1st Battalion 22nd Infantry Unit Updates December 2013 Page 3

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

1st Battalion Newsletter

December 2013

Company D, E/FSC, FRSA

Wow, it’s good to be back with family! We finally made it back to Fort Carson safe and sound after nine months
in Kuwait and are spending as much time with family and friends as we can. The first three days back
were much needed days off focused on rest, relaxation and spending time with family.

As the weeks went on, every Soldier in Delta Company underwent Re-Integration training consisting of everything
from Army Community Service classes designed to help reintegrate Soldiers to their family, reverse SRP,
and motorcycle safety check ride (for those who ride). All this Re-Integration training ensures we establish our
daily routine, company systems and get back to a battle-rhythm.

There are a lot of social events coming up before the end of the year that I’m sure you are aware of already.
On November 22nd, we have a Battalion Hail and Farewell for Platoon Sergeant and above at the Briarhurst Manor.
On 5 December, the Battalion will have host their annual ball at the Antler’s Hilton. This event was a great success last year,
and I’m sure this year will be great time for all.

Congratulations to three new Fathers in the company, SGT Calixte and SPC Krempl, and SFC Wisman.
They all got home just in time for the birth of their children and were able to take time to care for both Mother and baby.

Thank you to all the family and friends that supported Delta Company before, during and after deployment.
A strong family foundation is why we are able to do what we do and be so successful in our profession.

“Death Dealers”

Death Dealer 6

CPT Christopher A. Reed

We are home! First I want to say thank you to all the Soldiers and families for such a smooth transition back
to Fort Carson. Redeployment can often be a stressful time on both the family and the Soldier and Dealer Company
has handled those stressors exceptionally well. I hope the short duty days have facilitated some quality family time
and an opportunity to take care of any outstanding issues. This will continue to be a priority for Dealer Company
up to block leave so take advantage of it. I expect 2014 to be as busy as 2013 accompanied with a lot of unpredictable days
so this is the perfect time to relax and recharge. Without addressing specifics, the Brigade is still on a glide path to undergo
a major transformation. Details are not solidified yet and only template, but a significant amount of planning has been
dedicated to ensure a smooth transition. There are still a lot of unknowns, but as you begin to hear more and more about it
know that the professional growth of your Soldiers is one of our top priorities.

As most of you have observed the training schedule is very empty. Our main focus will be closing out the year
with several great social events culminating with the Battalion Ball. It looks to be a great event and I look forward to
having an opportunity to meet all the families of Dealer. Thanks again to all the families and friends for such a great
reintegration. Your support is never forgotten.

“Death Dealers”

Dealer 7

1SG Lackey, Brian

HQ’s Platoon, Dealer Company is home safe from a successful deployment during Operation Enduring Freedom
and the past month HQ’s has conducted mandatory redeployment training, maintenance, supporting Marian House,
and welcoming new Soldiers to the Dealer Family.

During redeployment training Soldiers were on half day schedules while they attended reverse SRP, family integration,
marriage counseling, Colorado Springs safety awareness, and master resiliency training. This training was beneficial
for Soldiers due to their separation from home and to better prepare them to integrate back into family life.

HQ’s Maintenance consisted of inventories, services, and FSR checks on the Bradley and M1 Abrams in preparation
for future hand over with Fort Hood Texas. The transformation of our battalion, HBCT to SBCT, is encouraging
our Soldiers to continue to work hard in order to meet vehicle turn-in deadlines.

HQ is also supporting the Marian House by holding a food and clothing drive for the needy and the homeless.
All collected items will go to Marian House in support of the upcoming holidays.

HQ’s would like to welcome our three new Soldiers, PV2 Valadez, PV2 Mecker, and PV2 Munoz. They will be
serving as crew members on the command tanks, D66 and D65. We would also like to welcome PV2 Munoz’s wife,
Corrinna and his 1yr old daughter Ava, welcome to the Dealer Family!

Happy holidays from HQ’s and the Dealer Family!

1LT Jonathan Harper
&
SSG Benjamin Morales

During the month of October, 1st Platoon redeployed back to Fort Carson, Colorado after enduring an 8 month
tour in Kuwait. They did an excellent job preparing all the containers and turning in all of the equipment to the
oncoming unit. Upon returning back to Fort Carson, all the Soldiers had to take part in 10 days of reintegration training,
prior to going back to work.

Now that the Soldiers are back, they have a new mission to take part in for the next couple of months. They have to return
back to their former tanks and prepare them for turn-in. This is the beginning stage of preparing for the transition over
to a Stryker Brigade. 1st Platoon has to conduct maintenance on all the tanks and ensure they are 100% ready to be turned in.
This will be a time consuming process and will be their main priority prior to block leave.

Upcoming events include a 4 day weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving Day. On 05 December 2013, the Battalion Ball
will take place. This will be a time for the Soldiers to relax and enjoy a night with their peers. From 14 December 2013
to 07 January 2014, the Soldiers will be able to take leave.

Congrats to the recent promotion of PFC Moreno and PFC Elley to the rank of Specialist! I’d like to thank 1st Platoon
for always doing a great job. I’d also like to thank all the family members out there that are helping support the Soldiers!

