Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 108 Aug. 30, 2012

Darkness glazed over the eyes of Spc. Justin Rios, a healthcare specialist, Headquarters and

Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, as his body was drenched in sweat from head to toe, while he gave it his all to cross the !nish line of the 4th Inf. Div. Expert Medical Field Badge, 12 mile road march at Fort Carson’s Founders Field, Aug. 24.

“When I !nally saw the big MWR balloon, I booked it and I ran as much as I could and then I blacked out about 400 feet away and I just kept running,” Rios said. “I didn’t even know if I made it.”

Out of the 224 medical personnel to go through the testing, Rios was one of 14 who completed all the tests and earned the EFMB. "e pass rate in 2011 for the EFMB was 17%, which makes the badge one of the most

di#cult and prestigious Army skill badges to earn.

"e EFMB is a special skill badge awarded for exceptional competence and outstanding performance by medical personnel.

Rios, a native of San Diego, Calif., has been a medic for 2nd BCT for two years, and he was the only Soldier in 2nd BCT to make it through this year’s testing.

“"is is my !rst unit, and I’m glad I could do something this extreme for them,” he said.

When Rios joined the Army, he wasn’t sure what he wanted to do.

“My father told me to pick something I could come out of the Army with, so I !gured medic would be a good choice.” said Rios. “My mother was always into medicine, and when I got into it I realized that helping people was what I wanted to do. I wanted to be the one that people would depended on out on the battle!eld.”

Rios was able to make this happen when he deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom 11-12.

“I got to treat a lot of local nationals and use my skills as well as treat my fellow Soldiers,” he said. When we were out on mission and they were either injured or sick; it felt good to help them.”

Soon a$er Rios redeployed, he found out he was going to test for the EFMB.

He was given about three weeks to prepare for the challenge. Rios said he had a lot of help from medics: Sgt. Melancthon Spencer, Sgt. Ryan Fifer and Sgt. James Fisher, all member of his platoon.

Rios went on to say that they helped him from start to !nish, and he couldn’t have made it without their support.

“I honestly think I have the best platoon ever; nobody had the backing that I did,” he said.

When the participants arrived to the testing site, they were split up into four platoons. Rios was a member of 3rd Platoon, and !ve of the 14 Soldiers that made it through the testing were from his platoon.

Motivation was a big concern during the train-up and testing.

“I woke up every morning and put on face paint. ‘Let’s show them that we are motivated; let’s show them our warface’, I’d tell my guys.” He said.

"e participants were tested on tactical combat casualty care, medical and casualty evacuation, communications, warrior skills,

A challenge of a lifetime

Spc. Justin Rios, healthcare specialist, HHC, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., marches his way toward the !nish line during the !nal test for the 4th Inf.

Div. Expert Medical Field Badge, Aug. 24. Out of 224 medical personnel, Rios was one of 14

participants to earn the badge.

Spc. Justin Rios, healthcare specialist, HHC, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., heads toward the !nish line for the 12-mile foot march with three minutes and 37 seconds to spare at Fort Carson’s Founders Field Aug. 24. The foot march is the !nal evaluation for the 4th Inf. Div. Expert Medical Field Badge testing.

Story and photos by Sgt. April York2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO

Continued on page 2

Warhorse PridePage 2 Issue 108 Aug. 30, 2012

The  Warhorse  Pride  is  produced  in  the  interest  of  the  Soldiers  of  the  2nd  Brigade  Combat  Team,  4th  Infantry  Division.  The  Warhorse  Pide  is  an  Army-­funded  news-­letter  authorized  under  provision  of  AR  360-­1.            Contents  of  the  Warhorse  Pride  are  not  necessarily  the  view  of,  nor  endorsed  by  the  U.S.  government,  Department  of  Defense,  Department  of  the  Army  or  the  4th  Infantry  Division.  All  editorial  content  of  The  Warhorse  Pride  is  prepared,  edited,  provided  and  approved  by  the  2nd  Brigade  Combat  Team  Public  

         The  Warhorse  Pride  welcomes  articles,  commentary  and  photos  from  readers.  The  Warhorse  Pride  reserves  the  right  to  edit  submissions  selected  for  the  publication.          All  issues  of  The  Warhorse  Pride  can  be  viewed  online  from  your  home  computer  at  www.facebook.com/2bct4id          Submissions  should  be  e-­mailed  to  the  editor:ruth.a.pagan2.mil@mail.mil

Col. Omar Jones IV........................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen....2nd BCT CSMSta! Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOICSta! Sgt. Ruth Pagan.........................Layout and DesignSgt. April York......................................Layout and Design

Warhorse Pride

day and night land navigation, written test and a 12-mile foot march.

