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7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
1/8
Dearest Families, your Soldiers
performed exceptionally during
the June gunnery. 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
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 - congratula-
tions 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
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!
3-116 CAV F AMILY PROGRAM N EWSLETTER
JULY2015
PAGE ONEOn 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
COMMANDERSMESSAGE
LTC Brian Dean
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
2/8
During October of last year, in a meet-
ing 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 finan-
cial difficultieswould the money come through
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 com-
parable 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 chal-
lenges that you will have ahead. Your Soldier will be out of communica-
tion rangeeven for emergenciesfor more than ten days. Look around the
house, consider your vehicle, and discuss any bills or payment manage-
ment. We will not be able to turn to our Soldier like we may be accus-
tomed to doing for help. Our
FRG leaders will be there for
you, if you just need to talk
to someone that understands
what you re going through, or
if you need immediate, emer-
gency assistance. Familiarize
yourself with them so that, if
you do need them, you are re-
silient and prepared to makeuse of your resources.
And lastwhile prepara-
tions 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-
ple. Spend some great time to-
gether.
ITSFINALLYHERENTC!
Jessica Specht, BN FRG Leader
Can you spot the
Idaho scorpion?
Kids ...
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 Jes-
sica 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
RankBranch-Oregon Army National
Guard
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Military Unit Address
Information about the unitin
this case, Soldiers are at Fort Ir-
win in an NTC rotation.
In Case of Emergency ...
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
3/8
Military OneSource is a confi-
dential Department of Defense-
funded program providing com-
prehensive 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 Con-
sultant for Oregon, I am avail-able to answer questions about
Military OneSource, work with
your units and volunteers to pro-
vide training on resources or
work with you individually to
access those resources by call-
ing or emailing. To use your
Military OneSource resources,
please call 800-342-9647 or
www.militaryonesource.mil.
Meloni
Meloni R. Beauchamp
Oregon Military OneSource Con-
sultant
Contractor
Phone: (503) 583-0324Meloni.Beauchamp
@militaryonesource.com
HHC & 1/F (La Grande): Kori VanderZanden
Phone: 541-786-6046
Email: [email protected]
A Company (The Dalles): Nancy DeAnda
Phone: 541-720-0215
Email: [email protected]
B Company (Woodburn): Erin Peacock
Phone: 503-550-3321
Email: [email protected]
C Company (Ontario): SFC Donald Clapp
Phone: 541-889-5514
Email: [email protected]
D Company (Hermiston): Rachel Siller
Phone: 509-301-5435
Email: [email protected]
F Company (Baker City): SSG Andrew
Vowell
Phone: 541-519-3792
Email:[email protected]
1/HHC (Pendleton): Lori Brogoitti
Phone: 541-377-0676
Email: [email protected]
2/HHC & 2/F (Hood River): Terri Hansen
Phone: 541-400-0515
Email: [email protected]
Battalion FRG: Jessica Specht
Email:[email protected]
In case of emergency, contact Jessica if
you are unable to reach your volunteer.
FRG LEADERSBYUNIT
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 vehi-
cle 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 yard-
stick, 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 de-
sert 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.
KidsCraft
NTCFLOORPLAYMAP
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
4/8
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 BRIANDEAN: The focus of NTC and the Combat Training Centersis to train the Brigade staffs in their warfight-
ing skills. It is assumed that your Soldiers and Leaders are trained and ready in the military occupational skills. Thetraining that we provide yearly prepares them to perform their skills in combat, with some refinement just before deploy-
ment. The truly difficult part is training the Brigade level staff in how to utilize those Soldiers, Leaders, teams, squads,platoons, companies, andbattalions and enabling units
such as combat aviation,psychological operations
teams, etc.
CSM RONBLOKER: In doingso, our Soldiers and Leaderswill be developing and test-ing their skills to become
more successful in every-thing we do; from supplyingthe needs of the Soldiers andUnits, to preparing for actionand engaging a smart and
adaptive foe.
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 theweather and preparing equipment to move to the field. The following days, theBattalion's Soldiers will participate in a Company live fire exercise, where theywill put all of their training together from the past year and the 11-day gunnery
period. The live fire exercise will be con-
ducted on a firing range against simulated
A Bradley Fighting Vehicle of Detachment 2/HHC conduct
sunrise operations at OCTC, Idaho, in June. (Photo cour-
tesy SPC Cody Rickert.)
Our Soldiers will be
developing and testing
their skills to become
most successful in
everything we do.
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 Na-
tional Training Center.
Continued on Page 4
A tank fires during training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)
Combat Training Centers: Three in
the world, including NTC in Califor-
nia, 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.
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
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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 RONBLOKER: 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 providethe US Army the most lethal opposing forcein the world, helping enable US Army BrigadeCombat 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.
Where is NTC located?
CSM RONBLOKER: It is 37 miles north-east of Barstow, California, in the High Mo-
jave Desert, midway between Law Vegas, Nevada, and San Bernardino, California.
That sounds hot.
CSM RONBLOKER: The extreme max of 114 degrees will feel like
135 due to the heat index, or the perceived temperature due to hu-midity. 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 Soldiersdo to prepare for the
desert heat?
LTC BRIANDEAN:
There are four itemsthat reduce the occurrence of heat injuries. The first is fitness. Soldierswho deploy to NTC in good physical (especially cardiopulmonary) condi-
tion adapt more quickly to the harsh environment. The second is adequatehydration which should begin three days prior to deployment. The third isfood 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 RONBLOKER: Getting in shape and staying in shape is the best way to minimize
the impact of limited sleep and extreme heat.
