3 16 newsletter april 2013

Hello Thunder Families!

Welcome to our first edition of the

battalion newsletter. We hope that the

“Thunder Times” serves as a useful

source of helpful information from the

command that updates Families and

Soldiers and provides contact

information for the many resources

that exist in the battalion, at Fort

Carson and across the Army to assist

families and Soldiers. CSM Perez and

I look forward to increasing our

dialogue with you as we prepare for

training at the National Training

Center (NTC) in June and potential

future deployments.

In this newsletter, you’ll find

several sections with useful FRG and

chain of command points of contact,

columns by our battery command

teams and helpful event information.

You’ll see several Soldiers highlighted

for promotion and achievement as

well as our monthly “Soldier

Spotlight” illustrating the great

things Thunder Soldiers are

doing every day. We welcome

any suggestions or feedback you

have to make the “Thunder

Times” a useful and informative

communication tool for the

greater Thunder Battalion

Family.

Again, our sincerest thanks

for the hard work, service and

commitment that Thunder Sol-

diers and Families contribute

that make our battalion great.

It’s an honor and privilege to

command this battalion.

“Rolling Thunder!”

LTC Keith Jarolimek

First of all, I would like to thank you all for everything you do for the

Thunder Battalion and our Army! We are experiencing several changes

throughout our formation. The Army recently started its Ready and

Resilient Campaign (R2C) to synchronize multiple existing Army pro-

grams. Some of the major programs being focused on by R2C are the

Comprehensive Soldier and Family Fitness Program, the Sexual Assault

Prevention and Response Program, the Army's suicide prevention efforts,

the Integrated Disability Evaluation System, transition programs and the

Wounded Warrior care programs. These types of programs will help take

care of Soldiers and our Families.

CSM Benito Perez JR, Thunder 7

V O L UM E 1 , I S S UE 1

A P RI L 2013 Thunder TimesThunder Times 3-16TH FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT

Chaplain 2

Calendar 3 BOSS 4 Soldier Spotlight 5

HHB & Alpha 6

Bravo & Golf FSC 7 Family Readiness Group 8 Did you know? (NTC)

Promotions

Hail & Farewells

9

Family Day Photos 10 CFNCO & POCs 11

IN SID E T HI S I SS UE :

V OLUME 1 , ISSUE 1 P AGE 2

“What Legacy Are You Living?”

Chaplain Jung

Who are the folks in your life that has affected you to be the person who you are

today? Everyone we know has made some impression onto our lives – for better

and for worse. Just so, we have also made our mark on others as well. Perhaps,

some do not really care what legacy they will live or how they affect others. Maybe

we would rather not think about our legacy or the story we are creating.

If you care to venture… So what legacy are you living? Wikipedia defines legacy

as “Something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor from the past.” We

are all creating our own stories that are affecting our spouses, children, peers,

friends, family members, and to a larger profound sense, our society. We are both

accountable for the way we live, as well as, accountable to how we affect others.

Children are prime examples of how our legacy affects others - their emotional,

intellectual, and physical form emulates who we are, wholly.

John Donne (an English poet, satirist, lawyer and a cleric in the Church of England)

remarked, “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the conti-

nent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is of the less,

as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of a friend’s or of thine own

were. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and

therefore never send for whom the bell tolls. It tolls for thee.”

And, because we are involved in mankind our lives are not less but indeed great for

living a worthwhile legacy.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

(Psalm 139:14)

THUNDER T IMES P AGE 3


Battalion Boss Reps: SPC David McDuffie and SPC Stephanie VanKleeck


From: Rapid City, South Dakota MOS: 13D- Automated Field Artillery Tactical Data System Specialist Joined the Army: Sep 2007 Why he joined the Army: SSG Gates comes from a military

background and has always wanted to serve his country. The most interesting thing he has done with 3-16 FAR:

SSG Gates deployments have been the most interesting thing he has done with 3-16. Gates says that each deployment has had a different mission and that has made each one interesting.

