CrosswireThe

Official Newsletter of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat TeamIssue 4 | July 18, 2012

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Cold Steel Battalion page 2-3

Unique assets: Snipers page 4

In this issue

By Lt. Col. Nick Johnson, Commander, 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

The Cold Steel Battalion was excited and eager to participate in this year’s eXportable Com-bat Training Capability (XCTC) at Camp Ripley, Minn. This training provides a culminat-ing event for us as we transition through the Army Force Gen-eration Model (ARFORGEN). XCTC affordes the over four-hundred members of the bat-talion to develop and hone their skills. These skills will help our soldiers attain collective training certification on mission-specific tasks. XCTC also provides a theater-immersed environment; replicating conditions, as if we were at the Joint Readiness

Army National Guard CSM visits Illinois guardby: Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chris-man, 139th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major, ex-perienced first-hand what Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers are enduring in 90-plus degree heat at Camp Ripley, Minn.

Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers are at the midway point

command. This will support the goal of the IBCT to be in the elite position as the premier In-fantry Brigade Combat Team in the National Guard.

Regardless of the training lo-cation, you can be assured that the Soldiers from communities as far south as Bartonville and as far north as Woodstock who represents the Cold Steel Bat-talion will be ready and able to demonstrate that we are the best Infantry Battalion within the Army National Guard.

Training Center (JRTC) at Fort Polk, Louisiana or the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California. Training un-der these conditions is critical in preparing our formations for future operations.

Additionally, this year’s an-nual training provides us an op-portunity to showcase ourselves as a member of the premiere Infantry Brigade Combat Team in the Army National Guard. During Operation Showcase our friends, families and our state and national leaders witnessed first hand our hard work and dedication. During my conver-sations with those visitors, they were highly impressed with the training and skill of our soldiers. Their messages and pictures will serve us well in conveying posi-tive impressions of the brigade, the activities of the training peri-ods, and prove that we are good stewards of the resources pro-vided by the American people.

Over the last eighteen-months, we have excelled in planning

and preparing for XCTC. We have conducted many MUTA-5s, MUTA-6s and MUTA-8’s to attain near 100% qualification rates on our individual and crew served weapon systems. This allowed us to focus our training during this exercise on collec-tive training at the squad and platoon level. It has been our intent to establish a P+ rating as the new floor for our proficien-cy at the platoon and company level as well as exercise the bat-talion staff to excel in mission

of a three-week training exer-cise, which prepares them for possible future mobilizations. The 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team based in Urbana was the first unit in the coun-try to participate in the Army National Guard’s eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) program in 2008 as they prepared for mobilization to Afghanistan. Four years

Cold Steel Battalion: Eager for the Struggle

Cpl. Paul A. Minder of Roanoke, team leader, Spc. Waylon S. Hol-land of Columbia, Mo., and Pfc. Collin A. Watts of Plainfield, all infantry Soldiers in Co. A, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. bound while the other half of their squad covers them. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Released)

later the brigade, which encom-passes about 3,400 Soldiers in 30 companies across the state, is undergoing similar training. The 33rd is no longer scheduled for a 2013 mobilization, but they are continuing to prepare for deployment.

“The National Guard de-signed this training a few years ago and it’s amazing to see how

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Cold Steel Battalion

Spc. Waylon S. Holland of Columbia, Mo., Co. A, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. shoots an azimuth in preparation for squad-level tacti-cal movements. The movements were a part of a validation pro-cess using live fire exercises during XCTC program. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/released)

Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in Chicago assault an enemy objective during a training exercise at Camp Ripley, Minn. on July 14. The unit has completed multiple training exercises to include platoon attacks, platoon security pa-trols, platoon movement to contacts, and platoon live-fire exer-cises. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)

1st Lt. Shane D. Molter of Naperville, platoon leader, coordinates an attack plan with Staff Sgt. David K. Waters of Grand Detour with Co. C, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Kankakee during a dry-fire exercise at the XCTC program on July 15. “The training provides realistic conditions and standards,” said Molter. “The multiple integrated laser system (MILES) lets us know how well we are hitting or suppressing our targets and the Opposing Force (OPFOR) actors provide realistic feel to this training.”. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)

Sgt. Mike L. Maher of Frankfort, Pvt. Paul A. Franson of Mokena, and Spc. Daniel C. Schmitt establish a perimiter prior to going on a patrol. All three Soldiers are a part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Released)

Cpl. Paul A. Minder of Roanoke, team leader, directs Pfc. Collin A. Watts of Plainfield during the dry run of the live fire exercises as a part of the eXportable Combat Training Capability program at Camp Ripley, Minn. Both Soldiers are a part of the Barton-ville-based Co. A, 1st Bn. 178th Inf. Regt. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk)

Pvt. Matthew B. Peterson of Barrington, pulls security while Spc. David C. Saunders of Chicago, detains an aggressive civilian. Both Soldiers are a part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin. The training was a part of a security patrol that turned into a fire fight when Company B took fire from hostiles. (U.S. Army photo bySgt. Jesse Houk/released).