Getting in shape and
staying in shape is the
best way to minimize
the impact of limited
sleep and extreme
heat.
At left, a Bradley
Fighting Vehicle
of Detachment 2/
HHC and the the
crew. Below,
another resident
of the Idaho de-
sert of OCTC.
(Photos courtesy
SPC Cody Rick-
ert.)
Continued on Page 5
Crest of the 11th Armored
Cavalry Regiment.Opposing Force (OpFor):
The enemy force, a military
unit tasked with representing
the enemy, usually for train-
ing purposes in war game
scenarios.
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
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LTC BRIANDEAN: My leaders will
be assisting with the food, waterand sleep, but only you can help me
with the fitness.
How can spouses and families help
with this?
LTC BRIANDEAN: If they haveroom, help them pack snacks thatwill survive the heat, such as jerky,Gatorade powder and trail mix, andencourage them to snack throughout
the day. Also, it will be critical forthem to be caught up on sleep be-
fore we deploy.
Will our Soldiers be safe?
LTC BRIANDEAN: NTC is a dangerous place. There will be
layer upon layer of safety instructed and implemented over thetraining. Accidents will still happen. Soldiers are aggressive,
selfless individuals who perform so far above expectations thatit is difficult to provide them enough challenge to keep them
fully engaged. Please as-sist me with developing
their patience whenthings seem silly, oroverly safe as it is for
their benefit.
My Soldier kept in touchduring most of the train-ing in Idaho. Will they be
able to do so during the
NTC rotation?
LTC BRIANDEAN: Dur-
ing the first couple daysand the last couple days,
Soldiers and Leaders willhave access to cellular
phones and communication devices. While we are in live fire and simulated
maneuvers, no communication devices are authorized.
CSM RONBLOKER: 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 BRIANDEAN: 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
Mortar tracks of Detachment 1/HHC in position for fire, July. (Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)
Tankers and their vehicles preparing for a day of training at OCTC. (Photo courtesy LTC Brian Dean.)
Soldiers will not have
cell phone access from
the 14th to the 26th of
August.
Continued on Page 6
After Action Reviews (AARs): Agroup setting that discusses the good
and bad actions that were conducted
during a period of time or mission.
AARs are done after each mission.
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
7/8
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 RONBLOKER: Fort Irwin (home of NTC) keeps a pagededicated 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 ro-tation. 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?
JESSICASPECHT: Contact your local FRGleader! We will have a list in this newslet-ter [page 3]. Our units are all having FRG
Family Picnics in either July or September.This is always the best way to get to knowother families in your Soldier's unit. Even
better, volunteer to assist with the picnic -you'll get to meet a wide range of the Sol-
diers and families that way. As well, someof our units have FRG Facebook pages (orunit pages) that can be a great way to con-
nect.
Will anyone be staffing the armories?
MAJ JW LUNDELL: All local armories will be closed. If families need assis-tance, 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.
JESSICASPECHT: Also, your FRG leaders are available at any time. Their con-
tact 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?
LTC BRIANDEAN: I fully understand that two days after we
leave will be when the garage door breaks, the refrigeratorstops working, the dogs gets hit by a car and the son breaks
his arm. Please become familiar with your Family ReadinessGroup Coordinator [see page 3] at your unit. They will beable to quickly get resources for you and your family to miti-
gate those crisis when they develop. The goal is that you canresolve the issues back home and inform your Soldier how
you did it. Emergencies will be coordinated through the RedCross and we should be able to reach your Soldier within a
couple hours of notification.
Become familiar with
your FRG Coordinator
at your unit. They will
be able to quickly getresources for you to
mitigate crisis.
Sun setting over Charlie Company at OCTC. (Photo courtesy SGT Delaine Singleton.)
F o r t I r w i n W e b s i t e :
w w w . i r w i n . a r m y . m i l / p a g e s /visitorstab/comrel.html#
In case of emergencyMAJ Mus-
grove (La Grande Armory):
(541) 963-4221 or (503) 884-3176.
View from inside while on the move, Detachment 1/HHC.
(Photo courtesy CPT Sam Specht.)
7/23/2019 July NTC 3116 CAV FRG Newsletter
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CSMSCORNERWith the Battalions Own Command Sergeant Major Ron Bloker
Greetings families, friends and
service members. As we head back
to work after another weekend,
with Memorial Day a month ago, I
d like to take a moment to thank
the friends and families that have
lost so much as we continue to
live in this great nation because
of the sacrifices of those that
have paid the ultimate price for
our freedoms while in uniform.
I also want to take a moment to
thank each and every one of you
for your commitment and sacrifice
as we continue to train for the
world s greatest armor training
center, the National Training Cen-
ter. As you know, we are scheduled
to complete a rotation in August.
Our Soldiers will experience frus-
tration and adversity to say the
least. On top of that, they will
be out of contact with friends and
families for two weeks or more as
cell phones are not allowed in thetraining area. This may seem like
a meaningless hardship; however,
it is due to the method by which
we receive feedback. Please under-
stand, our Soldiers cannot have
any phones, tablets or computers
in the training area.
In closing, I want to thank each
one of you again for the sacri-
fices of time, birthdays, anniver-
saries, and graduations that you
have endured and will continue to
endure in this road to the Na-
tional Training Center. The Bat-
talion Commander and I recognize
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.
Take care of each other, at home
and in the field. I look forward
to the challenges and adventures
ahead.
Sine Mora! (Without Delay!)
CSM Ronald Bloker
THEIMPRESSIVE
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 Bri-
gade, worn by 3-116 CAV
Soldiers.