From: Quinlan, Texas MOS: 13B- Field Artillery Joined the Army: Jun 2012 Why he joined the Army: PFC Ybarra joined the service

because he wanted to serve his country with his friends. The most interesting thing he has done with 3-16 FAR:

During Operation Rolling Thunder PFC Ybarra fired his first live round. Ybarra says that this was one of the best experiences that he has had in the Army thus far.


To all the Family members of the Hard

Rock Battery,

Wishing everyone a wonderful welcome

from the Hard Rock Command Team,

Commander Captain Christopher Coats

and First Sergeant Tonio Childress! We

are enjoying working with each and

every Solider, Spouse, Father, and

Mother. The Soldiers in the Hard Rock

Battery are some of the most

hardworking and dedicated Soldiers in

our Army today. We have some great

events coming up that we hope to see

you at. On the 3rd of May we will have a

“bring your kids to work” day, which

will start off with a Family PT, at 0700.

Then on the 20th of May at 1200 and

1800, in the McMahon Theater, there

will be a town hall meeting with the

Thunder Battalion Command Team,

Lieutenant Colonel Keith Jarolimek

and Command Sergeant Major Benito

Perez, to discuss the upcoming

deployment, and answer any questions

that you might have. We look forward

to hearing from each and everyone of

you.

CPT Christopher Coats

1SG Tonio Childress

Center (NTC). In addition, Auto-

matic Battery continued to prepare

for the upcoming change of

command between current

Commander, CPT Michael Koller

and former battalion Fire Direction

Officer, CPT David Collins,

scheduled for the first of May.

April 24th marks the next Family

Readiness Group event to take

place at the Thunder Alley

Bowling Center. The meeting will

serve to disseminate further

information concerning follow on

training preceding June’s

deployment to NTC. In addition

this event is an opportunity to meet

the incoming commander, CPT

Collins.

CPT Koller & 1SG Murphy

A/3-16 FAR

Upon return from the Piñon

Canyon Field Training Exercise,

Automatic Battery returned to the

training circuit with a focus on

rifle and machine gun marksman-

ship to certify and qualify Sol-

diers on weapon systems in the

Battery. At the same time, the

Battery continued preparations to

provide indirect fires in support

of 2/8 Infantry Battalion’s

Gunnery exercise. This exercise

will enable 2/8 to certify its infan-

try and armor crews; while pro-

viding Automatic Battery a final

opportunity to certify howitzer

sections before June’s deploy-

ment to the National Training


the Army. He will have the honor to

take the company to NTC, and then

deploy with them in them in the fall.

Until then, I will continue to prepare

them for their future missions. Until the

change of command is official, I will

also get to opportunity to do some of

my favorite things as a commander, and

that is to award, promote and reenlist

high quality Soldiers. The last few

months, we’ve had several promotions;

particularly two of them from Specialist

to Non-commissioned Officers: SGT’s

Antu and Vanbeber. More recently, we

have had a few additions to the com-

pany; in fact, in the last month we have

had six babies born and several more on

the way. The future is bright for the

company. I am privileged to have had

the opportunity to be a part of this com-

pany and to work with the outstanding

Soldiers that belong to it. I have at-

tended many changes of command over

the last 12 years, and one common

theme has emerged from the outgoing

commanders speech through all of

them, and that is command is one of the

most challenging yet rewarding experi-

ences one can have in the Army. After

To the families and friends of G

Forward Support Company, the last

several months have been an exciting

and busy time for the company. We

were able to provide seamless logistics

support to the Battalion without fail

during the last several Field Training

Exercises. Notably, during our exer-

cises in Pinion Canyon, we won an

award for the best Field Feeding Section

in the Brigade. While only the Field

Feeding Section was publicly recog-

nized, I firmly believe that it holds true

to every section in the company.

