1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Updates October 2009 Page 2

Greetings Gator Families and Friends both New and Seasoned! Much has occurred since our last report from Iraq.
We conducted a very successful redeployment to Ft. Hood, TX, took some well deserved post-deployment leave,
and then undertook the arduous task of moving our Families up to Ft. Carson, CO. For the Families that greeted
our arrival to Ft. Carson, we Thank You very much for your warm welcome and gracious hospitality
during the formation of our new Gator Family and Family Readiness Group. You’ve made us a better and
stronger organization by bringing us on board quickly and making our transition very smooth.

From July through August the Gator Soldiers worked tirelessly to help establish our solid base before
we began training on individual Soldier Skills. With a 50% change-over of leadership and Soldiers,
the establishment of new systems was paramount to the future success of our organization.
Some of these systems that your Family members were integrally involved in creating were:
the new chain-of-command, supply room operations, armsroom operations, training room operations,
reporting procedures, and administrative paperwork handling for evaluations, awards, and vacation leave.
Though this was sometimes tedious and boring work, it was necessary and your Family members
executed the mission flawlessly; a trademark this company has always enjoyed.

From September until present, your Family members have started individual skills training. This is part
of building yet another strong base from which we will build upon to ensure your Family members are well trained
and prepared for the next deployment in the summer of 2010. This training has focused primarily on
five fundamentals: Communication, Leadership, Life Saving Aid, Marksmanship, and Physical Fitness.
Some of the training events and classes have included: Basic Rifle Marksmanship, Advanced Rifle Marksmanship,
Combat Lifesaver, Radio Setup/Utilization, Landing Zone Setup, Medical Evacuation, Call For Fire (Field Artillery),
and Language Training. The Soldiers have certainly enjoyed getting out to the rifle ranges the most.
We’ve concentrated mainly on zeroing the weapon systems, qualifying each Soldier on their weapon system
(hitting 23 out of 40 pop-up targets), and night firing with the lasers. This weapons training has immensely increased
the Soldiers’ confidence in their ability to engage targets with their sights and laser target designators,
which is extremely important as we will soon find ourselves transitioning into Squad and Team
Live Fire Exercises in January and February of next year.

Since the command team is new to nearly half the company, I’d like to take this opportunity to briefly introduce
the Gator leadership team, myself and 1SG David J. Stoen and Family, eagerly serving side by side with
your great Family members and ready to assist & support the larger Gator Family that keeps us all going,
day-in and day-out! 1SG David J. Stoen originally hails from Decorah, Iowa and his wife of 12 years,
Darcy Stoen, is from Waterloo, Iowa. They have two kids Ethan (18) who is currently attending the
University of Northern Iowa and Katelyn (16) who is a Junior at Starmont High School. 1SG Stoen
has honorably served in the Army for 19 years and 9 months amassing a wealth of knowledge and experience
during the three Desert Storm Campaigns and five DEA Missions that he conducted with JTF-6 all over
the United States. In his off time, 1SG Stoen enjoys “Bending Steel” at the gym when he’s not camping,
enjoying outdoor sports, or watching the Iowa Hawkeyes or Pittsburgh Steelers destroy lesser teams.
He and Darcy have quite a flock to tend to, including two dogs, Ranger and Chopper, and four cats,
Shaq, Orlando, Jace, and Marley. 1SG Stoen’s motto is “Never fail my comrades, my wife, or my country!”
He lives that every day and has imparted the same atmosphere across the company. 1SG Stoen and his Family
are an outstanding addition to the Gator Family and we should all feel very fortunate to have such a Professional
by our side as we begin our preparations for the ensuing deployment to Afghanistan. Welcome Stoen Gators!

I myself am originally from Brownstown, Indiana where my parents still reside. Since graduating from
the United States Military Academy in 2002, I have spent 7 years in the Army, serving one year in the
Republic of Korea, two years at Ft. Irwin, California, two years at Ft. Hood, Texas, one year in
various schools, and now working on my first year here at Ft. Carson, Colorado. I have been deployed twice
in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, from Ft. Irwin and Ft. Hood. Since my arrival here in late June
I have been supremely impressed with the professional work ethic and highly motivated attitudes displayed
by these great Soldiers on a daily basis. None of this would be possible if it wasn’t for your outstanding support
at home that enables these warriors to perform their tough duties on a daily basis.

Several Gator Soldiers intently watch as SGT Kenneth Wayland prepares to launch a pie
in 1SG David Stoen's face, a gracious participant during the A Company FRG Fundraiser event
held during the A Company FRG meeting on October 2nd.

