Garrison directorate leaders. “We are here to help you do what you all do.”

Grewatz and Geddings were making their first trip to Jackson after IMCOM realigned its command structure away from regions to concentrate on different focus areas such as readiness, sustainment and training.

Col. James Ellerson, Garrison commander, Scott Nahrwold, deputy Garrison command-er, and Command Sgt. Maj. John P. Drawbond escorted them around vari-ous parts of Fort Jackson including the 120th Adjutant General Battalion and to a briefing on the status of the Di-rectorate of Public Work’s main efforts.

According to the new IMCOM director, he expects leaders to take initiative and re-solve issues.

“The reason we have the best Army in the world is because we operate with mission command,” Grewatz said to the directors. “Once you understand your commander’s in-tent and his boss’ intent you are then free to execute towards that objective … As long as you know what your boundaries are, you are free to operate in that space. That is how I’d like to operate.”

“Operate by intent, not by permission,” he added. “Don’t wait for someone to solve the problem for you. Take the initiative and follow up on it. Make sure you understand your boundaries so you won’t get someone in trouble because he’s the one who’s going to take the bullet if you guys get it wrong.”

“Based on my experiences directors are the key to the success of IMCOM,” he said. “Let me say that again, directors are the key to the success of IMCOM. You are going to be building your best and raising up the next generation.”

News

New IMCOM director visits Fort Jackson

Don’t wait for someone to solve

the problemfor you.

— Vincent Grewatz,IMCOM, director-training

“

”

Lt. Col. Yvette Brown, 120th Adjutant General Battalion commander, and Col. James Ellerson, Garrison commander, show Vincent Grewatz, the Installation Management Command’s Director-Training the Re-ception battalion’s footprint during his visit to Fort Jackson Dec. 8. The trip was Grewatz’s first to the installation since IMCOM realigned its command structure away from regions to concentrate on different focus areas such as readiness, sustainment and training.

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

By Sgt. Stephanie hargett, 108th Training Command-Initial Entry Training

There is an age-old phrase coined by drill sergeants; on the trail. Referring to the time a drill sergeant serves pushing troops, its origins spur from the frontier days of the Old West when cowboys journeyed from California to Colorado driv-ing cattle.

For a drill sergeant in one of the Army’s four basic combat training centers, the pro-cess of transforming civilians into Soldiers is a journey in itself. That journey begins at the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy.

On Dec. 7, 92 non-commissioned of-ficers from the Army and Army Reserve marched down the aisle proudly donning the most well-known symbol of a drill ser-geant; the coveted drill sergeant hat.

Of those 92 NCOs, 19 made the Com-mandants list. Only the top 20 percent of the class is selected for this great achievement.

This is not something that comes easily but is instead something earned.

To be selected for this distinct honor, a Soldier has to live, breathe, and be the Army standard. After all, only 10 percent of the NCOs in the Army even qualify to be a drill sergeant.

One Soldier from the Army Reserve, Sgt. Raul M. Morales, 98th Training Command, earned this dis-tinct honor.

“It was a challenge for me,” said Morales. “Ever since I joined the Army I always wanted to be a drill sergeant. It was a personal goal for me and apparently I made the comman-dants list. It was a big surprise, it’s not easy to make.”

Morales said the hardest part was the Method of Instruc-tion section and that there were a lot of long nights that kept

him awake.Even though it was a trying time, he said walking across

that stage made it all worth it.“It was an exciting and tough experience, I loved it.”Morales also had some wise words to pass along to any

Soldiers thinking about becoming a drill sergeant.“Be the most prepared that you can be. Be motivated. Have

a goal, drive and never give up!”Guest speaker, Command Sgt. Maj. Rob-

ert T. Priest, Command Sergeant Major of the 98th Training Division and the 1999 Army Reserve Drill Sergeant of the Year, also gave some great advice during the graduation.

“It really comes down to the standard,” said Priest.

“Soldiers in Basic Combat Training don’t know the standard until the drill sergeant tells them that standard. Stick with the fun-damentals, train your Soldiers to be adap-tive, train them to be disciplined,” he said.

“Soldiers want hard training, they want to be challenged and they want to be mo-tivated. Trust me, if you do the right things and set the right example they are going to follow you.”

Brig. Gen. Darrell Guthrie, 104th Train-ing Division commanding general, attended his first USADSA graduation since gaining

drill sergeant positions in his formations due to Reformation. He says his unit, which primarily focuses on training to-

morrow’s leaders through its work with the ROTC program and at the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York, just needs to work on the fundamentals.

