Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div. Issue 32 Oct.

28, 2010

Warhorse Brigade fit to fight

Story and photos by Sgt. Ruth Pagan
2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO
Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat
Team, 4th Infantry Division have been
chosen to participate in a physical fitness and
injury prevention program called Iron Horse
Performance Optimization Program.
“Our number one goal is to decrease the
injuries we have right now and number two
is to get Soldiers in shape so they don’t get
injured during deployment,” said Capt. Laura
Bluemle, the physical therapist for 2nd BCT,
4th Inf. Div.
“Right now we are in the phase where
we are training the leaders and screening
Soldiers,” said Spc. Jessica Malbrough, a
medic from Company C, 204th Brigade
Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.
“We are the only Brigade, thus far, to
complete Train the Trainer,” said Bluemle.
The Train the Trainer Course consisted
of lecture and hands on practice during
a four day span, Sept. 27-30 and Oct. 4-7.
Two noncommisioned officers from every
platoon in the brigade were selected to attend
and were taught the Building the Soldier
Athlete Reconditioning Program and TC
3-22.20, the Army’s new physical readiness
training manual. The NCOs also learned
“This program is awesome because
it builds your body up and it decreases
the likelihood of injury. It only takes one
how to screen Soldiers using the Functional pull up to save your life in combat,” said
Movement Screen and Y-balance Test. Malbrough.
“These tests have been proven to be able
to identify Soldiers at risk for injury,” said
Bluemle.
She added that they are currently working
on screening every soldier to see how they
rank in their level of risk for injury. Once
the risk level is determined the team,
consisting of four civilian contractors: two
athletic trainers and two certified strength
and conditioning specialists, will work
with that Soldier and will provide exercises
that strengthen and prevent injuries. The
Spc. Logan Curci, the squadron commanders driver with the HHT,
screening started Oct. 12 and is scheduled to 1st Sqdn., 10th Cal. Reg., performs a lateral movement during
last through Nov. 11. Train the Trainer, Oct. 4-7.
“Many of the Platoon Strength Coaches
are working with the IHPO team and are
doing an outstanding job conducting the
screens,” said Bluemle.
“It’s a real fine line to walk. You want
to get a person in the best shape possible
without breaking them. It’s real easy to step
over that line and once you break them
they fall way down and then you have some
catching up to do,” said Bluemle.
“We want to get Soldiers off profile as Sgt. Timothy Terrell, a section sergeant with D FSC, 1st Sqdn.,
quickly as possible and have them not get 10th Cav. Reg., performs a heel hook during Train the Trainer,
injured again,” said Bluemle. Oct. 4-7.

Command Sergeant Major’s Corner accidents before they have the

Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa, CSM
2nd Brigade Combat Team
You always hear, “Anyone can
stop an unsafe act” because it’s
always true.
The tempo of our operations,
the changes of equipment, and
the changing weather increase
accidental risk. Taking care of
Soldiers is considering safety
in all we do. Every member of
the team has the authority and
responsibility to stop an unsafe
act. Exercise that authority.
The brigade is busy and multi-
tasking. With our units and
individuals doing many different
things across post, the country
and the world, it becomes even
more important for our most
junior teammates to assert their
authority. We all must care for
each other.
As we reorganize our forma-
tions for deployment, the brigade
will turn-in tracked vehicles
and draw wheeled vehicles. This
change includes risk as operators
learn the new equipment. Be-
sides the obvious concerns about
tactical driving safety, Soldiers
must understand how to properly
PMCS their new equipment. Dis-
ciplined PMCS will help prevent
chance to occur.
The changing weather also
poses safety concerns. As
you noticed, the weather went
from nice to cold overnight
and daylight hours are fewer.
As we conduct mounted and
dismounted field training in
November and December,
all must remain alert for
cold-weather injuries and
the effects of limited visibil-
ity. Furthermore, operating
wheeled vehicles in the snow is
different than tracks. Under-
stand the limitations of your
personnel and equipment to
continued on page 2
page 2 Warhorse Pride Issue 32 Oct. 28, 2010