1st Platoon Leader
1LT Derek Harris

Since our return from Kuwait the Soldiers of “Dealer” Company have received some much deserved time off.
However, there is never any rest for the weary and Dealer Company has already signed for and received the tanks
they left behind. Unfortunately, we have received them in worse shape than we left them. But without hesitation,
the Soldiers of 2nd Platoon have already begun diligently conducting PMCS and services. With block leave
around the corner, 2nd Platoon is attempting to restore their tanks to fully mission capable in order to turn in their tanks
and receive Strykers after block leave. Our goal is to complete as much work as possible prior to block leave in order
to ensure that Christmas leave is relaxed and that upon returning to Fort Carson we have very little to do. Furthermore,
with the imminent transition to a Stryker Brigade many new changes will take place. The majority of the Soldiers from
2nd Platoon will receive the opportunity to train on a new platform and gain some much needed diversity.
Although change is usually looked upon with contempt, I believe that this will be a good change and will breathe
new life into the Battalion. Although 2nd Platoon will eventually be disbanded, the Soldiers have a lot to look forward to
in the coming months and it should be a very exciting time.

Despite the hard work ahead, 2nd Platoon is still looking forward to the holidays. Many of the Soldiers will be seeing
their families for the first time during Thanksgiving after returning home from Kuwait. Although there are only 24 days
left until block leave starts, I can still count on the fact that 2nd Platoon will give all it has in order to
accomplish the CO and BN mission.

2nd Platoon Leader
1LT Travis Gerbatsch

3rd Platoon has officially arrived at home! As of 21 October each of the sixteen members of the Platoon have returned
from Camp Buehring and have reunited with families and friends following their eight month deployment. The next month
includes many days off for holidays and time to relax and spend with loved ones, but not before 3rd Platoon returns to
Fort Carson in order to recover their tanks and conduct Tank maintenance.

Before leaving Kuwait 3rd Platoon spent many days preparing both their personal and platoon gear to be packed and shipped.
This preparation consisted of packing duffel bags and tough-boxes, and conducting thorough inventories of each bag prior
to loading them into the Company and Platoon CONEXs. Additionally, many Platoon members participated in the
customs layout, which thanks to the hard work of each soldier, took less time than anticipated. Once all their gear was
locked into CONEXs and was prepared to be shipped, 3rd Platoon soldiers moved to the task of signing over their tanks
and theater-specific equipment to incoming elements of 2nd Brigade. This process included cleaning the insides of the tanks
thoroughly, and preparing all equipment on the tank for a layout and sign-over. Once 2nd Brigade had assumed responsibility
for the equipment it was only days until the remaining members of 3rd Platoon had moved through the customs process again
in order to board a plane and head home. Flights home stopped throughout Europe and the East Coast before finally landing
in Colorado Springs and reuniting soldiers with their families.

Since returning to duty with the Company, 3rd Platoon soldiers have been hard at work each day in the motor-pool
both signing for and recovering their vehicles. Maintenance has begun on the tanks again, in preparation for early next year,
when they will moved to Fort Hood as 1st Brigade assumes the role of a Stryker Brigade Combat Team.

Congratulations are due to many of the members of this Platoon. First, to each individual soldier for their hard work
in Kuwait, without which the reputation of this Platoon and Company would not be nearly as stellar as it is. Secondly,
to SFC and Mrs. Wisman, who welcomed their son Hunter Wisman to the world on October 22, 2013. Thanks to all
the members of 3rd Platoon for your efforts throughout the last eight months, they do not go unnoticed.

3rd Platoon Leader
2LT Joshua Reed

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ELIMINATOR FAMILIES & FRIENDS:

We hope that you have all enjoyed reintegrating with you Soldiers after a great nine month deployment.

Prior to out departure from Kuwait we conducted a successful Relief In Place (RIP) with our counterparts in 2nd Brigade.
Your Soldiers did an outstanding job welcoming the new unit on ground and getting them integrated into theater.
The Eliminators displayed their great professionalism and competence by properly training our replacements how
to best conduct an Emergency Deployment Readiness Exercise (EDRE) so that they would be able to carry on the mission
the that the “Regulars” Battalion had as the Army Central’s (ARCENT) Crisis Response Force.

Since our return and notification of our transition to becoming a Stryker Battalion we have already begun preparing
for that process. A combined effort between vehicle operators and the company’s mechanics has been underway
to inspect and prepare the battalion’s Abrams Tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles for shipment to another unit
in the Army for use. The fuelers in the distribution platoon leaned forward and have already started providing the
critical support to keep the Tanks and Bradley's moving through the inspection process. The efforts everyone across
the company has put into making this a successful event for the battalion this soon after a redeployment is a true testament
to their commitment to excellence and ability to accomplish any mission.

From talking to your Soldiers it is sounding like reintegration has been great. As we prepare to go into the holidays
ensure you take time during block leave enjoy one another and have fun. You and your Soldiers deserve it after the work
that they did while deployed and after the work you all put in taking care of the home front while we were gone.
Have a safe and happy holidays.

ELIMINATORS!

CPT Kline
1SG Urrutia

Greetings Family and friends of Headquarters Platoon!