Soldiers want hard training, they want to be challenged

and they want to be motivated.

— Command Sgt. Maj. robert t. priest

98th Training Division

“

”

Drill sergeants hit the trail

News

See TRAIL: Page 15

Fort JacksonMovie Schedule3319 Jackson Blvd. Phone: 751-7488

FRIdayArrival (PG-13) 7 p.m.

SatuRdayTrolls (PG) 1 p.m. Loving (PG-13) 5 p.m.

SundayTrolls (PG) 1 p.m. Arrival (PG-13) 5 p.m.

dec. 23Fantastic Beasts And Where to Find Them (PG-13) 7 p.m.

dec. 24-29NO SHOWINGS

tIcketSAdult: $6 Child (6 to 11): $4

3-D TiCkeTsAdult: $8 Child (6 to 11): $6 l Ticket sales open 30 minutes before each movie.

l Movie times and schedule are subject to change without notice.

www.shopmyexChAnge.Com

Fort JacksonHoliday Gate HoursAll Access Control Points/Gates will resume

normal operations on Jan. 2, 2017.

Gate 1n Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 19-23 and Dec. 27-29. Closed Dec. 26 and Dec. 30. Closed weekends.

Gate 2n Open around the clock daily.

Gate 4n Open 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 19-22. Closed Dec. 23-Jan. 1. Closed weekends.

Gate 5n Open 5-10 a.m. Monday through Friday for inbound and out-bound traffic.n Closed 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.n Reopened 4-6 p.m. for out-bound traffic only. n Open 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Army Reserve Drill Sergeant, Sgt. Raul M. Morales, 98th Training Division (Initial Entry Training), 108th Train-ing Command (IET), places the coveted drill sergeant hat on his head for the first time Dec. 7.

Photo by Sgt. StePhanie hargett

A Forty RoundsChristmas Party

By John FranCisHeadquarters, 2nd Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

The 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, held its annual Christmas party Dec. 11. The party, entirely planned, resourced and executed by vol-unteers from the Battalion Family Readiness Group, was a smashing suc-cess. Volunteers painstakingly decorated the Battalion classroom while every cadre member and their Family received invitations to attend the Battalion’s last social event of 2016. More than 70 permanent party cadre and Family members eagerly accepted the invitation to dine on some of the best fried chicken and homemade cookies in South Carolina. The at-tendees eagerly lined up at the serving line for second helpings like it was a depression era soup kitchen.

The event led off with a screening of a movie on the two big screens in the front of the classroom. The event also included craft activities for the kids who were joined by more than a few adults making adorable Christ-mas ornaments and other festive decorations.

Santa Claus stopped by the event, having decided to travel all the way from the North Pole to take pictures with the excited guests. Unlike nor-mal Santa’s that kids see in malls, this Santa was in compliance with Army Regulation 600-9 and could out run his reindeer on a two-mile track. More than a few pint sized guests offered Santa some cookies and told him he needed to eat a sandwich. Skinny Santa’s are good if they count against your quarterly training stats. But they lack some jolliness that can only be corrected with a Department of the Army waiver for compliance with the Army Weight Control Program and some doughnuts.

To conclude the evening, an ugly sweater contest was judged by the bat-talion commander Lt. Col. Christopher Altavilla and Command Sgt. Maj. Norman Fisher Jr. The Flores Family easily defeated all challengers with homemade holiday sweaters, that the battalion executive officer Maj. John Magliocca quipped, could “be seen from the international space station.” Their sweaters were fashioned from second hand garments found at a thrift shop, with accents from local craft stores. With just the right amount of imagination, penny resources, and unfettered talent, the ultra-competitive Flores Family created the perfect colossus’ ugly sweaters. The Flores Fam-ily entry stole the show and crushed the competition with the ugly sweater version of a train wreck so awful you just had to look.

A special thanks to all the volunteers that made this incredible event happen. Your special effort and support bought holiday joy to the hearts of dozens of service members and their families.

“Forty Rounds!”

NEWS

Courtesy photosSanta Claus, aka. Staff Sgt. Mitchell Moses with Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, waits for children during the battalion’s Christmas Party Dec. 11.

Far left: Volunteers for the 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment’s Christmas Party are all smiles after the event ended in success Dec. 11.

Left: Staff Sgt. Ashely Flores, Headquarters, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment and her husband Phillip, show off the ugly sweaters that took first place in the ugly sweater competition.