In Family Readiness Group news, we’ve had two great meetings already with an awesome turnout of Family members.
The first meeting was composed primarily of introductions, my intent for the FRG functions and purpose
of the group, available volunteer opportunities, fundraiser ideas, and some general information on H1N1
given by CPT Sacheli, the Battalion Physician’s Assistant. Rachel, Grace, and Darcy also made some great snacks
which made the mundane/mandatory information that had to be put out worth sitting through. The second meeting/event
was conducted in our Company training bay where we held a large barbecue, put out some information about
upcoming events, and conducted a very successful fundraiser that netted $900. Myself and 1SG took a pie to the face
for the fundraiser, where for most who were there that probably made the event all worthwhile. There was also
a Bradley Fighting Vehicle on static display for Family members to climb around on and overall the event was
a huge success. We hope to see the same turnout and more during our next meeting at the Family Readiness Center
on October 28th at 6 PM.

In other exciting news, we have promoted a few very deserving Soldiers since our last report. This is representative
of not only their outstanding performance but also their willingness to seek higher levels of responsibility
in this profession of arms. We look forward to supporting these great Soldiers as they grow in their professional
development and continue to be a part of the reason that this company is so successful.

Our Gator Family has recently experienced some very special new additions. We are extremely happy for the new
Gator Babies and our newest Gator Spouses that have graciously joined our Family. You are all a blessing
and we wish you all the very best and pray that your adjustments whether to the Army life or to sleepless nights
with a new bundle of joy go smoothly. Below you will find our newest members of our stronger Gator Family:

In closing, I and 1SG Stoen & Family would like to express our sincere gratitude for your warm welcome
to Fort Carson and for conducting the difficult move from Ft. Hood, TX. We would also like to send out
a special Thank You for your continued support of these brave men that you so graciously offer and support
during our country’s time of need. We absolutely could not do it without you!
We hope this finds you doing well and in high spirits. Take care and be safe!

Hello Bear family,
We greatly appreciate your attendance at the 7 OCT FRG meeting and I ask for your continued support.
Without the support of our Bear families we will ultimately fail as an organization.

FRG
So far our Care Team consists of one volunteer. We still need more help and will publish upcoming opportunities
for training. Our next FRG Meeting will be after Gunnery on 18 NOV. The location is up for discussion as
FRG members live all over, however there are many advantages to holding them on Fort Carson.
Dawn (FRG Leader) is holding a volunteer meeting in order to hold more lengthy discussions than are practical
at the main meeting regarding fundraising and planning.(see below for details) Additionally, we would like to have
the majority of our spouse’s participate in the Suicide Prevention Training October 26th at 6:00 p.m. located
at Brigade Headquarters, Room B110. Please contact the FRG chain of concern for more information.

Training
October has been a busy month due to simultaneous gunnery preparations, necessary certifications,
and dismounted Infantry training. The schedule required the majority of Soldiers to train into the evening twice,
and again on OCT 27th. A select few, including all officers, are conducting additional training to operate
the Bradley Fighting Vehicles. In order to succeed in our future deployment we are executing a somewhat more
aggressive training plan than some people are accustomed to. I assure you that the ISG and I are doing so
with one thing in mind: the future of our Soldiers and their loved ones.

I want to welcome all family and friends to what I hope will be just the beginning of a very good informative
newsletter for all family and friends of the “Copperheads” C Co 1-22. I won’t promise but will do my best
to provide updates not only in training but your Soldiers monthly successes as I see it from my desk.
I want to thank all of the families for a great turn out to our first FRG meeting. Captain Watkins and I are working
close together for this tank company to be very successful both in training and in combat. My job will be
to make sure all my Soldiers are prepared and ready for the fight and to take care of disciplinary problems.

In closing, you too have a large part in this monthly newsletter making this a success I count on your comments.
I look forward to hearing from you. Photos of company activities and training events will be part of our monthly newsletters.
This newsletter is separate from the Family Support Group but will highlight training events and provide you
a small picture of your husband or son training and will add a little humor to the daily challenges. I hope to have
this newsletter out not only to the company wives but all family members across the United States, just as my wife
and boys are far away this will keep them in tune with our company. Again, I appreciate any and all input
on how we can make this newsletter better for all. TANKS!

