By Maj. Gen. Robert P. Stall | 02/21/2012

The only thing that is constant is change. 2012 will be the year of many changes... everything from an overhaul of the defense budget to new faces in leadership positions at the very top of our Army. As the Army prioritizes what is important for the future of this Republic, Command Sgt. Maj. Derezza and I have been traveling to our divisions and brigades and I am often asked what the command’s priorities are. I have given my intent on this to many audiences but wanted to formalize them in order of importance here to remove any confusion. The first is, to shape the force. Both Gen. Rodriguez and Lt. Gen. Stultz continue to emphasize how criti... Read More...

Relevant Tags: From the Commanding General...training, command, office, commanding general, training command, 18th training, command sgt, brigade staffs

By Command Sgt. Maj. Rocci R. DeRezza | 02/21/2012

While we still have troops in Afghanistan and many missions across the United States, it’s time that we refit, retrain, and prepare for the next war which history tells us will come. In 2012, we are going to see some changes to the U.S. Army Reserve. As we wind down from the war in Iraq we began to see a trend to get the Army back to the basics. Preparation for deployments and training for war has left little time for teaching basic Army values. It’s time to focus on the Army basics such as things we were taught in basic training, NCO leadership, NCOES and making sure we are physically fit so we can be well prepared for the next conflict. Read More...

Relevant Tags: From the Command Sergeant Major...army, command, nco, sergeant major, command sergeant, training command, noncommissioned officer

| 02/21/2012

It was a Thanksgiving weekend with all the usual traditions . . . family getting together for turkey with trimmings and giving thanks. And on November 27, the extended family—the Army family, gathered to give a warm send-off to Soldiers of Det. 10, 3/334, 4th Brigade, 95th Training Division (IET) during a deployment ceremony. So what started out as an article about Soldiers deploying turned into a look back at the mission and reflect upon challenges and successes the various detachments had during their tours in Afghanistan. The legacy started in May 2005 with a request for forces to mentor and advise the ANA drill sergeants as they conducte... Read More...

Relevant Tags: ana, detachment, training, soldiers, mission, army, afghan, drill sergeants, afghan national, 95th division, detachment commander, female officer, mission afghanistan

By Staff Sgt. Richard Harris | 02/21/2012

So you think you’re bad, huh? You’ve walked around the reserve center with a chip on your shoulder. You’ve been overheard saying that if you ever entered an MMA [mixed martial arts] competition, they would ask you to take it easy on your opposition because you’ve outclassed them with your extensive set of skills, which appear to have no limits. And you further astonished all who were within earshot when you had the audacity to utter a boastful verbal barrage that if you showed up, there wouldn’t be anyone standing due to the magnitude of your “sheer awesomeness.” Read More...

Relevant Tags: division, army, training, combatives, army combatives, modern army, combatives program, public affairs, three seconds, division public, class lisa, ten minutes

Story and photos by Capt. Jennifer K. Cotten | 02/21/2012

VANCOUVER, Wash. — On a unique day that comes once every one hundred years, 11-11-11, the 2d Brigade, 95th Training Division (Initial Entry Training) cut the ribbon to its new building and passed the unit colors to a new commander in separate ceremonies. Veteran’s Day was chosen as the day for festivities by brigade Commander, Col. William M. Snyder, who felt there no day more fitting. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony In an early afternoon ceremony, Snyder cut the ribbon to commemorate the official opening of the new Vancouver Armed Forces Reserve Center (AFRC). He was joined in the ribbon cutting by U.S. Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler from Sout... Read More...

Relevant Tags: training, commander, brigade, support, army, soldiers, vancouver, new commander, armed forces, new building, commanding general, national guard, 95th training, training division

By Petty Officer 1st Class William Steele | 02/21/2012

BAMYAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan — When the NATO Training Mission-Afghanistan command went searching last year for a volunteer to help advise the Afghan National Police, they didn’t just find the right man for the job, they found Staff Sgt. Luis Badillo. The 34-year old U.S. Army reservist from Schenectady, N.Y., is a 10-year veteran of the New York State Police, a combat veteran with a tour in Iraq, and a Dari speaker who enjoys joking around with Afghans in their native language. Currently assigned to the Bamyan Training Center in Bamyan province, Badillo applies lessons he’s learned as a police officer to mentor his Afghan instructors and rec... Read More...

