3 - 11 6 C AV F A M I LY P R O G R A M N E W S L E T T E R

COMMANDERS MESSAGE

JULY 2015

earest Families, your Soldiers

performed

exceptionally

the June gunnery.

during

Your Soldiers

and Leaders proved their focus,

discipline, integrity and honor in an

eight day gunnery cycle.

Gunnery is a

test of endurance as well as individual

and team skills as each table has a day
LTC Brian Dean

and a night requirement.

Every single

crew that went to gunnery qualified in

their tank or Bradley qualification table.

We also retained

the Brigade Top Gun trophies for both the tank - congratulations to SSG Mc Cracken and crew from D Company in Hermiston as well as Bradley - congratulations again to SSG Kraus and
crew from B Company.

If that wasn't enough, all 26 sections

and 13 platoons qualified on the Platoon Gunnery Table XII as

PAGE ONE
On the Cover: Commanders Message
LTC Brian Dean, Commanding
PAGE TWO
Its Finally HereNTC
Jessica Specht, BN FRG Leader
Red Cross Emergency Information
PAGE THREE
Greetings from Military OneSource
LTC Meloni Beauchamp, Ret.
Unit FRG Leader Contact Information
Kids CraftNTC Floor Play Map
PAGE S FOUR-SEVEN
Questionnaire with the Command Staff
3-116 CAV Leadership
PAGE EIGHT
CSMs Corner
CSM Ron Bloker, 3-116 CAV

well as the Mortar platoon qualifying on their indirect fire

table/MORTEX. None of this is possible without the support of F Company and HHC.
.

In the Active Army, this training plan wouldn't be considered realistic.

Not only did your

Soldiers and Leaders accomplish the requirements, regardless of setbacks - they excelled.

Please

pat your Soldiers and Leaders on the back for me. This is a team effort and could not have been
done without your support and the team working tirelessly together.

They have all proven they

are Eastern Oregon's Own and that excellence is a part of our culture.

You should be very proud;

I am.
From the Viper's Den to Fiddler's Green, we serve Without Delay.

SINE MORA!

I T S F INALLY H ERE NTC!

In Case of Emergency ...

D
Major emergencies that require
Soldiers to be removed from
training to return home must be
processed through the American
Red Cross.
If you require this service,
please complete the following
steps to ensure most rapid
processing:
1.Immediately contact your
local FRG leader. If you dont
have an FRG leader, contact Jessica Specht or the units NCOs or
Commander.
(See page 4 of this newsletter for
a complete list of FRG leaders
and their contact information.)
2. Call the Red Cross:

(877) 272-7337
Be prepared with the following
information:
Full legal name of service mem-

ber
Rank
Branch-Oregon Army National
Guard
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Military Unit Address
Information about the unitin
this case, Soldiers are at Fort Irwin in an NTC rotation.

uring October of last year, in a meeting with the Battalion s leadership,

they briefed the FRG leaders about the
grueling upcoming Training Year
2015 as a tremendous (and somewhat perilous)
challenge. We looked at charts of what it
would take to put all the pieces together to
get us to NTC and it looked like a labyrinth.
Months later, the battalion underwent financial difficultieswould the money come through Jessica Specht, BN FRG Leader
to allow us to complete our training as
planned? As the months wore away, however, our Soldiers and Leadership
wore away at the challenges. With the majority of TY-15 behind us and
only two months away from the now-tangible NTC rotation right around
the corner, we can proudly sayWe did it!
And that goes for the families, as well as the Soldiers. You have
endured hardships that, while not the same as our Soldiers , are comparable in duration. You have encouraged our Soldiers, had their backs
while they re at home, and helped this year become not just another
quagmire of difficulty, but a great success for our entire force. I m
proud of every one of you.
With NTC on the close horizon, think about and plan for the challenges that you will have ahead. Your Soldier will be out of communication rangeeven for emergenciesfor more than ten days. Look around the
house, consider your vehicle, and discuss any bills or payment management. We will not be able to turn to our Soldier like we may be accustomed to doing for help. Our
FRG leaders will be there for
Kids ...
you, if you just need to talk
to someone that understands
what you re going through, or
if you need immediate, emergency assistance. Familiarize
yourself with them so that, if
you do need them, you are resilient and prepared to make
use of your resources.
And lastwhile preparations are necessary, don t
forget to enjoy your Soldier.
You rest up, just like they
should be. Find some time just
for you two, if you re a cou- Can you spot the
ple. Spend some great time toIdaho scorpion?
gether.