Santa Claus waves to a crowd of children moments after arriving via fire truck to Fort Jackson’s Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting celebrationDec. 9 near the Solomon Center on post.

Photos by ROBERT TIMMONS

Holidays begin with tree lighting, Santa visitBy ROBERT TIMMONSFort Jackson Leader

When the post fired up its Christmas tree and Me-norah it signaled the Holiday season had officially ar-rived on Fort Jackson, but when Santa arrived via fire truck the real party got started Dec. 9.

Maj. Gen. John “Pete” Johnson was joined by Fort Jackson’s Family of the Year, the Wangsness Family, to flip the switch to light up the post’s holiday display.

“Families are the key to the Army. It is the founda-tion of everything we do,” Johnson said in his intro-duction speech. “It is the strength of the Families that does build and create … the strength of our nation.”

Chaplain (Col.) Mark Penfold, the senior chaplain on Fort Jackson said, “This is our opportunity to start, really, the holidays. We have our tree lighting ceremo-ny and it’s a great opportunity for those of us who can come out to start the holiday season.”

This was the first time the tree lighting ceremony took place on the corner of Marion Street and Strom Thurmond Boulevard because the old site was recent-ly demolished.

“As everybody knows as we are getting ready for

our 100th anniversary. We used to have a tree in front of the old post headquarters,” Penfold said. “So we moved it to here so it will be more visible to every-body now who comes on to Fort Jackson.”

“This is great for everyone to come out,” Penfold said. “The weather is kind of great, kind of chilly, kind of reminds others what Christmas is like in other parts of the world.

“For those of us in the military it is also a chance for us to remember those who are deployed,” he add-ed. “We get to chance to celebrate our holidays in free-dom and safety, while they are out on the front lines protecting us.”

The chaplain said it was good to be here together as a community and lauded the efforts of Columbia to make Service members feel included.

“We are so thankful we are a part of the Midlands,” he added.

While the 282nd Army Band serenaded visitors with holiday tunes, it was the arrival of St. Nick on the back of a Fort Jackson fire truck that stole the show. Children raced to meet him and lined up to get a chance to sit Kris Kringle’s lap and tell him their holiday wishes.

NEWS

Staff Sgt. Scott Wangsness hands out gifts to chil-dren during Fort Jackson’s 2016 Christmas Tree and Menorah Lighting celebration Dec. 9 near the Solo-mon Center on post.

NEWS

By ROBERT TIMMONSFort Jackson Leader

Fort Jackson police officers and their partners in various law enforcement agen-cies across the Midlands gathered in Lex-ington, South Carolina Tuesday to remind drivers that, “if you drive under the influ-ence you will be pulled over” as they an-nounced the start of the holiday season So-ber or Slammer campaign.

Fort Jackson law enforcement personnel are joining with the community to reduce DUIs, said Joseph Al-Shaer with the Fort Jackson Police Department.

“We are participating in media events and (sending out) public information about drunk driving to save lives, as well as (con-ducting) enhanced enforcement on the in-stallation,” said Al-Shaer. “It’s really kind of two fold.”

He added that on selected nights there will be additional patrols on Fort Jackson whose “sole task is to look for individuals driving under the influence.”

Soldiers and Family members should look out for each other to ensure no one drives intoxicated.

“Have a plan in place, be prepared and have a buddy drive you” and have friends look out for you, said Sgt. Kevin Wells with the 17th Military Police Detachment.

The Sober or Slammer media campaign aims at educating the public on the costs of drunk driving.

“Our location today at the old Lexington County Courthouse is intentional because we want motorists to understand the conse-quences of (driving under the influence),” said Col. Mike Oliver with the South Caro-lina Highway Patrol.”

The first Sober or Slammer television campaign spot focusing on getting stopped for DUI was released this past Labor Day, and the new spot focuses on the “cost of DUI,” Oliver said.

“The purpose of these spots is on the steep personal, professional and legal con-sequences of DUI,” he added.

The spots have humorous content made to “draw people in to a very serious subject,” Oliver said as law enforcement personnel from around the Midlands, including Fort Jackson, stood behind him to show a united front against drunk driving.

“There is nothing funny, nothing funny, about DUI,” he emphasized.

Those who drink and drive are probably more concerned about “getting caught” than other consequences.