Relevant Tags: police, training, afghan, police officer, national police, luis badillo, sgt luis, new york, advisor mentor

By Air Force Staff Sgt. Sarah Martinez | 02/21/2012

BAMYAN, Afghanistan — Two New York Soldiers from Regional Support Command – East light up the faces of local Bamyan orphans during a visit at the Bamyan orphanage, Dec. 14. Capt. James DeCann, from Hamlin, N.Y. and Staff Sgt. Luis Badillo, from Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Bamyan Regional Training Center advisors, dropped off 13 boxes of school supplies, snacks and clothes to 63 local Afghan boys and girls. The two Soldiers were greeted at the front entrance by some of the orphans who helped carry the boxes of goodies inside to their dining area. DeCann and Badillo opened up the boxes and layed the contents on the table for distribution. Read More...

Relevant Tags: bamyan, command, local, regional, orphanage, sgt, orphans, support command, staff sgt, bamyan orphans, regional support, give back, sgt luis, luis badillo, regional training

By Capt. Jennifer K. Cotten | 02/21/2012

LAWTON, Okla. — Cadets at Cameron University got a leg up on their warrior skills training in November when trainers from Detachment 1, 1/379th Regiment, 1st Brigade, 104th Training Division (Leader Training) arrived on campus. The detachment has been serving on the first-aid committee at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) at Fort Lewis, Wash. for the past few years and set the round-robin of first-aid tasks at Cameron in motion as a way to hone their trainer skills. Capt. Jeffrey White, detachment commander, said, “The goal was to give trainers an opportunity to train actual cadets and give cadets an opportunity to see what... Read More...

Relevant Tags: training, cadets, ldac, detachment, trainers, first aid, training division, 1st brigade, regiment 1st, 1/379th regiment, brigade 14th, 14th training, leader training, division leader, detachment 1/379th

By Staff Sgt. LaTonya Y. Kelly | 02/21/2012

FORT MILL, S.C.— On December 10th, Sgt. 1st Class Robert Patterson, a Soldier assigned to the 108th Training Command (IET), participated in the Wreaths Across America ceremony. The event was celebrated at Fort Mill Veteran’s Park for the first time. The park was dedicated on August 20, 2011, and permanently features a World War I statue, engraved granite benches, Wall of Honor and eight flag poles honoring the flags of the United States, State of South Carolina, U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard and Prisoners of Foreign Wars. Read More...

Relevant Tags: wreaths, across, america, training command, fort mill, 18th training, command iet, robert patterson, class robert

By Spc. Richmond Barkemeyer | 02/21/2012

HICKORY, N.C. — On December 3, 2011, more than 40 Soldiers from 3rd Battalion, 518th Regiment, 108th Training Command (IET) made a visit to the Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory, N.C., to visit with patients, sing carols, pass out stuffed animals, and help spread holiday cheer through the hospital. This is the second year Soldiers from 3/518th have visited Frye, and according to Sgt. 1st Class Michael Gainey, it should be an annual event. “Hickory has been very supportive of the Reserve Center,” said Gainey, first sergeant of B Co., and a resident of Charlotte. “It’s nice to show our appreciation and be seen in the community.” Read More...

Relevant Tags: soldiers, visit, hickory, hospital, community, training command, 18th training, command iet, holiday cheer, battalion 518th, regiment 18th, 518th regiment, frye regional, center hickory

By Spc. Richmond Barkemeyer | 02/21/2012

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The 108th Training Command (IET) welcomed a new command sergeant major in a change of responsibility ceremony held Nov. 20 at the Center City Hilton in Charlotte. Command Sgt. Maj. Rocci DeRezza will serve as the senior enlisted advisor to the command. The change of responsibility ceremony is a military tradition, held when a senior non-commissioned officer leaves a position of leadership and a new NCO takes his place. “I couldn’t be prouder to be in the United States Army Reserve,” said Maj. Gen. Robert P. Stall, commanding general of the 108th Training Command. “I couldn’t be prouder to be your commander, and I couldn’t b... Read More...

Relevant Tags: army, medal, sergeant, change, iet, major, training command, 18th training, command iet, change responsibility, responsibility ceremony, command sgt, sgt maj, enlisted advisor, army reserve

By 1st Lt. Sean Prosser | 02/21/2012

SPOKANE, Wash. — Sgt. Ryan Hamilton, a drill sergeant with Alpha Co. 3/415th in Spokane, Wash. was part of Central Washington University’s Rugby Sevens team which participated in the 2011 USA Sevens Collegiate Rugby Championship June 4-5, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pa. Hamilton joined the Army in 2002, attending Basic Training at Fort Jackson, S.C., before moving onto Fort Sam Houston to attend the Healthcare Specialist Course. After successfully completing airborne school, Hamilton’s first permanent duty assignment was with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, N.C., with whom he deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2004. Hamilton beg... Read More...

Relevant Tags: rugby, hamilton, team, division, cwu, rugby sevens, 211 usa, collegiate rugby, drill sergeant, usa sevens, skill strength