Volume 1 Issue 2

GUNSTONE NEWS
212th Fires Brigade 2nd QuarTeR fy 2013

212th Fires Brigade assists National Guard units

Story and photo by: Sgt. Michael Armstrong

Beginning a new year, and in the middle of snow and icy conditions, a group of Soldiers packed up gear, loaded up trucks and convoyed out to assist a unit for an upcoming deployment. Soldiers assigned to 212th Fires Brigade, 1st Armored Division, rolled out Jan. 4 through 8 to Doa Ana Range, N.M., to assist in the certification of Battery B, 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery, from the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Indiana Army National Guards Target Acquisition Battery E, 139th Field Artillery, for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. The Guard units, with the help of Soldiers from 1st Armys 5th Armored Brigade, Fort Lewis 17th Fires Brigade, (5/3 FA), and the 1st Armored Divisions 212th Fires Brigade, conducted their culminating training exercise that consisted of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems certification exercise and a radar certification.

The exercise solidified a partnership with our sister units that helped contribute to the successful certification of Bravo 1/121st FA and Echo 139th FA, said 1st Sgt. Jose Rodriguez, first sergeant, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 212th Fires Bde. The fire support specialist within the brigade also had the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with their fire counterparts, helping to refine their skill set and assist in qualifying the 1-121 FA and 139th FA.

track incoming indirect fire from all directions and compute the location of the enemys firing location. This enables friendly forces to accurately return fire. The radar also tracks friendly fire and gives feedback on the accuracy of artillery strikes. Im really pleased with our partnership and the development is revolutionary, said Col. David Hamilton, commander, 212th Fires Brigade. We have the active force units from three installations training the National Guard, and the experience we gain reinforces the fact we are One Army. The training was the perfect way to evaluate the units preparedness prior to deployment. It was a good way to cross train Soldiers and build up their experience and confidence. There are lessons to be learned at all levels for all audiences involved, added Hamilton. Give the American Soldier a hard problem, the American Soldier will solve that problem.

In order to prepare for the possibility of deploying to Afghanistan, Soldiers of Bravo 1-121st FA participated in three exercises. Crews from each HIMARS communicated with a fire direction center to fire a rocket on command, fire at will and fire with the computations necessary to hit a moving target. Radar operators from Echo 139th FA certified on their EQ-36 Counterfire Target Acquisition Radar. The radar has a 360-degree tracking ability, allowing it to acquire and

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Gunstone News
Brigade Commander
Col. David M. Hamilton

Commanders Corner
The past few months have been a busy one for the Brigade. Since the beginning of the year, Gunstone Soldiers have been busy training and making our Brigade one of the best on Fort Bliss. In January, we were able to assist members of Indiana and Wisconsin National Guard units certify for deployment. Gunstone Soldiers were an integral part of their culminating training exercise that consisted of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems certification exercise and a radar certification. 30 Soldiers from the staff of the 212th Fires Brigade, 1st Armored Division, have been supporting Blue Flag 13-1. The exercise prepares joint and combined air component commanders and personnel to support contingency operations worldwide at the home of the Air Forces 505th Combat Training Squadron at Hulburt Field, Fla. During the training, staff of the Gunstone Brigade replicated a combined land force component command while the 50th CTS staff replicated a Combined Joint Task Force during a simulated war. Both units exercised the 12th Air Force Air Operations Center and the U.S. Southern Commands 1st Battlefield Coordination Detachment on how to direct an air war from a theater air force level, using aircraft to gain superiority and support allied ground forces through interdiction, close-air support, reconnaissance, airlift, and other missions. The second quarter provided the brigade with a number of opportunities to build upon and refine our war fighting capabilities. Future training events such as the brigade CPX and the division led Iron Focus training will further solidify the Gunstone Brigade as a proficient fries asset, providing timely and accurate fires support. GUNSTONE 6

