Dragon Herald

1st Batta l ion 63rd Armor Regiment

Dragon 6 Command 1

CSM Notes 2

NTC Rotation 13-04 3

BOUNTY HUNT- 4

SRP AND SNIPERS 5

CHAPLAIN’S COR- 6

FRG Events and

POCs

7

Hearts Apart 8

Inside this issue:

Dear Soldiers, Families and

friends of the Dragon Battalion: 1 ID is leading the way once again with

the beginning of the Army’s new Re-

gional Aligned Force (RAF) mission.

2ABCT will be falling under U.S. Af-

rica Command. 1-63 Armor has earned

the honor of being the first unit from

the brigade to execute missions out of

Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti. With a

deployment to Africa instead of the

more recent Middle Eastern deploy-

ments, questions have risen over daily

operations on the camp. While it will

not be as pleasant as life at Fort Riley,

Soldiers will find the camp isn’t lacking

comfort.

Camp Lemonnier is a U.S. Na-

val camp in which different branches of

service work together to meet the mis-

sion of Combined Joint Task Force-

Horn of Africa. This will make famili-

arization with other services’ rank

structure and customs essential. Being

deployed to Djibouti, we will qualify for

Combat Zone Pay, Hazardous Duty

Pay and tax-free income.

Soldiers will be living in Con-

tainerized Housing Units (CHU) fur-

nished with wall lockers, beds, desks

and chairs. Each CHU has air condi-

tioning which will be needed as tem-

peratures reach well over 100 degrees.

Camp Lemonnier has a 24 hour

fitness center with a track, turf field,

and swimming pool.

There are also a lot of enter-

tainment venues to enjoy while off

duty. The Camp is equipped with an

air conditioned movie theater, facilities

with Xbox, PlayStation and big screen

TV’s. Each Soldier will be entitled to a 96-

hour pass in which they can travel any-

where; the MWR offers subsidized trip

packages to places such as France or Egypt

during their pass. These packages usually

range from $1,800 to $2,500.

While there is a lot to do during off-

duty hours Soldiers should remember that

we are in country to complete a mission

and not to vacation.

I encourage all Dragon Soldiers

and Family members to attend the final

Town Hall meeting on May 21st or contact

your chain of command. You can also

search the internet to get information

about Camp Lemonnier and frequent the

Dragon Facebook page while we are de-

ployed.

Above all 1-63 Soldiers are profes-

sionals representing not only the U.S.

Army but also the United States as a whole

and I have no doubt we succeed.

Dragons!

LTC Jason Wolter

Command Notes by Dragon 6

MAY 2013

DRAGON SERGEANT MAJOR By SGT MAJ. Luis Freyre

DRAGON HERALD

Greetings Soldiers, family members, love

ones and friends of 1-63 Armor Battalion

“Dragons”. As we all know, the Dragon

Battalion is preparing to deploy to Africa.

As your Senior Enlisted Advisor, I want to

make sure I address some important issues

dealing with taking care of our family mem-

bers, significant others, and supporters of

this great Battalion.

Each Company level has a Family Readiness

Groups, commonly referred to as FRGs,

which will be able to provide you with a

significant amount of information on who,

what, when, where and how to go about

maintaining positive updates with your loved

ones in this Battalion. In the event that your

Company FRG leader is unable to address

your specific concerns, the Battalion FRSA

Ms Mimi can be contacted for assistance at

(785)240-4529 or via E-mail at

eileen.m.woodworth.civ@mail.m,il.

Here are some things I expect the Dragon

Family to have updated prior to the depar-

ture: Wills, Power of Attorneys (POAs),

Health Care provider (by location), Finance,

Bills, maintenance on vehicles and resi-

dences, etc.

There will be means of communication be-

tween you and your love ones via emails,

phones and of course writing letters which

will allow you to keep in touch with each

other. Our Soldiers will have MWR facilities

and other means to keep up their morale and

I urge Family members and Supporters of

this Battalion to follow us on Facebook at

1ID 2HBCT 1-63CAB to keep up with what

this great Battalion is accomplishing thru out

our deployment.

