May 19, 2011Issue 58Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

Story and photos by Spc. Sarah Ulibarri4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division said farewell in a casing ceremony held Tuesday at Manhart Field.

The ceremony, with its pristine military traditions, signifies that the 2nd BCT is ready for their deployment to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and allows the soldiers a proper farewell to family, friends, and Fort Carson.

The “Warhorse” brigade readiness is based on the last 21 months of elaborate training.

Usually a heavy brigade of armored vehicles, the Warhorse brigade is now trained to provide security force assistance to the Afghan Army and to help build the capacity of the Afghan government and Afghan security forces..

“We have worked hard over the past 21 months to build a team of Soldiers and family members that are ready for the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead,” said Col. John S. Kolasheski, 2nd BCT commander.

Soldiers’ responded positively after the ceremony, exhibiting confidence in the

Warhorse brigade’s mission.“I feel that my troops and I are

prepared mentally, and physically,” said Sgt. Mark Ford, an ammunition specialist with 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT.

Keeping with standard military tradition, in response, support and honor of the training the Warhorse Soldiers completed, their brigade colors were cased.

“The very soul of a military unit is symbolized in the colors under which it fights, for it records the glories of the past, stands guardian over its present and ensures inspiration for its future,” said Capt. Aaron Cross, the narrator for Tuesday’s casing ceremony, with 2nd BCT.

The casing of the brigade’s colors signified that the unit has been called to war and the colors will be uncased once in theater to signify unit readiness. The casing of the brigade’s colors was completed by Col. John S. Kolasheski the 2nd BCT commander and Command Sgt.

2nd BCT is mission ready for Afghanistan

Col. John S. Kolasheski, 2nd BCT commander and Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph F. Delosa, 2nd BCT command sergeant major cased the units colors in a ceremony signifying unit readiness May 17 at Manhart Field.

ment from Fort Carson to Afghani-stan where we will serve in Regional Commands South and West. Our year in Afghanistan will be pivotal. Our Army has made great progress in building the capacity of Afghan security forces and the Afghan gov-ernment to protect and provide for its people. We are confident we will solidify that progress building on the significant gains by Fort Carson’s own Raider BCT. We have worked hard over the past 21 months to build a team of Soldiers and family members that are ready for the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead. From training here at Fort Carson, Pinon Canyon, and the Joint Readiness Training Center in Louisiana; to building Security Force

Assistance Teams; to building and training Female Engagement Teams; to learning about city government and economic development from our friends in Trinidad and Pueblo West, this BCT has developed the skills we believe necessary to be successful in this noble, important pursuit. We stand trained, ready, and committed. The leaders in this formation have worked hard to ensure that our Soldiers are the best trained Army. We have spent countless hours training our minds and bodies, but our preparation has only been made possible because of the efforts of many of the units and organizations that all of you in attendance repre-sent. Manning, equipping, and then moving a BCT half way around the world is a massive operation. Because of the unmatched teamwork of all of

Commander’s Column

Col. John S. Kolasheski, Commander2nd Brigade Combat Team

you, our Soldiers have the skills and equipment they need to be safe and successful. From us to you - - Thanks for what you do day in and day out. Additionally, thanks to our families for their unconditional support as we have prepared for mission. We know it has not been easy. In closing, I am honored and humbled to command these out-standing Soldiers. I stand commit-ted to caring for them and their Families. With your assistance and the work of our Rear Detachments and FRGs this can be accom-plished. Thank you all for your love and support. We believe that we are the right unit, at the right time, going into the right place to make a difference building ir-reversible, forward momentum.

The casing of our colors this week symbolizes the BCT’s move-

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The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of The Warhorse Pride arenot necessarily the views 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 Af-

fairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen-tary, 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 emailed to theeditor: seth.barham1@conus.army.mil

Warhorse Pride May 19, 2011Issue 58

Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSMMaj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAOSpc. April York........................................Layout and DesignSgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor

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Warhorse Pride

Story and photo by Maj. Kevin Toner2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

District leaders and administrators from Pueblo West came to Fort Carson on May 12 to teach junior leaders the basics of city governance and essential services.

This visit was a follow-up to a similar 2-day event in which brigade staff members travelled to Pueblo West.

“It’s a great feeling of pride and responsibility for us to be able to come out and help you gain knowledge of how we operate,” said Jack Johnston, district manager.

The audience for this session was primarily platoon leaders and platoon sergeants because they will be the ones interacting daily with Afghan village elders and Afghan contractors working on projects the Afghan government decided upon.

Topics such as building cost-efficient roads, emergency services, water and utilities, community development and parks and

recreation were discussed.The brigade expects to help the Afghan

government and Afghan villages develop plans for their future. Pueblo West shared some of their experience in community strategic planning.

“That [analysis] is the basis of all community based strategic planning. You

Pueblo West continues to help Warhorse brigadewant to know where you are, what you have, what you want, and how to close that gap. Often times it is [taken for granted] that the water turns on, the toilet flushes or that the ambulance shows up, but that all requires strategic planning” said Johnston.

At the conclusion of the seminar, Pueblo West officially “adopted” the 2nd Brigade Combat Team. The adoption is the result of a district resolution voted upon by the board of directors, state senator and state representative.

“We are grateful for the insights and education Pueblo West provided us,” said Maj. Kevin Toner, brigade spokesman. “Our Soldiers are better prepared for their mission

thanks to Pueblo West.”“Most people want to just raise their

family and make life better for their kids. Essentially you guys are giving the freedom to that community to do that.” said House District 47 State Representative Keith Swerdfeger, who was present for the seminar.

Michael French, chairman of the Pueblo West board of directors, pres-ents COL John Kolasheski with the resolution stating that Pueblo West has “adopted” the 2nd Brigade Combat Team.

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Maj. Ralph F. Delosa the 2nd BCT command sergeant major.

As the Warhorse brigade said goodbye

temporarily to family, friends, and Fort Carson, Soldiers want them to remember what they are fighting for, and that everyone is in their hearts, said Ford.

“We believe that we are the right unit, at the right time, going into the right place to make a difference building irreversible, forward momentum,” said Kolasheski.