Rios said the most challenging part of all the tests was the Combat Task Lane 1. “As a medic, CTL1 is how you do your job; it’s patient treatment,” said Rios.

I was taught in a completely di%erent way how to go about patient treatment.”

He went on to explain that, “in order to pass you had to do it their way. ‘Pay attention to detail’ the graders would tell us.”

Rios was con!dent in his skills and almost always volunteered to go !rst when he was out on the lanes.

“I tried to remain focused as much as possible and not worry about how di#cult some of the tasks were.” said Rios.

A$er passing all the skills testing, the only thing le$ was the foot march.

“I thought it was going to be easy,” Rios said.

Fisher and Fifer went with him from start to !nish.

“When we got to mile 11, my guys were telling me I was a minute behind and they were telling me I have to run. I kept feeling like I was going to pass out, and we were running from light post to light post with a little bit of walking in-between.

“My platoon had my back the whole way, and I could not let them down; I have never pushed my body that far,” Rios said.

A$er he passed the !nish line, members of his platoon helped him take o% all his gear where he was a%orded a well earned break.

Rios was a “!rst time go”, which means he made it through all the skills training on his !rst attempt and that doesn’t happen o$en.

“It was all worth it,” he said. “One of the biggest things for me was seeing my !rst sergeant and he said, ‘Way to represent the company.’ – I felt really happy. I felt like I had not only done something to make myself proud but to make my company proud as well.”

Continued from page 1

Challenge‘Bison’ change of responsibility

Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Veneklasen, senior enlisted advisor, 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., receives the colors from Master Sgt. Luis Sulit, commander of troops, during a change of responsibility ceremony Aug. 28. Veneklasen relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Vogl.

Troops with 1st Sqdn., 10th Cav. Reg., render honors to the Nation at Founders Field during a change of responsibility ceremony Aug. 28. Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Veneklasen relinquished responsibility to Command Sgt. Maj. Brian Vogl. Veneklasen is set to retire after more than 22 years of military service.

Photos by Sta! Sgt. Andrew Porch2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., PAO

3-16 FARDyanne Beckman.........................................................526-1635dyanne.m.beckman.civ@mail.mil

1-67 ARValerie Mansapit...........................................................524-1476valerie.j.mansapit.civ@mail.mil

204th BSBBarbara Young...............................................................526-4172barbara.a.young.civ@mail.mil

2-8 INUrsual Pittman...........................................................526-0727ursual.t.pittman.civ@mail.mil 2 STBSpc. Morgan Madrick..............................................503-2602morgan.a.madrick.mil@mail.mil

Find us on Facebook at:http://www.facebook.com/2bct4id

2nd BCTValarie Adams............................................................524-4797valarie.a.adams.civ@mail.mil

1-10 CAVFrancy Avizu...............................................................526-1946francy.avizu.civ@mail.mil

FRSA Information

Family Readiness GroupPage 3 Issue 108 Aug. 30, 2012

FREE FINANCE APP FOR FAMILIES

"e McGraw-Hill Companies and Better Business Bureau launched a free mobile app designed to help America’s military families make better personal decisions to ensure their !nancial independence.

"e Military & Money App is the !rst !nancial educational app that provides service members and their spouses easy-to-use and practical money management tips, including tools to reduce debt and maximize savings.

"e survey found “as many as one in three enlisted personnel reported using at least one method of non-bank borrowing [such as a predatory loan] in the past !ve years, compared with 24 percent of civilians.”

Our Association has been actively raising this issue, making sure families are included in the solution.

Key features of the app include training videos on budgeting and managing debt, calculators to track cash &ow and build savings and debt reduction plans and a prompt that sends monthly savings reminders.

"e Military & Money App is available free on iTunes. Please check their website.

POST SHUTTLE MAP "e circulating service picks up

passengers within 15 minutes at any stop. Please note: there is no “schedule”. "e Green Route operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week including holidays and training holidays. "e Blue Route operates from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. work weekdays excluding holidays and training holidays. To view or print the latest shuttle map, visit http://carsportal.carson.army.mil/GAR/pao/web/Lists/Fort%20Carson%20Communit

SCHOOL HOUSE ROCK, LIVE! JR. (VARIOUS DATES)

Fort Carson Community "eater presents School House Rock Live! Jr. at the Freedom Performing Arts Center! September 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22. Doors open at 6 p.m., showtime is at 7 p.m. Tickets can be bought at Fort Carson Information Tickets and Registration o#ce. Pre-sale ticket prices are $5 for those with valid identi!cation (must be issued by Department of Defense), $7 general public without ID. Door price is $8 for those with valid identi!cation (must be issued by Department of Defense), $10 general public without ID. Call 719-492-8949 or 719-355-9009

Better Opportunities for Single SoldiersPage 4 Issue 107 Aug. 23, 2012