Sincerely,

CSM Freyre

Dragon 7

Above is a picture of the shopping cen-ter located on Camp Lemonnier. Here Soldiers will be able to purchase many items they will need throughout the de-ployment. Other items can be ordered

through the exchange or on the internet.

“Welcome to Camp Lemonnier”

1-63 AR Battalion Soldiers will likely here this phrase many times as

we arrive in Djibouti. We should all remember that although the Camp might look or sound like a vacation

spot we are here to complete a mission and that is what we will do.

The pictures above and below are examples of the Containerized

Housing Units our Soldiers may be

assigned to during the deployment.

National Training Center Rotation 13-04

DRAGON HERALD

Soldiers from the 1-63rd Armor Battalion returned from the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, California after a successful rotation. The Battalion’s performance during our NTC rotation wouldn’t have been possible without the sacrifices the Dragon Soldiers and Families made as we were going through our train-up for NTC. During our rotation every Soldier in our forma-tion stepped up to the demands and challenges we faced and took full advantage of the opportunity to learn about operations from the Company to the Brigade level. As with all training events, I have made it a point to recognize individuals and teams who stood out and were truly a key to our success. Over one hundred Soldiers from “Dragon” Battalion earned awards for their exem-plary performance at NTC; these Soldiers embody the “Dragon” spirit and bring credit upon the prestigious history of the 1st Infan-try Division, 2ND Brigade, and 1-63 Armor Battalion. The following individuals were recognized by their leaders and the Cadre at NTC as superior performers during our training rotation at the National Training Center:

CPT LITCHFIELD, KYLE HHC

1LT HARPPER, BRIAN A

1LT SKLDOWSKI, THOMAS HHC

2LT BOSS, CHRISTOPHER A

2LT PATRICK, JOSHUA HHC

2LT STERIOTI, ANTHONY HHC

1SG DILLION, CALLEB A

SFC OSORIO, HUGO HHC

SFC STEINLICHT, JOSHUA A

SFC TERRY,MORRIS HHC

SSG ESPURVOA, ISAAC HHC

SSG HARTLEY, JASON A

SSG JOY, MICHAEL HHC

SSG PALMIERI, THOMAS E

SSG TORRES, ROGER A

SGT BENNETT, PAUL A

SGT BRADDY, MIKHEAL A

SGT BUTCHER, MATTHEW B

SGT BUTLER, BENJAMIN A

SGT CONRAD, SHAWN HHC

SGT CORNELIUS, WILLIAM A

SGT COTTER, GREGORY HHC

SGT DILLENDER, SAMUEL C

SGT DISNEY, CARL A

SGT DONAHUE, ROBERT B

SGT EDWARDS, ADAM A

SGT GREEN, CORNELIUS HHC

SGT GRIESER, PHILIP HHC

SGT HARRELL, EPHRAIM HHC

SGT HEWITT, MICHAEL E

SGT HINTON, TRAVIS HHC

SGT JAMES, PIETER HHC

SGT KERR,DANIEL HHC

SGT MEHDI, QASIM A

SGT MORELAND, MATTHEW D

SGT PHILLIPS, CHRISTOPHER HHC

SGT SCHAUFLER, CASEY HHC

SGT SMITH, JEFFERY B

SGT TAVERA, EDER A

SGT ULRIGG, RONALD HHC

SGT WILLIAMS,ERIC C

CPL CURRENT, JAY B

CPL IKERD, JASON HHC

CPL LAWRENCE, JACOB HHC

CPL THOMAS, DARYL HHC

CPL TIMS, CHRISTOPHER HHC

SPC BENELOGA, ZOCARLO HHC

SPC BRICKER, BENJAMIN HHC

SPC CAMPBELL, CHRISTOPHER A

SPC COLBURN, PATRICK B

SPC DAIGRE, CHRISTOPHER HHC

SPC DUCKETT, CLAUDE A

SPC HERGENREDER, JEFFERY HHC

SPC HERNANDEZ, FRANK A

SPC HORCH, JORDAN E

SPC KEEN, THOMAS E

SPC KING, STEFAN B

SPC LEE, AHTHONY HHC

SPC LOPEZ, RONNIE B

SPC LOPEZ, RONNIE HHC

SPC MALLISON, JUSTIN A

SPC MARCELLO, THOMAS HHC

SPC MEIER, MARK B

SPC MOSCOSO, NICHOLAS HHC

SPC MUCKELBANEY, GARY HHC

SPC MUNOZ, JOHNATHAN HHC

SPC NABHANI, ADEL HHC

SPC NEVINS, ARTHUR HHC

SPC PICKARD, ASA A

SPC SANCHEZ, TOMAS D

SPC SCHLOMAN, JARED A

SPC SENEDLBACH, NATHAN A

SPC STONE, CHARLES HHC

SPC TUCKER, CAMERON HHC

SPC ULLOA, ALEXANDER HHC

SPC VINCENT, DANIEL HHC

PFC BUCKMASTER, W HHC

PFC CATALA, VICTOR HHC

PFC COWSERT E

PFC CRUZ, CHRISTIAN B

PFC CUSTER, DARREL B

PFC FOCHT, MATTHEW E

PFC FRAZEE, JOHN A

PFC GEARHISER, MICHAEL HHC

PFC GILLEY, TANNER HHC

PFC HOUSTON, ETHAN HHC

PFC LOGAN, OCTAVIA E

PFC MARTIN, CHRISTOPHER HHC

PFC MCCANN, JACOB HHC

PFC MORA, OMAR B

PFC NGUYEN, HAI HHC

PFC OLEXSON, ALEXANDER HHC

PFC PADGETT, SPENCER HHC

PFC PANCZYK, MATTHEW E

PFC PHRHAM, ISAAC E

PFC QADER,HAMED A

PFC RAYN, MICHAEL HHC

PFC RESENDEZ, RICHARD HHC

PFC SALAS, ARRON HHC

PFC SIMMONS, DANIEL HHC

PFC SMITH, KANDANCE E

PFC STEWART, JACOB HHC

PFC TRIGUEROS, ROBERTO HHC

PFC VALADEZ, IAN B

PFC WALLS, ROBERT A

PFC WALSH, ANTHONY D

PV2 DALMAN, TYE HHC

PV2 GOLDSTEIN, SHAWN HHC

PV2 HERRERA, ADRIAN B

PV2 JOHNSON, ROBERT HHC

PV2 KYLE, RANDAL A

PV2 PHILLIPS, ROBERT A

Dragon Herald

1st Batta l ion 63rd Armor Regiment

The time has come to say our

farewells and wish the Soldiers in

Bravo Company a successful Deploy-

ment as they spearhead a new mis-

sion for 1-63 Armor “Dragons” Bat-

talion, 2nd BDE of the 1st ID.

Greeted by the Battalion Com-

mander LTC Wolter and CSM

Freyre, Bravo Company Soldiers are

the first from 1-63 Armor Battalion

to deploy in support of Operation

Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa.

Leaving behind friends, family, and

loved ones the deployment will be

tough, but thanks to training and

commitment they are more than pre-

pared for the task.

Bravo Company will be the

forerunners for the Battalion setting

the conditions and standards prior to

the arrival of the rest of the Battal-

ion at a later date. We know that as

“Dragons” Battalion Soldiers Bravo

Company’s professionalism and tac-

tical proficiency will garner prestige

that will establish the

credibility of the

Dragon Battalion.

Thanks to

their commitment to

the profession of

Arms, Bravo Com-

pany was able to com-

plete a multitude of

pre-deployment tasks

with little notice prior

to their departure

date. Some of the

task included online

training courses,

weapons qualifica-

tion, physical fitness

test, medical health assessments and

MOS specific skill certifications.

These tasks were necessary for Sol-

diers to achieve a deployable status.