Headquarters Platoon has been heavily involved in turning in old equipment and picking up new equipment.
As we grow we lose our XO 1st Lieutenant Muir and gain 1st Lieutenant Fitzpatrick. We have been working
to get him to our company since June this year! His experience brings a relief to me and the Company Commander.
As for 1st Lieutenant Muir his challenges in the S6 shop will keep him busy. Thanks 1st Lieutenant Muir
for all the help you provided not only me as 1st Sergeant but, the Company as a whole, Thanks Again!

We have the maintenance and medic personnel who normally are with their companies, Headquarters and
Headquarters Company and the Forward Support Company are now assigned to us which brings our numbers
from 52 to 61 personnel. As for the Headquarters Platoon, I would like to make mention of two additions
to our military family. Sergeant Albright’s and Private Fleury’s families now have new additions to their families;
the babies were the first born here at Fort Carson for our Battalion this past summer.

Our supply sergeant has recently went under for shoulder surgery and is recouping. Thanks to Private Juarez
for filing in and stepping up as the Assistant Supply Sergeant, stepping up and doing a great job in Sergeant Tetidrick’s
absence. Sergeant Angus will be attending Combatives Level III course at Ft Benning in January 2010,
a very difficult course and we wish him LUCK! Congratulations to Private First Class Coleman
for making Specialist this month!

What 1st Platoon has been Doing
by 2nd Lieutenant Joshua Brooks, 1st Platoon Leader

Since moving to Fort Carson, 1st Platoon has been conducting training at the individual level in preparation
for future operations. Training over the previous weeks has included crew responsibilities and maintenance
on an Abrams main battle tank, operating the .50 caliber and M240C machine guns, intense physical training
focused on improving Soldiers stamina during combat operations and basic rifle marksmanship.
On October 8th, 2009, 1st Platoon ran Charlie Company’s M16 / M4 qualification range. During those operations
1st Platoon facilitated some 40 Soldiers from Charlie and other companies firing over 5,800 rounds of ammunition.
As a result, approximately 90% of the Charlie Company Soldiers that participated in the range qualified.
As we gain new personnel we also lose our friends from Charlie Company. Sergeant First Class Sotomayor,
Sergeant Morales and Private First Class Garcia all recently left our Company to the S3 Training Shop.
First Sergeant I wish them luck in the 3 Shop!

The calendar has been filled with training and intense preparation for future operations since arriving from Fort Hood,
Texas. 2nd platoon has immersed themselves in crew evacuations from an Abrams main battle tank,
disassembly and reassembly of a .50 caliber machine gun and M240C, sharpening land navigation skills,
basic rifle marksmanship, and learning radio operations and reports, all while enduring combat focused physical training.
On September 30th, 2009, 2nd Platoon ran the first live fire zeroing range for Charlie Company.
This range gave Soldiers a chance to zero their rifles to ensure rounds will strike where they are aimed.
It was the first step to many live fire ranges the company will be conducting in the coming months.
In the next few weeks, we will be drawing our platoon’s tanks and begin new equipment training. In addition,
we are focusing on multiple rifle and machine gun ranges. As we continue to receive equipment and personnel,
our training tempo is going to increase in order to ensure our Soldiers are more than prepared
for a deployment to Afghanistan.

We would like to thank Faith Friend, spouse of Private First Class Calvin Friend, for graciously volunteering
to be the 2nd Platoon Family Readiness Group point of contact.

Third Platoon has been on a roll. We are steadily but surely getting started on the path to deployment and everyone
is eager for the high speed training we have been launching. We have been conducting classes and PT
to get us physically fit for missions ahead.
We just hit up the incline in Manitou Springs, perfect for getting us ready to climb the mountains and hills
in Afghanistan. The trailhead elevation which we hiked up stands at 6,570 feet and we can all tell you that it is
easier said than done. Even after reaching the peak, we were not done yet; we still had to take the trail down
the backside of the mountain to get down.
Of course, we have also been doing lots of weapons training, making sure they are set right.
Our efforts paid off when we all qualified with our weapons on the qualification range even with the sleet
and snow falling on us in 34 degree weather. No matter, we are Soldiers and we handle it all..

Promotions

Company Events
Gunnery Skills Test
Columbus Day Holiday
Advanced Gunnery Skills Trainer for Certain Crews
Small Arms Weapons Qualification
New Equipment Training begins October 21st
Company PT Test October 23rd
FRG Meeting October 28th

Birthday
Specialist Michael Menchaca of 2nd Platoon, born in Harlingen, Texas, turned 21 years old on October 13th, 2009.