Though we have been full of activity in

the recent past, our training is not about

to lighten up. We are now getting ready

for our rotation to the National Training

Center at Fort Irwin, California where

all of our hard work and training will

pay off as we continue our practice of

timely and accurate sustainment. Addi-

tionally, Golf Company is in a period of

transition as we prepare to conduct a

change of command. Captain Carlos

Figueroa is scheduled to take command

on the 22nd of May, and I will be hand-

ing over to him one of the most highly

trained Forward Support Company’s in

17 months in command, I can attest that

particular sentiment is very true. The

Gladiator Company has its work cut out

for them, but they will meet every chal-

lenge head on and not stop until they

succeed. I have witnessed this time and

again; nothing is impossible. Finally, to

the families of the Soldiers, we could

not do what we do without you. Your

support is priceless and the foundation

to our success. Thank you for

everything.

Gladiator 6

&

Gladiator 7

Over the last month, the Bulldogs of Bravo Battery have successfully prepared for

the upcoming exercise at the National Training Center by conducting support of the

Companies and Battalions of 2 ABCT at Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site. Although the

weather did not always cooperate, as the Soldiers had to endure multiple blizzards,

the platoons were always in position ready to fire in support of our maneuver broth-

ers. Most importantly, no one lost any fingers or toes in the vehicle high snow drifts,

and stayed warm in their MOPP Level 4 equipment. The training truly allowed the

Battery to see itself and develop a plan to continue on the path of greatness in every

training opportunity provided. We will continue to move forward, intending to be-

come the most trained and proficient Battery that we can.

Since the return, the Battery has focused on developing additional proficiency in our

assigned individual weapons, completing a series of M4 carbine and M249/M240

machine gun ranges. Next week will conclude the ranges, and a friendly competition

will show which section has the best shooters in the Battery. Another friendly com-

petition is also brewing with the upcoming APFT, with the top scoring platoon and

section achieving bragging rights for the next 6 months. I predict a huge upset by the

headquarters section.

Finally, I would like to thank all of the Bulldog Families for the successful FRG

meeting on the 11th of April. The Colorado weather struck once again, making it

colder and windier than expected. Becky Cyphers, Kate Lengel, and I appreciate you

all still coming out to receive valuable information about the next few months, take

the opportunity to talk with legal about Power of Attorneys, and compete in some

friendly athletic events. The basketball games may show that some of us belong in

the D League, but I still think it has to do with those double rims. Hopefully, SGT

Boler learned it is not a smart idea to drive at 1SG Harris in the lane, but some people

never learn….

We hope to see all the families again for the next FRG event on the 16th of May.

CPT Lengel & 1SG Harris


tive attitude toward themselves, the unit,

the deployment, and the Army

• Increase morale

• Foster increased levels of cohesion and

confidence for Family members and de-

ployed Soldiers

• Unite other Family programs designed to

improve the quality of life

Family Readiness

Groups Are Not: • Part of the casualty notification

process

• A babysitting service

• A surrogate parent

• A social worker

• A taxi/bus service

• A loan agency

• A lending closet/service

• A welfare agency

• All things to all

people

What is an FRG?

The official definition of a Family Readiness

Group is, “AN ORGANIZATION OF FAM-

ILY MEMBERS, VOLUNTEERS, SOL-

DIERS, AND ANYONE WHO CARES

ABOUT THE MISSION OF THE UNIT

THAT TOGETHER PROVIDE AN AVE-

NUE OF MUTUAL SUPPORT, ASSIS-

TANCE AND A NETWORK OF COMMU-

NICATION AMONG THE FAMILY MEM-

BERS, AND CHAIN OF COMMAND AND

COMMUNITY RESOURCES.”

Family Readiness Groups may be different

for every unit, depending upon the Com-

mander, the Leader, the number of Families

involved, and available resources. All FRGs

throughout the Army share the same purpose

- to empower Army Families and make them

independent rather then dependent. The role

you play in your FRG is your choice. You are

welcome to participate as much as you would

like to, or are able to. There are many pro-

jects to become involved in, each of them

important in their purpose, such as communi-

cations, newsletters, hospitality, social func-

tions, and fundraising. The more empowered

the FRGs are the more the Rear Detachment

can do to assist and support our Soldiers and

their Families.