FRG LEADERS BY UNIT

HHC & 1/F (La Grande): Kori VanderZanden

Phone: 541-786-6046
Email: [email protected]

C Company (Ontario): SFC Donald Clapp

Phone: 541-889-5514
Email: [email protected]

1/HHC (Pendleton): Lori Brogoitti

Phone: 541-377-0676
Email: [email protected]

A Company (The Dalles): Nancy DeAnda

Phone: 541-720-0215
Email: [email protected]

D Company (Hermiston): Rachel Siller

Phone: 509-301-5435
Email: [email protected]

2/HHC & 2/F (Hood River): Terri Hansen

Phone: 541-400-0515
Email: [email protected]

B Company (Woodburn): Erin Peacock

Phone: 503-550-3321
Email: [email protected]

F Company (Baker City): SSG Andrew

Vowell
Phone: 541-519-3792
Email: [email protected]

Battalion FRG: Jessica Specht

Email: [email protected]
In case of emergency, contact Jessica if
you are unable to reach your volunteer.

Kids Craft

NTC FLOOR PLAY MAP

Items Needed:
Roughly

1 yard outdoor canvas fabric

Assorted Sharpies, puffy paint, and
acrylic paint and brushes
Outdoor sand (preferably tan-colored)
Liquid Glue
Assorted toy soldiers and military vehicle toys.
Step One: Print the map. (Quality was too
high to include in this newsletter.) If you dont
have the map attachment in the newsletter
email, request it from your FRG leader.
Step Two: Using a grid system and a yardstick, decide what portions of the map that
you want to use and mark the areas with a
Sharpie.
Step Three: Paint in land marks, roads, and
apply puffy paint for mountainous areas.
Step Four: Apply a thin layer of glue to desert locations, and sprinkle with sand. Let dry,
and shake remainder off.
Step Five: Use the Sharpie to overlay a grid,
if desired, and mark down location names.
Draw in a compass at the corner, noting the
cardinal directions, and enjoy.

Military OneSource is a confidential Department of Defensefunded program providing comprehensive information on

every aspect of military life at
no cost to active duty, National
Guard, and reserve members,
and their families.
As the Military OneSource Consultant for Oregon, I am available to answer questions about
Military OneSource, work with
your units and volunteers to provide training on resources or
work with you individually to
access those resources by calling or emailing. To use your
Military OneSource resources,
please call 800-342-9647 or
www.militaryonesource.mil.

Meloni
Meloni R. Beauchamp
Oregon Military OneSource Consultant
Contractor
Phone: (503) 583-0324
Meloni.Beauchamp
@militaryonesource.com

Our Soldiers will be

developing and testing
their skills to become
most successful in
everything we do.

A Bradley Fighting Vehicle of Detachment 2/HHC conduct

sunrise operations at OCTC, Idaho, in June. (Photo courtesy SPC Cody Rickert.)

The Family Readiness Group of 3-116 Cavalry

sits down with our Command Staff to ask some
questions about what the Soldiers and Families
can expect during our August rotation at the National Training Center.

We're approaching the final stage of our training cycle with our rotation at the National Training Center (NTC). Why is
this training so important?
LTC BRIAN DEAN: The focus of NTC and the Combat Training Centers is to train the Brigade staffs in their warfighting skills. It is assumed that your Soldiers and Leaders are trained and ready in the military occupational skills. The
training that we provide yearly prepares them to perform their skills in combat, with some refinement just before deployment. The truly difficult part is training the Brigade level staff in how to utilize those Soldiers, Leaders, teams, squads,
platoons, companies, and
battalions and enabling units
such as combat aviation,
psychological operations
teams, etc.
CSM RON BLOKER: In doing
so, our Soldiers and Leaders
will be developing and testing their skills to become
more successful in everything we do; from supplying
the needs of the Soldiers and
Units, to preparing for action
and engaging a smart and
adaptive foe.
Combat Training Centers: Three in
the world, including NTC in California, JRTC in Louisiana and JMRC in
Germany.
Military Occupational Skills
(MOS): A soldiers military job.
Brigade: The 116 Cavalry Brigade
Combat Team, headquartered in
Boise, ID.