Talon Soldiers conduct funeral for a hero

Story by Maj. Bradley Helton funeral on behalf of the Army while Brigadier
2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment General Doty and Command Sgt. Maj. John
A detail of eighteen NCOs and Soldiers led Kurak represented the 4th Infantry Division.
by 1st Sgt. Gregg Smith from Company B, 2nd The Texas National Guard also provided
Bn., 8th Inf. Reg. conducted the Full Honors Apaches to fly over. And the Soldiers from
Funeral at the Houston National Cemetery Talon performed their solemn duties.
for Medal of Honor recipient and 4th Infantry The funeral will carry meaning for the
Division Vietnam Veteran 1st Sgt. David H. Soldiers on the detail for the rest of their lives.
McNerney, Oct. 16. As Sgt. Jeff Henley, a native of the Houston
Full Honors Funerals are normally con- area stated that the opportunity to serve as (photo by Eric Kayne, Houston Chronicle)
ducted by the Old Guard at Arlington; the Pallbearer NCOIC for a local hero was a Members of 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment
however, McNerney had specially requested particularly special honor. conduct funeral honors for former 8th Infantry First Sergeant,
and Medal of Honor Winner, 1st Sgt. David H. McNerny, Oct. 16.
that the Division, of which he was so proud, He said “we tried to make it as perfect as
conduct his funeral. perfect could be.” Staff Sgt. William Feldhahn,
The funeral grew to a community event. Firing Detail NCOIC, said that all of the
Patriotic citizens lined several miles of road Soldiers considered their involvement in the
from the church in Crosby to the interstate. detail to be a “huge honor” and a “memorable
Reflecting the significance of McNerney’s ser- experience.”
vice, General Thurman, current FORSCOM Hearing how much McNerney loved his
Commander and a former Commanding Gen- country made them all wonder “whether or
eral of the 4th Infantry Division, spoke at the not we do enough.” (photo by Eric Kayne, Houston Chronicle)

HHC wins 2STB Organization Day properly mitigate risk.

continued from page 1

Story and photo by Spc. April York and excited for the [day’s] events,” said Stevenson. The concept of stopping unsafe acts
2nd Brigade Combat Team, PAO Family members were also invited and a jumping does not stop at the gate or at the end of
Soldiers from 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd castle was provided for younger children. the duty day. Taking care of Soldiers is
Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division band- Midday all the events took a break and it was also intervening while off-duty. Good
ed together on their bat- time for lunch. Cooks friends stop their battle buddies from
talion’s organizational day from HHC as well as Ste- self-destructive behavior by having the
to play sports, eat barbecue venson prepared hamburg- hard conversations with someone who
and be merry Oct. 22. ers and hotdogs for the is struggling emotionally. Be a good
To add a bit of friendly battalion. Chips, bever- friend by taking the keys away from
competition each company ages, condiments, side someone who’s been drinking. Be a
competed for a silver cup dishes and cookies were good friend by alerting the chain of
and bragging rights. The also provided. command of possible family problems.
events that determined the The results of the com- Anyone can stop an unsafe act.
winner included softball, petition were Headquar-
basketball, horseshoes, guidon relay and volleyball. ters and Headquarters Troop won horseshoes,
“The purpose of this event is to build unit cohe- Company C won volleyball and basketball, and
sion,” said Lt. Col. Patrick Stevenson, commander Headquarters and Headquarters Company won
for 2nd STB. softball and the guidon relay. The overall winners
“For the past seven months we have been train- of the silver cup were HHC.
ing hard and this is a pause for the Soldiers as we Everything came together nicely. “It was about
go forth and get ready for deployment.” getting Soldiers out of the office, out of their
The events started promptly at 9 a.m. and the uniforms, relaxing and just being people,” said
competition was on. “The Soldiers [were] happy Stevenson.

Warhorse Pride
Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSM
Maj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAO
Spc. April York........................................Layout and Design
Sgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor
Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the fairs Office.
Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen-
Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news- tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride
letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the
Contents of The Warhorse Pride are publication.
not necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S. All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed
government, Department of Defense, Department of the online from your home computer at www.facebook.
Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content com/2bct4id
of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and Submissions should be emailed to the
approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Af- editor: seth.barham1@conus.army.mil