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Command Sergeant Major

Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus DeGracia

Public Affairs Officer

Capt. Traun C. Moore

Lt. Col. Joseph Puskas

Managing Editor

Capt. Traun C. Moore Sgt. Michael Armstrong

Staff Writers/ Photographers

Gunstone!!! Good day to all. Once again I say with pride that you and your Family continue to represent our Brigade well within the division, installation and community. One of our goals as senior leaders is to help our Soldiers and Families advance in our profession; its no secret we do this by training and caring. What better satisfaction than to see one of our Soldiers achieve the rank we currently hold? Here are some ways we continue to move forward: We had 52 Gunstone leaders graduate NCOES, 45 Warrior Leaders Course, two Advanced Leaders Course and five Senior Leaders Course; nine of which achieved Commandants List and one earned Honor Graduate. One Gunstone Soldier earned the prestigious Expert Field Medical Badge. In addition, we take great pride in rewarding those who deserve it through both promotions and awards. Second quarter, we had 13 Gunstone Soldiers promoted to leadership positions, six to the NCO ranks, and five NCOs selected to E7. Finally, Gunstone Soldiers received recognition for their hard work and dedication; over 59 awards handed out within the last 90 days. Lets continue to move forward!!! I leave you with this thought, continued education is free. Dont allow this privilege go to waste. The only thing keeping you from a college degree is LAZINESS.

Layout and Design

Sgt. Michael Armstrong

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The Chaplains Corner

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires James 1:19-20

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Dear Gunstone Family, As an Army Chaplain I conduct a lot of marriage counseling. It is one of my joys and passions to help couple find hope and healing in their marriage. The greatest gift any of us can provide out children is a strong and healthy marriage. Children learn how to manage their anger (the feeling of anger is a natural human emotion) by observing the manner in which parents handle anger. Unhealthy displays of anger and lack of anger management in marriage will destroy a marriage and it wont matter how much the couple loves one another past a certain point. Hence, I want to share some Anger Management Tips for Couples:
1. Be patient and long-suffering. Do not judge your spouse. 2. Use I statements when angry. Address/attack issues and not people. 3. Avoid you always statements and stick to the issue at hand. 4. Call time out if necessary and come back to the issue later at and agreed upon time. 5. View your marriage as a bank account. Accounts are fullest when deposits are made. Hurtful, demeaning, negative comments towards and about ones spouse are withdrawals. Too many withdrawals will empty the love account and leave the marriage empty. 6. Validate the things your spouse does well. 7. Focus on what works in your marriage. Live with what doesnt work. Focus on and build on strengths in your marriage. 8. Learn to forgive. No one in perfect. Give up your right to be right. One when partner wins in the marriage; the marriage loses. 9. Under no circumstances is it ever acceptable to hit your spouse. 10. Get help if needed. Marriages are like car engines and need a tune-up on occasion.

Chaplain (MAJ) Glenn Palmer Gunstone Shepard 803-319-5296

Greetings from the Gunstone Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA)! It is hard to believe it is already springtimethere is a lot of stuff going on within the Gunstone Brigade, and in the Fort Bliss/El Paso area. Are you in the know with all the different events? The best way to get ALL the answers youre looking for though, is to reach out to your FRG Leader. Dont know who your FRG Leader is? Thats what Im here for I will put you in touch with your FRG Leader so that you can be added to their rosters and receive the most up-to-date Official Command Information, plus other stuff that is going on around Fort Bliss and El Paso. You will also receive invitations to attend FRG meetings, as well as potential training opportunities to learn how to make the most of YOUR Army life. You can reach me at erica.g.koelder.civ@mail.mil, 915-741-0626 (my office) or 915-487-5636 (my Blackberry). Spring at Fort Bliss means the weather is turning warmer, and it also means that the Freedom Crossing outdoor concert series is about to kick off! The first concert is the Let Freedom Sing series is scheduled for 11 May and it will feature country music star Jerrod Nieman. The next concert is scheduled for June, and the act wont be released until May. Stay tuned! A great way to keep up with all the upcoming events is to check the MWR website: www.blissmwr. com. Since the weather is turning warmer, please make sure that youre taking care of YOU. Drink plenty of water, use sunscreen and take care of your pets/children/neighbors. If this is your first summer in Fort Bliss, dont be afraid to ask how hot does it REALLY get here? and how to best care for you and your family.