A tank fires during training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)

What actually happens during our Battalion's rotation?

MAJ JW LUNDELL: The Battalion's NTC rotation will consist of the following:
The first four days, our Soldiers will arrive at NTC and start acclimating to the
weather and preparing equipment to move to the field. The following days, the
Battalion's Soldiers will participate in a Company live fire exercise, where they
will put all of their training together from the past year and the 11-day gunnery
period. The live fire exercise will be conContinued on Page 4
ducted on a firing range against simulated

At left, a Bradley
Fighting Vehicle
of Detachment 2/
HHC and the the
crew.
Below,
another resident
of the Idaho desert of OCTC.
(Photos courtesy
SPC Cody Rickert.)

opposing forces (the bad guys). Once this is completed, the Battalion will move on to a force-on-force battle, which is a
simulated attack in a desert environment conducted in a fictitious country against an aggressor force.
Who will we be fighting during our rotation?
CSM RON BLOKER: We will be facing a seasoned adversary with the 11th Armored Cavalry
Regiment (ACR) also known as the Blackhorse Regiment. Blackhorse's purpose is "to provide
the US Army the most lethal opposing force in the world, helping enable US Army Brigade
Combat Teams to better fight and win the first time against any opponent, anywhere in the
world." These Soldiers have developed and honed their skills to provide the tough, realistic
training that will challenge every system we own.
Crest of the 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment.

Where is NTC located?

CSM RON BLOKER: It is 37 miles north-east of Barstow, California, in the High Mojave Desert, midway between Law Vegas, Nevada, and San Bernardino, California.

Getting in shape and

staying in shape is the
best way to minimize
the impact of limited
sleep and extreme
heat.

Opposing Force (OpFor):

The enemy force, a military
unit tasked with representing
the enemy, usually for training purposes in war game
scenarios.

That sounds hot.

CSM RON BLOKER: The extreme max of 114 degrees will feel like
135 due to the heat index, or the perceived temperature due to humidity. We should expect average lows in the low 70's to high 50's.
Rainfall can reach as high as 3.2" down to no rain.
What can Soldiers
do to prepare for the
desert heat?

LTC BRIAN DEAN:

There are four items
that reduce the occurrence of heat injuries. The first is fitness. Soldiers
who deploy to NTC in good physical (especially cardiopulmonary) condition adapt more quickly to the harsh environment. The second is adequate
hydration which should begin three days prior to deployment. The third is
food intake. No matter what, Soldiers must continue to eat. The lack of
nutrients in the blood stream is a key contributor to heat injuries. Fourth is
sleep.
CSM RON BLOKER: Getting in shape and staying in shape is the best way to minimize
the impact of limited sleep and extreme heat.

Continued on Page 5

LTC BRIAN DEAN: My leaders will

be assisting with the food, water
and sleep, but only you can help me
with the fitness.
How can spouses and families help
with this?
LTC BRIAN DEAN: If they have
room, help them pack snacks that
will survive the heat, such as jerky,
Gatorade powder and trail mix, and
encourage them to snack throughout
the day. Also, it will be critical for
them to be caught up on sleep before we deploy.

Mortar tracks of Detachment 1/HHC in position for fire, July. (Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)

Will our Soldiers be safe?

LTC BRIAN DEAN: NTC is a dangerous place. There will be
layer upon layer of safety instructed and implemented over the
training. Accidents will still happen. Soldiers are aggressive,
selfless individuals who perform so far above expectations that
it is difficult to provide them enough challenge to keep them

Soldiers will not have

cell phone access from
the 14th to the 26th of
August.
fully engaged. Please assist me with developing
their patience when
things seem silly, or
overly safe as it is for
their benefit.
My Soldier kept in touch
during most of the training in Idaho. Will they be
able to do so during the
NTC rotation?

LTC BRIAN DEAN: During the first couple days

and the last couple days,
Soldiers and Leaders will
Tankers and their vehicles preparing for a day of training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)
have access to cellular
phones and communication devices. While we are in live fire and simulated
After Action Reviews (AARs): A maneuvers, no communication devices are authorized.
group setting that discusses the good
and bad actions that were conducted
during a period of time or mission.
AARs are done after each mission.

CSM RON BLOKER: All communications are monitored and used for learning
purposes during our AARs. Wireless traffic must be limited to the specific
actions related to our rotation and missions.