“This is one of the fastest deployment

that I’ve had to get ready for” stated

SGT Ryan M. Nielsen-McCants, who

has already served as a Forward Ob-

server in both Afghani-

stan and Iraq, “But I

am ready and my fam-

ily supports me a lot, I

am just wondering

what Africa is going to

be like”.

It was a cold morning

filled with the emotions

of family members as

their loved ones pre-

pared to board the bus

that would begin their

long journey to Africa.

However, Bravo Com-

pany still took the time

to celebrate as it con-

ducted a promotion ceremony for

three of its’ Soldiers.

For some Soldiers this will be

their first deployment and first time

traveling outside of the United

States, while others have had multi-

ple deployments to both Afghanistan

and Iraq. The Bounty Hunter Sol-

diers were motivated and ready as

they spent their last hours playing

with their children, reading, cleaning

weapons, laughing and trading sto-

ries between families. The support

and appreciation of family and

friends will strengthen the unit in

Africa, as they once again go forward

the Big Red One!

For more photos on this story, please visit the

Battalion Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fort-Riley-KS/1-ID-2HBCT-1-63CAB/221149081082?ref=nf

Photos and story by SFC Neil Weathers.

Bravo leads the way to AFRICA

MAY 2013

BRAVO COMPANY POSES FOR A PICTURE WITH SGT HILL’S

CHILDREN PRIOR TO DEPARTING FORT RILEY.

BRAVO COMPANY COMMANDER CAPTAIN JOHN ENDERLE PROMOTES

THREE OF HIS SOLDIERS BEFORE THEY DEPART FORT RILEY FOR AFRICA.

Dragon Herald

1st Batta l ion 63rd Armor Regiment

MAY 2013

SNIPER TRAINING

Recently snipers from

1-63 Armor “Dragon” Battalion

took part in a series of exercises

designed to enhance their tech-

nical proficiency. The Soldiers

trained on the XM2010, M107

and the M110 weapons sys-

tems. They shot at ranges of

500-1200m with the M110 and

XM2010 and an incredible 700-

2200m with the M107. With

winds blowing at 35mph these

shots were no easy feats, but

the conditions were set to push

the snipers abilities to new

plateaus.

This training was

important in that it allowed the

snipers to familiarize them-

selves with their weapons capa-

bilities as they prepare for fu-

ture AFRICOM missions.

When they arrive in Africa they

will continue to conduct weap-

ons proficiencies and building

DOPE (Data On Previous En-

gagement) so they maintain

their lethality throughout the

deployment. This is another

example of how “Dragon” Bat-

talion Soldiers are leading the

way for the Army and the Big

Red One! VOLUNTEERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE The Dragon Battalion was one of the first units to do a Pre-Deployment Service Readiness Program

(SRP) rotation through Fort Riley’s new SRP Site. The new SPR site allows Soldiers to complete their entire

medical, personnel and financial out-processing in one building. The facility, which has televisions in most of

the common waiting areas, was a nice break for the Soldiers who have been working long hours to ensure

they are ready to deploy. An added benefit to the SPR process was the presence of the Battalion’s Family

Readiness Groups (FRGs). Throughout the building

you could smell hot dogs and cookies which were pro-

vided to the Soldiers at no cost by the FRGs. The FRG

Volunteers who were at the SRP site were more than

willing to help watch a child for a few minutes or talk

to a young Soldiers as he waited to conduct his medical

screening. The FRGs will be providing other services

to both the Service Members and their Families

throughout the deployment.

If you would like to volunteer or would like more infor-

mation on becoming more involved in the Battalion or

one of the Company FRGs contact Ms Eileen “Mimi”

Woodworth at Eileen.m.woodworth.civ@mail.mil.

DRAGON SOLDIERS TRY OUT NEW

SRP SITE As 1st “Dragon” Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Armored

Brigade Combat Team prepares to deploy to The Horn of Africa,

medical readiness is just one of the tasks the Dragon Soldiers must complete prior to executing its mission. The battalion Executive Offi-

cer, Maj. Nicholas Schenck said “the Battalion as a whole is doing

everything possible to mitigate the hazards and dangers of the region to include ensuring the medical, financial, and legal readiness of the

Dragon Family.”

