Soldiers and residence of FOB Walton, Kandahar commemorated the 236th birthday of the U.S. Army with an official cake cutting in the new FOB Walton Dining Facility on 14 June 2011. As a tribute to the occasion, TF Rough Rider chose the youngest member of their ranks to do the honor.

PV2 Devrynn M. Robertson, Alpha Company, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, was born on 16 October 1992 in Mesquite, Texas, making him the youngest in the battalion by 7 months. “I basically joined the Army to get out of Mesquite”, says Robertson. LTC Todd S. Bertulis, Task Force Commander, and CSM Troy J. Tuten, Task Force CSM, lead the celebration. “Even in the beginnings of this combat tour,” says LTC Bertulis, “ we must pause a moment to value the tradition and history of our Army, and to show our appreciation for those who served before us, with us today, and who will serve in the future.” “The fact that we celebrate the birth of our Army is truly significant,”

says CSM Tuten. “But the fact that we get to celebrate the Army’s 236th birthday while deployed in support of contingency operations in Afghanistan makes it all so much more profound.” The Army was created before we became the United States. The Continental Army was founded on June 14, 1775, when the Continental Congress authorized enlist-ment of riflemen to serve the United Colonies for one year. After the war against the British, the Army, along with the Navy and Marines, were all eliminated, shelved due to lack of sufficient finances. It wasn't until 1790 that Congress brought back the Military branches with new names, the first branch formed being the Legion of the United States, the direct predecessor of the US Army and who would latter be called the U.S Army in 1798. It was a proud day for all those belonging to the U.S. Army, TF Rough Rider, and especially for PV2 Robertson who will always remember this day, the Army’s 236th birthday.

Newsletter Date

Issue 1

US A rmy

FOB Walton Celebrates U.S. Army Birthday By CPT Ashlea L. Cleveland

Above: LTC Bertulis and CSM Tuten join PV2 Robertson in mak-ing the first cut of the Army birthday cake, FOB Walton DFAC.

Right: A Fallen Soldier table on display at the DFAC to honor all those Fallen Soldier, Prisoners of war ,and Missing in Action personnel who, all through the Army’s history, have given their lives to this service and for our country.

ISSUE 1

TF ROUGH RIDERS NOW AT THE HELM

By CPT Ashlea L. Cleveland

FOB Walton Changes Hands

After a long anticipated Relief in Place with 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, the Rough Rid-ers of the 204th Brigade Support Bat-talion have finally taken the lead at FOB Walton, Kandahar.

On 11 June 2011 at 1000 hrs, LTC Todd S. Bertulis, 204th BSB Bat-talion Commander, and CSM Troy J. Tuten, Battalion CSM, uncased the battalion colors, symbolizing the com-pletion of the Transfer of Authority from TF Packhorse to TF Rough Rider.

In addition to the task of lo-gistically supporting the entire brigade, Headquarter and Headquarters Com-pany has inherited the role and respon-sibilities of the FOB Mayoral Cell. With FOB Walton expanding to sup-port over a thousand Soldiers and civil-ians, this is no easy feat for the Trail Blazer team.

“On 09 June 2011 the Mayor Cell conducted its first meeting with all the resident units of FOB Walton,” says First Sergeant Maria Denzine, HHC 1SG. “ The Trailblazers have been diligently working on numerous projects for FOB expansion and daily Mayoral responsibilities including processing over 50 service orders daily and the opening of Popeye’s Chicken within the next few weeks.”

Another vital mission taken on by the Rough Riders is the Base Defense Operations Cell (BDOC) mission. This mission is essential to the lives on the FOB as it is its first-line of defense. With the Blacknights of Bravo Company standing guard each night and day, it is our own 204th Soldiers keeping watch over the residence of FOB Walton. WO1 Travis Ogletree, BDOC Officer in Charge (OIC), has already established an impressive pro-fessional

and authoritative presence of Soldiers in the towers and on the gates of FOB Walton. “This is a great mission that we take great pride in doing”, says WO1 Ogletree. “ We are ready to de-fend FOB Walton against enemy forces, and dedicated to maintaining a safe place for everyone on the FOB to live and operate.” In his address to the Soldiers during the ceremony, LTC Todd S. Bertulis acknowledged the support of the Rough Rider families. “Unseen here today are your Families– spouses, sons and daughters, moms and dads, sisters and brothers, and significant others who provide you with love and support that sustains you in this forma-tion one more time as we, Task Force Rough Riders enter again into com-bat." “Our overall mission is to sustain the Warhorse Brigade in its fight against the insurgency,” says LTC Bertulis, “ as well as to build-up the capabilities of the Afghan National Security Forces and ultimately help the government of Afghanistan connect with its people.