“Everyone knows the greatest risk of drinking and driving is taking someone else’s life, losing your own life, or leaving someone with catastrophic injuries,” Oliver

emphasized.The National Transportation Safety Ad-

ministration reported there were 301 alcohol impaired driving fatalities in South Carolina in 2015, down from 335 in 2014. There were also at least 29,300 DUI related collisions in South Carolina between 2011 and 2015.

The chief of the City of Lexington Police Department said combatting drunk driving

takes a community effort.“We have to work as a community to

fight DUI with every resource we have,” said Chief Terrance Green.

Wells said he looks forward to partner-ing with other law enforcement agencies because “it feels phenomenal, it allows us to work with other agencies outside of Fort Jackson and it’s a great experience.”

Capt. Rich Grubbs, with the S.C. Highway Patrol, stands in front of a group of state, local and military law enforcement officers to begin a press con-ference Dec. 13 at the Old Lexington County Courthouse in Lexington, S.C. about the holiday season Sober or Slammer media campaign.

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

Midlands officers: drive sober or get slammed

Harris assumes responsibility of the 165th

Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris salutes for the first time after assuming responsibility for the 165th Infantry Brigade from Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Barnes Dec. 9.

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

By ROBERT TIMMONSFort Jackson Leader

Fort Jackson Soldiers, civilians and Family members gathered at the Officers Club on post to “bid farewell to an inspirational leader” and welcome another when Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Barnes passed responsibil-ity of the 165th Infantry Brigade to Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Harris Dec. 9.

Col. Thomas Sheehan said during the change of re-sponsibility ceremony that he “probably benefitted the most” from Barnes’ passion.

He said Barnes was always looking to help “hungry and creative” leaders to flourish during his time with the brigade, while acknowledging the unit will be in Harris’ capable hands.

Harris is a “warrior in his own right” with more than 20 years of infantry experience, Sheehan said.

Harris held leadership positions in the 1st Infantry Division, 3rd Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard), and 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment from Schofield Barracks in Hawaii. He has deployed to Kosovo, Op-erations Enduring Freedom in Cuba and Afghanistan, as well as Operation Iraqi Freedom.

“It is good that the 165th is getting such a wonder-ful” leader, Barnes said to Harris. “I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.”

Harris said he was thankful that he was “entrusted with the responsibility” of the 165th and that, “you can rest assured that I will uphold the traditions of the bri-gade and Fort Jackson.”

Before he would say good-bye to the 165th, Barnes cited Sheehan’s friendship for making the unit work well.

“Thank you for your leadership and your friendship,” he said. “Sir, you have been good for my spirits … Our Soldiers would follow you anywhere because we know that you care about us.”

News

Power outages set for Victory Block LeaveDirectorate of Public Works

The Directorate of Public Works will conduct two sched-uled electrical power outages during Victory Block Leave to maintain and repair both of Fort Jackson’s main electrical substa-tions.

This required work will in-crease the reliability of the post electrical systems and greatly reduce possibility of unexpected and unplanned outages in the future. Facilities equipped with generators will continue operat-ing. Heating will be suspended at the affected areas on each out-age and will take some time to restore after the outage is over. The outages will proceed as fol-lows:

The first outage will occur from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday

and affect the following areas:n All BCT-2 and BCT-3 com-

plexesn Lee Road north of Bldg.

10100n Tank Hilln Hilton Field and nearby soft-

ball fieldsn All ranges and training ar-

eas north and east of the Canton-mentn Hampton Parkway, except

BCT-1 complexn 165th Infantry Brigade Re-

locatablesn Pickens Avenue (west side,

behind Bldg. 5500)n Marion Avenue, north of

Benning Roadn Kemper Street and Ker-

shaw Road (except CEP-4)n Jackson Boulevard, north

of Strom Thurmond Boulevardn Forest Drive and Dixie

Road, except Starships 11000

and 12000n Gordon Avenue, Huger Av-

enue and Iverson Road, includ-ing Dual DFAC in the area

The second outage will occur from 8 a.m. to noon Dec. 27, af-fecting the following areas:n All family residential ar-

eas, CDCs schools and sports ar-eas (except Hilton Field softball parks)n All barracks and “Starships”

which are not part of the BCT-2 and BCT-3 complexesn BCT-1 complexn DFACs for barracks listed

above, except Dual DFAC for Starships 11000 and 12000n The Exchange and all AAF-

ES stores and gas stationsn Commissary and Mini PX

near Lee Roadn Medical or dental facili-

ties not equipped with generators

(Moncrief Army Health Clinic has a generator)n Semmes Roadn Ivy Roadn Golf Club, Officer’s Club