In the past, this daunting task would have required Soldiers to be transported all over post. However, over the past

several years the Army has implemented Soldier Readiness Processing centers to speed the process and ease the burden on the Soldiers. Fort Riley is no exception. In the past Fort Riley’s SRP site had all of the required services located in the same gen-

eral area—however, Soldiers still had to travel between several buildings in order to complete their individual requirements.

On April 2, Fort Riley celebrated the opening of a new SRP site which provides for all of the Soldiers’ needs under one roof. The SRP chief, Bob Smith, stated that the facility is what the Soldiers have been asking for and he intends to continue making

the SRP site better as more feedback is received and processes are streamlined over time.

Many Soldiers are accustomed to battlefield hazards; however, many of them may be surprised to hear that one of

the biggest hazards they might face in Africa can come from something as small as a mosquito. In fact, mosquitoes in the Horn

of Africa are one of the leading causes of death for the indigenous population because of the diseases they carry. In order to combat this and other medical hazards in the region, Soldiers have and will continue to receive a series of inoculations—

including, smallpox, anthrax, yellow fever, tuberculosis. In addition to this battery of vaccinations, Soldiers will also receive

malaria medicine while they are deployed.

Smith said “1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. has been relatively smooth at completing the SRP process”. Smith attributes

the Battalion’s success to its leaders’ and Soldiers’ attention to detail. Most of the Soldiers just have to be checked to verify that their medical status is ‘green,’ meaning they are current on all vaccinations and medications that they might require, and

that they have updated their life insurance information and emergency contact information if necessary, Smith said.

In addition to the medical screening, the SRP site allows Soldiers to ensure their dental treatments are all up-to-date

and each Soldier meets with a medical provider to ensure their overall physical and mental health is ready for the upcoming

deployment.

One of the outstanding features of the new site is the availability of

volunteers, who do everything from run a USO station where Soldiers can make

a video recording for their family to local Family Readiness Group volunteers

who make food for the Soldiers and talk to them as they wait to complete the

SRP process. In the end, the goal of this entire operation is to ensure the Soldiers

and Families of the Dragon Battalion are fit to fight and focused on their mis-

sion throughout their deployment and eventual return to Fort Riley.

Please, Lord, be kind to us!

We depend on you.

Make us strong each morning,

and come to save us

when we are trouble.

Isaiah 33:2, Contemporary English Version

I am preparing my notes for an upcoming Strong

Bonds Marriage retreat for our unit that will take

place on 10-12 May. One section of the training

material seems especially pertinent to what many

of our Soldiers and Family members are going

through as we near deployment: stress.

It’s been proven that as Soldiers and loved ones

near deployment, that disagreements and argu-

ments are more frequent due to the added stress

of such a significant life-changing event.

The training material suggests various ways to

“Stress Proof Your Marriage.” These suggestions

can easily apply to any relationship, for example,

how to stress proof your relationship with a boy-

friend or girlfriend, with parents, or with friends.

Here are a few suggestions you might consider: 1)

Think about some of the ways you’ve handled stress

in the past, and how you might handle it differently

next time, 2) Talk through the upcoming deploy-

ment together and the changes that will occur, and

3) Brainstorm together about some things you could

do together as couple to deal with that stressor.

As a person of faith in God, I also find that depend-

ing on God to helps me to deal with my stress in a

positive way. I like to think of God’s grace like this:

whenever I am weak and my strength gives out,

God’s grace kicks in and carries me through the

rest of the way. As I think about all the unknowns

and changes that will occur in my life and for my

Family as I prepare for deployment, what helps me

to stress proof my life is my faith in God.

God Bless,

Chaplain Fimple

Chaplain’s Corner

DRAGON HERALD

DRAGON HERALD

Alpha Company FRG Meeting 22 may 6pm Ft. Riley USO