I would first like to take a moment to thank you for all you have done. Regardless of deployment type, picking up
your gear and leaving your family, friends and home for nine months is not an easy task. We accomplished many tasks
while in Kuwait, and they could not have been possible without your support to your Soldiers. Upon return, it was a priority
to give your Soldiers as much time off as possible to take care of any errands and catch up with you. The time spent
at home thus far has greatly improved morale and is seen everyday. Once again, we could not do our job without
your support and I truly thank you.

“The Strength of our nation is our Army. The strength of our Army is our Soldiers. The strength of our Soldiers is our families.
This is what makes us Army Strong!”

As we finish up our reintegration training, we return to normal duties and tasks. Currently we are focused on property
accountability, maintenance operations and re-establishing training/orderly room systems. Now that we have returned
we must go through the arduous process of inventorying items left back at Fort Carson and merging our property books
from forward and rear detachment. Combined with this we must also focus on the maintenance of our vehicles and equipment.
While rear detachment had a program focused on maintenance operations, they could only do so much. Maintenance
is especially imperative as we look to turn in equipment while we transition from a combined arms battalion to a Stryker battalion.

With the transition to a Stryker battalion some changes will be made. Equipment will be turned in, some will be drawn,
and there will be personnel changes in order to accommodate the reduction of soldiers in the battalion.

Lastly I want to recognize SGT Derek Syroka for all the hard work and effort he has given this unit. SGT Syroka
has been in the company since 2004. During that time he has made uncountable contributions, but his time in service
is coming to an end. Thank you for all you’ve done and we wish you the best of luck in your civilian life.

- SSG Quincy Babers

Greetings Families:

We would like to start by thanking you all for our warm, gracious, and loving welcome home. These last several weeks
have been highly anticipated and nothing short of spectacular. We appreciate your recognition of all we accomplished
throughout the deployment, and in return we are grateful for the countless number of things each and every one of you
did for your respective families during our absence. If it wasn’t for the hard work and sacrifices you have made, our
transition home wouldn’t have been as successful and pleasant as it has been, and for that we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Over the last couple of weeks we have obviously been given off as much time as possible so we can enjoy the maximum
amount of time with our loved ones. Although our chain of command would like to give us even more time off, there are
plenty of missions which need to be accomplished. Since coming back, we have began the process of taking back
accountability and responsibility of our property. Our rear detachment put in many long hours in order to ensure our trucks
were being maintained properly, however there is only so much they could do. Our operators have been getting their own
hands back on these trucks in order to double-check that everything is up to our standards.

In closing, we would like to congratulate SGT Plaisance on his recent promotion from CPL, and farewell our Soldiers
who have decided to transition into civilian life. SGT Bergeron, SGT Jennings, SGT LeBouef, SGT Mulligan, and SPC Kirby
have all been with Distro for several years, and their presence will be greatly missed by us all. They each possess a subject
matter expertise which is not commonly found, and we are sad to see them go, but know they will be successful in their
future endeavors. We would also like to thank SFC Kramer for all of his hard work as our Platoon Sergeant over the
last 20 months. His professionalism and dedication to duty have served as a beacon for not only our platoon, but the
entire company. As he approaches retirement, we will still have some time with him so we do not wish to farewell him yet.
However, the platoon looks forward to SSG Peterson taking on the role of Platoon Sergeant. The Company and Battalion
leadership have all the faith in the world that this seasoned veteran will do great things for us. Finally, we wish you a
happy, safe, and healthy Thanksgiving Weekend, and thank you again for all you have done.

-1LT Matt Long and SSG Dallas Peterson

Hello to all the Families of the Eliminator Maintenance Platoon.

We have all returned safely from Kuwait! Most of the platoon has finished their reintegration training. Our platoon is
ecstatic to have returned home to their friends and families. This deployment was a success because of your support
and kindness. We owe you our thanks and gratitude. As we look to the past 9 months we have successfully completed
many events. The maintenance platoon has conducted a gunnery, small weapons ranges, drivers training, combat life saver,
and countless other types of training. We were, and still are, prepared to defend America at any moment.

As we move forward, we will transition back into a garrison environment. Knowing this we have a fair amount of
work that needs to be accomplished before we start our block leave. We are diligently inspecting and repairing
all our track vehicles. From there, we will be inventorying the equipment that has been left back at Fort Carson.
The platoon will be participating in professional development focused training, taught by our NCOs. We will then have
our annual Battalion Ball. Finally, the Brigade and Battalion will have its change of command and we can start our block leave!

Some of you might have heard that we are changing to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. This is true and as result
our Mission Table of Organization and Equipment (MTOE) is changing. There will be personnel moves and changes
in the near future though our exact timeline is unclear. Thus, my promise to you is to keep our platoon as informed as possible
so your soldiers can keep you updated.

As a final note I would like to wish farewell and congratulations to SFC Timothy Hitz. SFC Hitz served gallantly as the
Maintenance Platoon Sergeant for over a year and will soon be retiring. Thank you for all you’ve done, your retirement is well deserved.

I wish you all the best and happy holidays,

2LT Kyle Davison

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