and surrounding buildings/facili-tiesn 120 th AG Reception Bat-

talionn Lee Road, from Ewell Road

to Bldg. 10100n Essayons Wayn Scales Avenuen Warehouse Rown Marion Avenue, from Gate 1

to Benning Roadn Stuart Avenuen Pickens Avenue (east side,

behind DSS barracks) and CEP-4n Johnson Street and Manin-

gault Streetn Jackson Boulevard, from

Gate 1 to Strom Thurmond Bou-levardn Magruder Avenue and

Moseby Streetn Longstreet Road, Sumter

Avenue and Wheeler Streetn Ewell Roadn Washington Road and An-

derson Streetn Supply Roadn Engineer Roadn Single Soldier Complexn AIT-1 and AIT-2 complexesn Bldg. 2450n Post Headquartersn Bragg Street and Beaure-

gard Streetn Cleburne and Cheatham

Street (including Post Theater)n Daniel Circle, Dearing Cir-

cle and Davis Loopn Early Streetn Forney Streetn Gregg Streetn Hill Streetn Strom Thurmond Boule-

vardn Solomon Center

News

‘I became a soldier ...’Spc. Daniel J. pavlak, 24Saugerties, New York

pfc. Michael p. charzeMpaChicago

“I joined the Army to pay for college and to better myself.”

I like the “discipline and personal growth” the most.

I am a “68W – Healthcare professional to coincide with my civilian job (Physical Therapist).”

‘My Family didn’t care for my enlistment, but supported me” anyway.

“I look forward to helping my state and coun-try.”

pvt. Jacob a. perez, 18Lindenhurst, Illinois

“I joined the Army mainly for the experience the Army can provide and also to become better than who I was before I joined.”

I liked “weapons training, firing the M16 along with throwing grenades. They are both exciting and thrilling.”

“I am a 91B – Wheeled Vehicle Mechanic. It was one of the few jobs available, but will be ex-tremely useful if I was to leave the Army.”

“My Family was nervous at first, but they are extremely supportive.”

Spc. ann M. Dailey, 32Moline, Illinois

“I’ve long considered serving in the military. After having the opportunity to work with officers and NCOs while working at the Defense Department, I grew to admire and respect our men and women in uniform and decided to join their ranks. I chose the Army over other services because I like the emphasis on developing Soldiers.”

“Beyond the amazing experiences and new skills, Basic Combat Training has been an oppor-tunity for me to develop discipline, patience and leadership.”

Spc. eManuel WilSon-king, 24New York

“I joined to work as a medi-cal officer in the Army and to become the best.”

“I am happy to test my limits and become a good Soldier.”

“I am a 09S – Officer Candi-date. I picked the officer candidate MOS to become a leader and do the job well and efficiently.”

“My Family is skeptical given the current (politi-cal landscape), but I know they will be proud.”

“I am happy to have had experienced drill ser-geants who lead by example.”

pvt. JuStin harrelSon, 21St. Pauls, North Carolina

“I joined the Army for honor and to fight for the American people who don’t have the chance to fight for themselves.”

“The different experiences, meeting new people from different walks of life and the discipline the Army instills in its Soldiers” will remain with me for a long time.

“I am a 94F – Computer/Detection Systems Re-pairer. I picked the MOS to learn about computers.”

“My Family stands behind me 100 percent and is all for me joining the Army.”

“Honestly, since I learned I couldn’t grow up to be a dinosaur I wanted to serve. I’ve always loved my country and grew up in a very patriotic Fam-ily. It has seriously always been a top priority for all of us.”

“Seeing my fellow Soldiers grow and mature from red all the way to blue phase” was the best part of basic training for me.

“I am a 15R – Apache Helicopter Repairer. I’m hoping to get to know it extensively before getting to fly it.”

1st BattalIon, 13th Infantry regIment

NEWS

Photo by CaPt. JessiCa Donnelly

Happy birthdayThe South Carolina Na-tional Guard celebrated the National Guard’s 380th birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony Tuesday at the Adjutant General’s building in Columbia, South Carolina. Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livings-ton Jr., the Adjutant General of South Carolina, presided over the ceremony. The youngest available Soldier, Spc. Shareka Peterson, 23, and oldest available Soldier, Sgt. 1st Class Mitchell Dean, 58, joined Livingston and Bill Dukes, South Carolina’s civil-ian aide to the Secretary of the Army, to cut the cake.