Erica G. Koelder Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA) 915-741-0626

Did you know *that 212th Fires Brigade has a Family Readiness Facebook page? They do: search 212th Fires Brigade, Family Readiness Group and like the page! *that 72nd BSB has a Facebook page as well? They do as well: search 72nd BSB Steel Dragons

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Gunstone Soldier Spotlight

Making the jump from the ranks of the enlisted to becoming an officer is no easy task, it is both mentally and physically challenging. For one 212th Fires Brigade Soldier, it was it was just that and a little more. Newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Ndeyella Lo had many obstacles in her path to becoming an officer and she was able to maneuver through each one before attending Officer Candidate School. Born in Dakar, Senegal, a county in West Africa, and growing up in France, Lo finally made her home in Columbus, Ohio where she graduated high school and was accepted to Ohio State University. After graduating from Ohio State, Lo moved to New York in hopes of attending Columbia University. Instead, in August 2009, Lo chose to enlist in the Army as a supply specialist and after basic and advanced training she assigned to Korea. Early in her career Lo new she wanted to become an officer and had to meet the eligibility requirements to do so. I had the degree, Lo said. Becoming a U.S. citizen was the first major obstacle. My military service cut the minimum requirement time from five years to one. I was able to obtain my citizenship in 2010. During that time, Lo left Korea and was assigned to Company A, 72nd Brigade Support Battalion, 212th Fires Brigade. It was from here that I was able to get my application started, Lo stated. I was able to get help with the process from my senior NCOs and the officers in the brigade. With her interviews done, OCS selection board completed and paperwork submitted Lo had a 6-month wait before she knew if she was accepted. I was nervous waiting for the results, Lo said. In the meantime, I was preparing myself mentally and physically for OCS. When I finally reported in November, and went through the first week, Lo stated. I realized it was not as hard a transition as going through basic training.

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OCS was more of a mentorship school where we learned what was expected of us as officers. All the cadets in my class had various experience levels in the military, Lo added. Some were prior service, out of ROTC or West Point. We had active duty, Reserve and National Guard cadets and we all had some sort of improvements to make to become good leaders. I really feel blessed to have had good leaders in my units, both in Korea and here with the 212th, Lo said. I have no excuse to become anything but a good leader. From here on out, the sky is the limit on where I want to go in my career, Lo added. Being able to go to OCS and become an officer is a great experience and I encourage anyone to apply themselves for a new challenge in the Army. Lo is slated to attend the Air Defense Artillery Basic Officer Leadership Course at the end of March and will be ready to lead from the front wherever the Army sends her.

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Gunstone 6 guest speaker at El Paso, Fort Bliss MLK Celebration

Story by: Sgt. Candice Harrison 24th Press Camp Headquarters

I have a dream, proclaims 11-year-old Kamali Turner, of El Paso, in a voice eerily reminiscent of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the day the famous speech was originally articulated. That one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. The entire speech was recited allowing the audience to be transported back to 1963, at the National Mall in Washington D.C., the same place where earlier in the day the first African-American president was inaugurated for his second term. Turner, a Ross Middle School student, brought the crowd of onlookers to their feet in a roar of applause. The Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the Veterans Recreation Center brought together the El Paso and Fort Bliss communities to celebrate the life and accomplishments of King, Jan. 21. This was the first for this celebration with the hopes of continuing the tradition for many years to come. The festivities included performances by singers and dancers, a slide show and Kings biography told from a childs point of view. Col. David M. Hamilton, commander of 212th Fires Brigade, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas, was the guest speaker for the evening. [King] was a scholar, a pastor, a civil-rights leader. A father, a husband, a man of great vision and a man of great passion, describes Hamilton, a native of Holliston, Mass. [He] sacrificed so much in order for all of us to enjoy full rights of American citizenship. Before King could pave the way for the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, other important historical events were necessary. Those committed to the struggle risked everything, but understood what was at stake, said Hamilton. Historical events like the civil war, Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation, the 14th and 15th Amendments werent enough to open the door for blacks to obtain full citizenship. Hamilton was born in Kingston, Jamaica and his parents brought him to America during the height of the civil-rights movement.

When I look back at the turbulent 60s, I think of a young couple from Jamaica who saw America as a place where as citizens, their children could gain better opportunities, work hard and become whatever they wanted to be, recalled Hamilton. This couple understood the challenges and the risks of that time, but chose, as Dr. King did, to focus on their opportunities. Twenty-five years of military service under his belt, Hamilton is a testament to his parents sacrifices. A plaque was presented to Hamilton with a famous quote from King. The time is always right to do what is right.

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Around the Brigade

Brigade Soldiers ring in the New Year by assisting 5th Armored Division certify Wisconsin and Indiana National Guard units for their upcoming deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Gunstone Soldiers spent four days at Dona Ana Range, N.M.

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Col. Hamilton presents Capt. Franson a shell casing as a traditional departing gift during Fransons Change of Command Ceremony.