MAJ JW LUNDELL: [Specifically] Soldiers will not have cell phone access from the 14th to the 26th of August.
LTC BRIAN DEAN: Please do not push your Soldier to break that rule. The rule is not
created by me but will be enforced by me. I do not want to be forced to punish any Sol

Continued on Page 6

Become familiar with

your FRG Coordinator
at your unit. They will
be able to quickly get
resources for you to
mitigate crisis.

diers or Leaders for failing to follow that instruction. Small

lapses in integrity have huge costs.
Is there any way, then, to follow what is happening?
CSM RON BLOKER: Fort Irwin (home of NTC) keeps a page
dedicated to rotating units. You can find the link under the
"Rotations" tab and then click on "Current Rotation". You are
directed to a Facebook page with photos from the current rotation. If you'd like a preview of what to expect, this is a great
place to look.

How can I get in contact with the other

spouses and family members in my unit?
JESSICA SPECHT: Contact your local FRG
leader! We will have a list in this newsletter [page 3]. Our units are all having FRG
Family Picnics in either July or September.
This is always the best way to get to know
other families in your Soldier's unit. Even
better, volunteer to assist with the picnic you'll get to meet a wide range of the Soldiers and families that way. As well, some
of our units have FRG Facebook pages (or
unit pages) that can be a great way to connect.
Fort
Irwin
Website:
www.irwin.army.mil/pages/
visitorstab/comrel.html#
In case of emergencyMAJ Musgrove (La Grande Armory):
(541) 963-4221 or (503) 884-3176.

Sun setting over Charlie Company at OCTC. (Photo courtesy SGT Delaine Singleton.)

Will anyone be staffing the armories?

MAJ JW LUNDELL: All local armories will be closed. If families need assistance, the Battalion's rear-detachment Officer-in-Charge (OIC) will be MAJ
Musgrove and he will be located and reached at the La Grande Armory.
JESSICA SPECHT: Also, your FRG leaders are available at any time. Their contact information will be listed in the newsletter if you don't already have it.
What action should I take in case of a major problem or
emergency?

View from inside while on the move, Detachment 1/HHC.

(Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)

LTC BRIAN DEAN: I fully understand that two days after we

leave will be when the garage door breaks, the refrigerator
stops working, the dogs gets hit by a car and the son breaks
his arm. Please become familiar with your Family Readiness
Group Coordinator [see page 3] at your unit. They will be
able to quickly get resources for you and your family to mitigate those crisis when they develop. The goal is that you can
resolve the issues back home and inform your Soldier how
you did it. Emergencies will be coordinated through the Red
Cross and we should be able to reach your Soldier within a
couple hours of notification.

THE IMPRESSIVE
STRENGTH

of the combined force of the

units of 3-116 Cavalry, at
right. Below, the familiar
Sine Mora patch of the
116th, the Snake River Brigade, worn by 3-116 CAV
Soldiers.

CSMS CORNER
With the Battalions Own Command Sergeant Major Ron Bloker
Greetings families, friends and

least. On top of that, they will

service members. As we head back

be out of contact with friends and

to work after another weekend,

families for two weeks or more as

with Memorial Day a month ago, I

cell phones are not allowed in the

d like to take a moment to thank

training area. This may seem like

the friends and families that have

a meaningless hardship; however,

lost so much as we continue to

it is due to the method by which

live in this great nation because

we receive feedback. Please under-

of the sacrifices of those that

stand, our Soldiers cannot have

have paid the ultimate price for

any phones, tablets or computers

our freedoms while in uniform.

in the training area.

I also want to take a moment to

In closing, I want to thank each

thank each and every one of you

one of you again for the sacri-

for your commitment and sacrifice

fices of time, birthdays, anniver-

as we continue to train for the

saries, and graduations that you

world s greatest armor training

have endured and will continue to

Take care of each other, at home

center, the National Training Cen-

endure in this road to the Na-

and in the field. I look forward

ter. As you know, we are scheduled

tional Training Center. The Bat-

to the challenges and adventures

to complete a rotation in August.

talion Commander and I recognize

ahead.

Our Soldiers will experience frustration and adversity to say the

the burden this places on each

family. Our Soldiers must also
prepare for the environmental and

mental stresses. I encourage you

to share your concerns and hopes
for the training ahead.

Sine Mora! (Without Delay!)

CSM Ronald Bloker