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NEWS

‘We don’t know what’s coming’By Sgt. 1St ClaSS Brian Hamilton108th Training Command

Just as Julius Caesar passed the point of no return during his fateful crossing of the Rubicon River in 49 B.C., so too did the leadership of the 193rd Infantry Brigade located on Fort Jackson, South Carolina, when they crossed Weston Lake.

Twenty-six command teams consisting of company commanders, first sergeants, and chaplains throughout the 193rd challenged themselves physically and mentally Dec. 8-9 during the 2016 Rubicon Command Team Exercise.

The purpose of the exercise according to the event’s organizer, Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, 193rd Infantry Brigade operations sergeant major, was to “exercise the leadership and combat skills of the company command teams throughout the brigade while at the same time building esprit de corps among the different groups.”

For two days and one night the teams trekked nearly 30 miles during unusually harsh weather conditions to complete nine events. Each event was kept secret from the participants until it was time to complete it. They included a buddy team physical training event, a foot march, the confi-dence course, and even a river crossing.

Other than bragging rights and the opportunity to build upon the cama-raderie within the different command teams, there was no prize for finish-ing first. But that didn’t stop the participants in the challenge from giving it their all for each and every event.

Capt. Brian Kriesel and 1st Sgt. Eric Basile, Commander and First Sergeant, respectively, of the 120th Adjutant General Battalion’s Fitness Training Company, came in first place in the physical readiness training event with a time of 30 minutes and 51 seconds.

While they say they share a confidence in each other’s abilities to stay at the top, they both expressed some reservation about finishing first in the remaining events.

“I feel physically pretty good now but we don’t know what’s coming,” Kriesel said.

Basile added, “The most important thing is I am confident with my part-ner and I think we make a good team. No matter what we’re going to have fun.”

While the brigade has hosted a Rubicon before, Kelly said previous challenges have not been to this scale.

“This is the first one of this kind in the brigade that we know of,” he said. “While we’ve done shorter Rubicon’s before with runs and such, this is the first multiple day event that we’ve done.”

By the time the second day of events rolled around, the mental and physical effects of endless activity combined with the bitter cold were no-ticeable for just about everyone involved.

“We started out at zero five (5 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) yesterday morning and we’ve been going on for about 30 hours now,” said 1st Sgt. Michael Fletcher of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment.

“My feet are a bit beat up now. In fact they feel like somebody hit them with a hammer,” he said. “I feel myself starting to get mentally drained and I have been saying stuff that I normally wouldn’t.”

In the end though, for all those making the decision to cross the Rubi-con, the event and the camaraderie that came with it were worthwhile.

“I think overall it’s been a positive experience,” said Fletcher. “I hope we get some teams from the other brigades on post but I hope to do it again next year.”

Rubicon challenges command teams at Fort Jackson

Photo by ROBERT TIMMONS

Capt. Pamela Cameron with the 193rd Infantry Brigade, takes aim during weapons testing as part of the unit’s Rubicon team building exercise Dec. 8 on Fort Jackson.

Above left, a Soldier participating in the Rubicon Command Team Challenge with the 193rd Infantry Brigade tries to crawl back in his canoe after capsizing during the boat crossing event. Above right, Col. Mike Katona, 193rd Infantry Brigade commander, shakes the hands of drill sergeants and brigade cadre who are welcoming them to the final stop in the unit’s Rubicon Command Team Challenge.

Above left, First Sergeant Robert Berry with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment, takes a break after completing the confidence course. Above right, First Sergeant Aaron Bullard with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment, attempts to complete the belly crawl obstacle.

Above left, Capt. Mitchell Bliley, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 60th Infantry Regiment command-er, takes aim with his M4 carbine during marksmanship testing. Above right, Capt. Glenn Barrazo, with Headquarters, Headquarters Company, 193rd Infantry Brigade, attempts to grab the rope in an effort to complete the Berlin Wall obstacle on the confidence course.

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NEWS

Photo by DEMETRIA MOSLEY

Winterwonderland‘He knows when you are sleeping’ sing second-grade students during the Winter Music Program at C.C. Pinckney Elementary School. Music teacher Alan Danahy led the group as they performed songs about the different winter holidays around the world.