Command Sgt. Maj. DeGracia promotes Master Sgt. Suarez to the rank of First Sergeant.

Capt. Gonzalez takes the reigns of his first command, Bravo 26 FA TAB.

Col. Hamilton hands off the guidon of HHB to CPT Romero as he assumes command during his Change of Command Ceremony.

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Around the Brigade

Soldiers from the 80th Civil Affairs Battalion conduct a teambulding ruck-march at Franklin Mountains State Park.

Spc. Jones briefs Gunstone Soldiers prior to hands on traing during the brigade CLS class.

Soldiers execute a litter carry for a simulated casualty during the 212th FiB CLS training.

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Gunstone Winter Olympics

Gunstone Soldiers and Families took part in the festivites during the Gunstone Winter Olympics at Biggs Park. Competing in various events ranging from Best Warriror competition, football, soccer and basketball, units throught the brigade participated to earn bragging rights and trophies.

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Gunstone Soldiers deploy in support of OEF

Families, friends and members of 212th Fires Brigade gather at the El Paso International Airport to honor Gunstone Soldiers before they board a plane Jan. 28, 2013. The Soldiers are deploying in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

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Soldiers assigned to 734th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company walk on the tarmac prior to boarding an awaiting C-17 at Biggs Army Airfield. The unit will conduct EOD missions during a 9-month

Col. David Hamilton gives words of encouragement to Cpt. Daniel Voss, commander, 734th Explosive Ordinance Disposal Company, prior to Voss' departure from Biggs Army Airfield

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Gunstone soldiers forge camaraderie with female mentorship program

Story by: Sgt. Janelle Dean 16th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Some of the things youre going to talk about today are not unique to female soldiers, admitted Col. David Hamilton, commander of the 212th Fires Brigade as he addressed a full classroom Jan. 23. Your challenge today is to get to the unique topics that affect female soldiers. If you do that, youll be able to address topics that will help you deal with current challenges, provide you with insights for future challenges, and make you more fit. As Hamilton spoke, nearly 60 female soldiers, representing various ranks, ethnicities and backgrounds of the Gunstone brigade realized the mission of the units female mentorship program: enhance their own readiness by exchanging valued experience, advice and perspective on common ground. There are lots of different support networks that you can connect to in the Army, Hamilton added. Maybe someone will say something you can connect to and you can talk to that person afterwards. Following remarks from the brigades senior-most noncommissioned officer, Command Sgt. Maj. Jesus De Gracia, and face-to-face introductions from equal opportunity advisers and sexual harassment/assault response and prevention coordinators, the male soldiers left and the dialogue began.

Five panel members, four representatives of the brigade and guest Lt. Col. Cynthia Blevins, support operations officer for the 15th Sustainment Brigade, facilitated the open forum discussion to cover topics such as career development, relationship challenges, pregnancy, appearance and grooming standards and issues facing females during deployments. I think the most positive impact is that the younger soldiers know that someone is listening to them and theyre not being ignored, explained panel member Sgt. 1st Class Felisha Dodson of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 212th Fires Brigade. Members of the panel and participants shared stories and experiences, both candid and occasionally humorous, expressing things they wish they had known coming up through the ranks as young officers and soldiers. Amid the laughter and discussion, some of the junior troops present said they found inspiration to be tomorrows leaders. These type of things actually motivate me to start doing different things, said Spc. Tayn Pedraza, an automated logistical specialist from Bravo Company, 72nd Brigade Support Battalion. As a future (noncommissioned officer), Ill have more experience to start talking to my soldiers and make my soldiers have more confidence to start talking about whats going on. The Gunstone brigade began the program in January of last year, and has placed a renewed focus on encouraging mentorship trends among its female soldiers in 2013. Maj. Gen. Dana Pittard, 1st Armored Division and Fort Bliss commanding general, has begun a directive to establish more programs like the 212th Fires Brigades throughout Fort Bliss. It would be my hope that it would help females build stronger bonds with each other, which is important, said 1st Lt. Rachael Rhine, executive officer of HHB Battery, 212th Fires Brigade. I would also hope that its not taken to the point of were doing this because were women and were special. Thats not the intent. I think the biggest takeaway from today is that our leadership cares, said Staff Sgt. Shaniqua Stokley, a paralegal from HHB, 212th Fires Brigade. They care about the female experience, they care about the issues that are unique to us, they care enough to put together a forum to show us that there are people within our organization we can talk to about issues we have.