Spc. Shawn E. Ward of South Elgin, Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt., carries a 240B to pro-vide extra fire power during a patrol at Camp Ripley, Minn. The Elgin-based company was reacting to fire and securing a market in the Army National Guard’s XCTC (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/released)

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Sgt. Logan J. Wilkening of Chicago with HHC, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Chi-cago takes aim at a target over 600 meters away during a ‘unknown target distance’ event at XCTC on July 16. Wilkening and Pfc. Benjamin D Fletcher of Carbondale with HHC, 1st Bn. 178th Inf. Regt based in Headquarters and Headquarters Com-pany of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in Marion was a spotter for Wilkening during this event. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)

Sgt. Mike L. Maher of Frankfort, Pvt. Paul A. Franson of Mokena, and Spc. Daniel C. Schmitt establish a perimiter prior to going on a patrol. All three Soldiers are a part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Released)

“... you can be assured that the Soldiers from commu-nities as far south as Bartonville and as far north as Woodstock who represents the Cold Steel Battalion will be ready and able to demonstrate that we are the best Infantry Battalion within the Army National Guard.“

-- Lt. Col. Nick Johnson, commander, 2nd Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment

Sgt. Sergio Rodriguez of Chicago, Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin, tries to communicate with a local to stop moving forward. The training is meant to simu-late what the Soldiers might see in a war environment and helps them to become familiar with the best way to handle situ-ations. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Re-leased)

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by: Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd IBCT Public Affairs.

Soldiers with the Illinois Army National Guard took part in a series of mobile training team (MTT) exercises at Camp Ripley, Minn. from July 10 to 18 which involved honing the skills of snipers and teaching sniper candidates the skills of becom-ing a sniper.

The training exercises provide a unique opportunity for the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) to collectively train Sol-diers from three battalions dur-ing the Army National Guard’s eXportable Combat Training Capability (XCTC) program.

Soldiers participating in the training were from Headquar-ters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 1st Battalion, 178th In-fantry Regiment based in Chi-cago, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cavalry Regiment based in Aurora and Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry Regiment based in Marion.

Training Instructors from the National Guard Marksman-

Snipers stalk, engage targets during training

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Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the senior enlisted adviser for the National Guard Bureau, speaks to senior non commis-sioned officers with the Illinois Army National Guard July 16 at Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minn. Burch was visiting Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers training at the Illinois National Guard’s 2012 eXportable Combat Training Capability at Camp Ripley. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/released)

ship Training Center provided training events to Soldiers who graduated from the Army Snip-er School and those wishing to attend the school.

“We have a lot of events planned for the guys out here to-day including stalk training and shooting targets at an unknown distance,” said Justin M. Hitch-cock of Conway, Ark., Sniper School non commissioned of-ficer in charge. “The Soldiers who are trained are doing well and the younger guys are pick-ing up pretty well in the 8 days we’ve been here.”

The MTT’s mission is to pro-vide sustainment training for those who are qualified and in-troductory training for Soldiers interested in acquiring the skill. This can be a daunting task as Soldiers have been training for 18 hrs a day.

“Sniper skills are perishable,” said Hitchcock. “Unfortunately, if you don’t keep honing the skill, you can lose your ability to apply it when you need to. However the guys out here have a good base of knowledge.”

Sgt. Alex Aitken and Spc. William Ingram of HHC, 2nd Bn., 130th Inf. Regt. participate in the mobile training team’s stalk lane dur-ing XCTC at Camp Ripley, Minn on July 16. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hurst, HHC, 2nd Bn., 130th Inf. Regt./released)

it’s evolved over the years,” said Burch. “XCTC brings realism to the training site and the Soldiers say they love it.”

The senior enlisted advisor for the Illinois Army National Guard, Command Sgt. Major Howard Robinson of Olympia Field, Ill., said he has seen a lot of changes over his 28 year career, but Soldier standards re-main unchanged.

“Many of the dynamics remain the same, but the technology and how we train has changed,” Rob-inson said. “You put the equip-ment in the hands of a young pri-vate or specialist and they are on it. Technology has improved and that furthers our advances on the battlefield.”

Burch said he was impressed

Army National Guard CSM visits Illinois guardwith the motivation of Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers in the sweltering heat.

“The Soldiers are loving the training, which means I am lov-ing it too,” said Burch. “One Sol-dier told me ‘the more I sweat, the more fun I have and I am sweat-ing my butt off right now.’”

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Staff Sgt. Matt R. Madiar of Bensenville with Troop C, 2nd Sqdn., 106th Cav. said it was good Illinois was able to collaborate with the MTT to train Soldiers.

“It’s great that we had the op-portunity to use equipment we normally don’t get to use, and to take part in training that we can’t always take part in,” said Madiar. “We have 14 Soldiers out here today, five of them have

already graduated from Sniper School,” he said.

Soldiers who excel will be se-lected to take part in future events that may lead to entry into the elite U.S. Army Sniper School.

The result of graduating the sniper school is that these Sol-diers will join a handful of other Illinois Army National Guards-men who carry the special title of ‘sniper.’