With TF Packhorse continuing to trickle out of theatre, the Rough Riders are already in full swing, taking the lead and, as always, making it happen. LTC Bertulis and CSM Tuten uncasing

the battalion Colors at the TF Rough Rider Uncasing Ceremony at the new FOB Walton DFAC.

204th Brigade Support BattalionCombined FRG Meeting & Potluck

7 July 20116:00 PM

Fort Carson Family Readiness Center (FRC) (Please bring a dish to pass to the meeting)

HHC – Main DishesAlpha – Side Dishes or SaladsBravo – DessertsCharlie – DrinksRear D – Plates, Napkins, Utensils, Cups

(Food Responsibilities will rotate for each meeting)

We will start the meeting with a potluck dinner and then have a presentation followed by an update from the Rear Detachment. We will close with updates

and issues addressed by each FRG Leader and FRG Advisor.

Childcare available – Please send your name, child or children’s names and ages, along with your phone number or e-mail for contact purposes to

barbara.ann.young1@us.army.mil or 526-4172 no later than 22 June

Come out and meet fellow Spouses, FRG Leaders, and the Rear Detachment!

204th BSB Combined FRG Meeting 2 June 2011

5:00 BN Conference Room

The meeting was kicked off with a

Welcome and Introductions of FRG

Leaders, Rear Detachment, Company

representatives and Key personnel.

The welcome and introductions were

followed by representatives from Fort

Carson Sports Fitness and Aquatics.

Handouts were made available

detailing the upcoming June fitness

and Aquatics schedules and services

available were covered in their brief.

The Rear Detachment Commander

then discussed the transition process,

troop’s morale, mailing procedures

and issues. The upcoming schedule

and location for future combined

FRG meetings was also discussed.

Each of the FRG Leaders was given

an opportunity to discuss any items

of issue or concern at the company

level.

Note:

Alpha Company FRG will be

conducting a FRG meeting at 5:30 at

the USO on 27 June.

Family members were given an

opportunity to have any questions or

concerns addressed.

The meeting closed and Family

members broke off into small groups

to have an opportunity to socialize

The Next 204th BSB Combined FRG

Meeting will take place on 7 July at

6:00 PM at the FRC. Childcare will

be available. Slots for Childcare must

be reserved by 22 June.

Please send your Childcare needs to

Barbara.ann.young1@us.army.mil or

526-4172

no later than 22 June.

204th Combined FRG Meeting

Every year Fort Carson invites the local community for a day filled with fun and concluded with a magnificent fireworks display; one of the biggest ones in the Colorado Springs area! The Independence Day festival will have many fun activities for the whole family, including paint ball, a cash cube, challenge courses and games for the kids, inflatable jumpers and more. There will be live music and entertainment on the stage, 13 food vendors will offer the best of fair food as well as a wide selection on refreshments and adult beverages. A $500 jewelry gift card and other valuable prizes will be up for the grabbing at the cash cube. Admission is free and the event is open to the public, fees apply for certain services and merchandise. Time is from 4-10 p.m. For more information call the Events & Entertainment office at (719)

526-1867 or visit www.mwrfortcarson.com

Celebrate the 4th of July a day early, on July 3,

at Fort Carson's largest

Pull-Up Your Combat Boot Straps

Deployment Discussion Group

Designed for Spouses/Family members who are going through their first deployment or those who

would just like to learn new and better ways to cope with the deployment stressors. Come out and get great Ideas on how to get through the deployment

while making new Friends!

Conference Room

Bldg 2352 Quinn Street Fort Carson

5:30pm– 7:00pm

23 June and 30 June

RSVP NLT June 20, 2011 to

fran.hunter@us.army.mil