Family Readiness Groups:

• Empower Families to become more knowl-

edgeable and self-reliant

• Promote more efficient use of community

resources

• Reduce Soldier and Family member stress

• Increase the Soldier’s ability to devote his/

her full attention to the mission

• Care for each other

• Provide a helping hand when needed

• Answer questions

• Give moral support

• Establish a sense of Family within the unit

• Access information and resources to help

you solve problems

• Provide an effective way of gaining infor-

mation and control during deployment and

other times

• Help Family members develop a more posi-


Hails: MAJ Thibodeau, Stephen

2LT Dinkel, Matt

2LT Dyianni, Issac

2LT Taggart, Ted

2LT Turner, Matt

CPT Lilley, Matt

CPT Hubbs, Edward

CPT Figueroa, Carlos

SFC Jones, David

SFC White, Timothy

Farewells:

MAJ Herman, Wade

CPT Pittard, Joe

CPT Kim, Eddie

CPT Koller, Mike

CPT Jung, Benjamin

1LT Harris, Pete

MSG Haley, Maurice

3-16 will be deploying to the National Training Center (NTC) in June. Deployments to NTC are

typically a month long and are used in preparation for deployment. 3-16 will use the deployment to

certify its firing sections prior to the upcoming deployment. 2ABCT will test all of its systems during

the deployment to NTC. The Family Readiness Groups will be used and tested just as they were

during Pinion Canyon. The Battalion wants to test all systems that it has in place prior to

deployment to ensure that they working properly.

While at NTC the Soldiers will face a 14 day field problem is what is referred to as the “Box”. Prior

to deploying to the Box, Soldiers will draw equipment from NTC and be trained on systems that they

will use during the deployment to NTC. Once the Soldiers are trained they will deploy to the Box for

14 days. Upon re-deployment from the Box, Soldiers will return all equipment drawn from NTC and

begin the process to return to Fort Carson. If you would like more information on NTC please visit

Fort Irwin's website below.

http://www.irwin.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx

SGT Donald Jimenez

SGT David McShane

SGT Maxime Montjoie

SGT Jonathan Clark

SGT Matthew Clem

SGT Jason Cornatzer

SGT Justin VanBeber

SGT Melvin Willinghan

SGT Emmanuel Mercado

Congratulations to all!

http://www.irwin.army.mil/Pages/default.aspx

On April 21st, approximately 140 Family members travelled to the field to observe

artillery live fire. While they were there, they also got to dry fire some of the

weapons systems and play around on the tanks.

Thank you to everyone that participated!

The Thunder times is an authorized online publication for the members of the Department of Defense.

Contents of the Thunder Times are not necessarily official views of or endorsed by, the U.S. Government,

DoD, or Department of the Army. The editorial content of this monthly publication is the responsibility of

the 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment.

Staff Duty 719-524-1825 will have #'s for FRLs & RDC

Command Financial

NCO(AER Loan) 719-526-2955 If no answer, call Staff Duty

FRSA 719-526-1635 [email protected]

Alpha Battery

FRG Leader [email protected]

Bravo Battery


HHB


Golf FSC


Many households today maintain a credit card for emergen-

cies, this is a bad practice.

Step 1: Pay the minimum payment on your debts while you

save up $1000.00 in a savings account. This is your emer-

gency fund for issues such as when the car breaks or emer-

gency dental care.

Step 2: After saving up $1000.00 start paying off your debts

with the “Debt Snowball.” To accomplish this pay the

minimum payments on all your debt (car loans, credit cards

etc.) except the one with the lowest balance, apply the

remainder of your monthly funds to this debt. This will pay

off the debt with the lowest balance first and free up funds

from month to month. Repeat this step until you are debt free.

For financial assistance or confidential 1 on 1 budget

counseling and contact SSG Bergstreser at 526-2955 or

[email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

Education

3 16 newsletter april 2013