HONORS

Staff Sgt.Allen BlakeAlpha Company1st Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

HONOR GRADUATEOF THE CYCLESpc. Courtney M. Bliler

SOLDIER LEADEROF THE CYCLESpc. Ann M. Dailey

HIGH BRMPvt. Morgan W. Tankersly

HIGH APFTPvt. Vidaenid A. Vetterkind

Staff Sgt.Johnny KawakamiBravo Company1st Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

HONOR GRADUATEOF THE CYCLEPvt. Minhyeong Joe

SOLDIER LEADEROF THE CYCLEPvt. Katherine Dickenson

HIGH BRMPvt. Benjamin Bustamante

HIGH APFTPvt. Shaylin M. Laure

Staff Sgt.Joshua PolingCharlie Company1st Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

HONOR GRADUATEOF THE CYCLESpc. Gabrielle Webb

SOLDIER LEADEROF THE CYCLESpc. Arianna Johnson

HIGH BRMPfc. Roger Richards

HIGH APFTPvt. Eh Ler Htoo

Staff Sgt.Rolando PradoDelta Company1st Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

HONOR GRADUATEOF THE CYCLEPvt. Daniel Doyle

SOLDIER LEADEROF THE CYCLESpc. Ashley Figueroa

HIGH BRM (Tie)Pvt. Tyshawn LearySpc. Evan Markel

HIGH APFTSpc. Griselle Zavala Rivera

Staff Sgt. Sean SweeneyEcho Company1st Battalion,13th Infantry Regiment

HONOR GRADUATEOF THE CYCLESpc. Daniel Long

SOLDIER LEADER OF THE CYCLESpc. Neil Hughes

HIGH BRMPvt. Kadarius Brown

HIGH APFTPvt. Rashawn Turner

Saluting this BCT cycle’s honoreesDRILL SERGEANTS OF THE CYCLE. Photos by OITHIP PICkERT, Public Affairs Office.

TrailContinued from Page 4

“What I have been trying to con-vey to my drill sergeants since refor-mation, is that going to train future officers at Fort Knox, Kentucky is no different than if you were coming to train future Soldiers in Basic Combat Training at Fort Jackson, South Caro-lina.”

“This is the same skill set you are training. This is basically the same age of Soldiers that you’re training. You are trying to ground them both on the fundamentals. In essence there is no change in the mission. The reality is we are now going to train every-one the same way because we want everyone rather officer or enlisted to have those same basic Soldier skills,” Guthrie said.

At the end of the ceremony, Priest had one message to all those getting ready to hit the trail: there is but one mission in being a drill sergeant, and that is to train Soldiers.

“The job of being a drill sergeant was one of the most rewarding experi-ences I had in my entire career,” said Priest. “If I could do it again, I would do it again. It’s that kind of job that you only have one shot at it and to do it right. So give it everything you’ve got.”

Command Sgt. Maj. Robert T. Priest, Command Sergeant Major of the 98th Training Division (Initial Entry Train-ing), 108th Training Command (IET), congratulates drill sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Liem T. Tran, 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training), for his graduation from the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy Dec. 7. 

Photo by Sgt. StePhanie hargett

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News

Give thanks to our Service members and their Families

Bill Dukes is founder and chairman of the Honor Flight of South Carolina and the state’s civilian aide to the secretary of the Army.

As the civilian aide to the secretary of the Army for South Carolina, I would like to ex-tend my gratitude during this holiday season to all the members of the military who serve our state and nation to secure the protections of liberty for each of us.

As we gather to celebrate the holidays and enjoy the warmth of family and friends, I hope we can all pause to consider what is perhaps our greatest Christmas gift – the gift of free-dom. Keep close in our thoughts and prayers the men and women who have given us that gift and continue to defend and protect it every day.

Please take a moment to remember our Ser-vice members who are deployed overseas this holiday season. They are far from their families and the comforts of home. For many, these are lonely and difficult days. What goes on in the Middle East is of keen interest to South Caro-lina. There are significant numbers of airmen and Soldiers from the South Carolina National Guard, Airmen from Shaw Air Force Base and Charleston Air Force Base, Soldiers from U.S. Army Central located at Shaw and Marines from the Marine Air Station Beaufort that are deployed overseas during this holiday season.

For every Service member who is deployed that means there are family members at home who will be without a special loved one during the holiday season. We pray that all our service members will return home soon and be reunit-ed with their loved ones. Our deployed service members voluntarily stand up and brave the danger and hardships to defend the freedoms we enjoy.

These are young men and women who have chosen service over self. They inspire us all by their willingness to put our safety, our security and our wellbeing first. It is a very humbling experience to know that there are others who will put their lives on the line for people they don’t even know. They portray what we Amer-icans value most — freedom.

Let’s all give thanks this season and through-out the coming year for the members of our military. Not only do they risk their lives daily

but they have sacrificed precious time away from their families so we can enjoy our free-doms.

Let us give thanks as well this season, and throughout the coming year, to the families of the members of our military. It is they who most directly share the burdens of the long struggles to protect our American way of life. As you remember these military families, pray for all the spouses who have been doing the parenting of two while one stands guard for all of us, and remember the children who wait anxiously for mother or father’s return home.

Let’s be proud, grateful and thankful for all our Service members. Each one of them has volunteered to protect our nation. Let us all ad-mire their dedication to duty, their selflessness, and their courage – as well as the ultimate sac-rifice some have made for us.

Pray that our Service members have com-fort and joy and “Peace on Earth” during this holiday season.

Peace on earth

By Bill DukesCivilian aide to the secretaryof the Army for South Carolina

It is a very humbling

experience to know that there are others who

will put their lives on the line for people they

don’t even know.

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w w w. f o r t j a c k s o n l e a d e r. c o m

Privates Andrea Mendoza and Jessica Leavelle make final calls home from Char-lotte Douglas International Airport last De-cember before being bused back to Fort Jackson after Victory Block Leave.

File photo

NEWS

Courtesy photo

HolidaysafetyTrooper David Jones, of the S.C. Highway Patrol, pro-motes use of seat belts and designated drivers via the roll-over vehicle and beer goggles demonstrations during one of Fort Jackson’s holiday safety briefings. More than 7,000 cadre, Soldiers, students, and civilians attended one of five consolidated safety briefings at the Solomon Center Dec. 2-3. The Fort Jackson Safety Office hosted the event, which promoted situational aware-ness and safe conduct during Victory Block Leave.

Fair opens doors to jobs, education

Education Services Officer Veronica Fields-Cox listens as Fort Jackson Commander Maj. Gen. John ‘Pete’ Johnson, left, and Command Sgt. Maj.Lamont Christian, right, discuss Tuesday’s college and career fair. This is the first year for the event, which is expected to turn into an annual tradition.

Photos by DEMETRIA MOSLEY

By DEMETRIA MOSLEYFort Jackson Leader

Tuesday’s college and career fair at the Solomon Center was “absolutely a big deal,” according to Fort Jackson’s commander.

“This fair is mutually supporting,” said Maj. Gen. John “Pete” Johnson during the beginning of the event. “It will help our Soldiers and that makes our Army better because we have more educated Soldiers. Also, whether (Soldiers) get out today or 20 years from now, (their education is) an investment back into the American people and to this great country.”

More than 80 employers and schools piled into Fort Jackson’s Solomon Center to show what they had to offer to the Fort Jackson community. This is the first time the post has combined both a job and education fair together. The event was thrown by the Army Continuing Education System.

“We usually have them separate, but wanted to have ev-erything in one place,”said Carolyn Andrews, transition services manager for Fort Jackson.

The idea to combine the fair was Command Sgt. Maj.Lamont Christian’s.

“I think that education is currency. Not just for Soldiers, Family members and Department of Defense employees,

but for everybody,” said Christian. “ I wanted there to be one location where people could navigate through the edu-cation process as well as learn about the jobs out there.”

Col. David Mendoza, who was interested in finding out what type of jobs were available once he retired, was im-pressed with the combined fair.

“As Soldiers we need to have always have a plan,” said Mendoza. “I like the fact that the fair had a balance and a variety of employers and schools, so that we can not only plan for our education, but also see what’s available after-wards.”

The fair was open to all of the Fort Jackson community which included federal employees. Retired Sgt. 1st Class. Ricky Lloyd heard about the fair through a veterans support system. He recently moved to Columbia three months ago and has been looking for a job since.

“I just finished my bachelors and hoping to give my re-sume to a few companies and see what they have to offer,” he said.

Johnson said the education is a fundamental part of the Army

“(The Army) believes in a life long philosophy of educa-tion and training and making ourselves better each in ev-eryday so education is fundamental to our Army,” he said. “We take developing our Soldiers and leaders to a high level, we think that it is vital to the readiness of our Army.”

NEWS

Col. David Mendoza chats with one of about 40 employers that attended a college and career fair at Fort Jackson’s Solomon Center. Mendoza said that he was impressed with the joint educa-tion and job fair.