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November 20, 2012 Volume 4, Issue 1

Inside this issue:

Command

Messages

2

Ready to GO! 3

Chaplain's

Corner

4

Adopt-a-School

Update

5

Unit Events 6

Stork Report 7

Helpful Information 8

Keeping the Soldiers and Families of the 120th Infantry Brigade Informed

UPCOMING

EVENTS

November 23

III Corps Holiday

December15

BDE Holiday Party December 24 & 31 III Corps Holidays

January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday

Visit our Facebook

Page

Soldiers and Family members attended November’s Strong

Bonds Family Retreat at Flying L Ranch in San Antonio, TX. The

retreat touched on survival skills for healthy Families and allowed

guests of all ages to spend quality time together horseback riding,

singing songs around a campfire, and appreciating the beauty of

the great outdoors.

Strong Bonds Family Retreat

First Army—

Families First

2

Team, On behalf of my family and CSM Johnson and his family, thank you for your service in support of our nation. I am proud to be a part of the best brigade in First Army. Your efforts in support of our mission have been magnificent. Leaders, Soldiers and the formations that we have trained are serving with distinction across the depth and breadth of the battlefield in Afghanistan and the CENTCOM theater of operations. They provide essential sustainment, transportation, and medical ser-vices to support and enable a successful mission. Our mission in sup-port of our Soldiers is sacred, and a grateful nation thanks you for your tireless pursuit of mission accomplishment. We can't take care of our mission, if we don't take care of our Team. As we head into the Holiday Season, I would ask everyone to

take the opportunity and relish the operational pause that the season affords. As we take this break and enjoy our Families and some hard-earned free time, I ask everyone to recommit to the Army Values and high personal standards in all aspects of our lives. Rest, reset, and refit for future operations, and enjoy the season. The nation and the Soldiers we serve are counting on us. Thanks for your service and sacrifice. May the Season bless you and your Families.

In the Fight! Bayonet 6

FROM THE COMMAND TEAM

Team, As we enter the Holiday Seasons of Thanksgiving and Christmas we must remember we are still "In the Fight". Leaders must stay vigilant over of our formations’, recognize stress and maintain trust and discipline. We must take every opportunity to talk with our Soldiers and their Families; keep them informed, pro-vide predictability and be sensitive to their needs. I want every Leader and Soldier to know they are an important member of the Bayonet Team. As we look forward to increased mobilizations and demobilizations in the New Year; I expect everyone to take some time to relax, spend time with your Family and always remember our fellow Soldiers and Civilians who are still in harms way.

Thank you for your contributions in support of our Nation. Take Care of yourself, your Family and your Battle Buddy. I look forward to another rewarding and prosperous year. In the Fight! Bayonet 7

3

Despite the drawdown in Afghanistan, 120th Infantry Brigade remains busy providing the best

post-mobilization training for our Army National Guard and Army Reserve units serving in support

of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) . The 120th is responsible for coordinating and resourcing

training for aviation, medical, and logistics units.

A Soldier takes on a “hostile civilian” during combatives training.

Soldiers in training take time to meet with

a group of civilians from Gatesville to

discuss training.

Civilian role players enhance training by forcing Soldiers to react in a culturally

sensitive manner and in line with rules of engagement.

4 IN THE FIGHT Brigade Chaplain

Survival Skills For Families

‘Tis the season for Family gatherings: Thanksgiving,

Christmas, New Year’s Day, and more. At a recent

Strong Bonds training event for Army Families, we

learned about Survival Skills for Healthy Families.

Healthy Families embrace the following principles:

1. Parents are the leaders of the Family. Not tyrants

nor bullies, but strong, loving leaders who model Family

values like honesty, faithfulness, and truth-telling.

2. Parents make rules for the Family. The rules provide

structure, organization, efficiency, and reinforce values,

like hard work, responsibility, and accountability.

3. Children in healthy Families have both a strong

sense of belonging and individuality. Every voice matters in healthy Families.

4. Children in healthy Families contribute to the well-being of the household (chores, rules, happi-

ness, peace, etc).

5. Couples in healthy Families are a team. There is not a constant power struggle. Couples in

healthy Families lead from a position of unity which results from good communication and decision-

making. A house divided will fall. A house united will stand.

6. Healthy Families embrace change. All living things grow, including Families. Healthy Families

recognize stress as an indicator for the need to make changes. Change overcomes stress and re-

sults in peace.

7. Healthy Families solve problems together. Identify the problem. Make a plan, and implement the

plan together. One person cannot solve all of the problems.

8. Healthy Families talk about sex, drugs, alcohol, and other high risk behaviors in a way that is con-

structive, and keeps all members focused on living according Family values. Forgiveness and love

empower Families to overcome setbacks.

9. Healthy Families have Family meetings. Allow everyone to talk. Use a talking stick. (The only

person who can speak is the one holding the talking stick.). Speak up for yourself. Listen to others,

and negotiate differences.

10. Healthy Families enjoy the holidays and strengthen their love for one another by celebrating

their most important values and beliefs together. All members are engaged and participate whole-

heartedly.

From our Family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Chaplain (MAJ) Maury and Linda Millican

5 IN THE FIGHT Adopt-a-School

Bayonet Volunteers Support Red Ribbon Week

“Camouflage Day", was the third day in the five

days of Red ribbon Week held at Gatesville

Intermediate School. National Red Ribbon Week

is a program promoting drug abuse and bullying

education and prevention.

Students interacted with an Army sniper in a full

ghillie suit as several 120th INF. BDE. volunteers

painted students’ faces. Soldiers also picked the

best camouflage costumes from among the student

body.

“It was really difficult to choose the winners,” said

MSG Roy Trevino, 120th Inf. BDE. Adopt-A-

School volunteer. “The kids all worked really hard

on their costumes and we thought they all de-

served prizes.” The winners received Red Ribbon

bracelets and various door prizes from the school

counselor, Mrs. Becky Coward, the organizer of the

school’s Red Ribbon Week events.

Mrs. Aguilar’s fourth grade class took first

place in the 20th annual Gatesville Inter-

mediate School Food Drive. Volunteers

from 2-393 supported the victors and

helped load and unload 2,780 lbs of

canned goods destined for the Gatesville

Care Center.

School Principal, Mr. Charles Ament,

treated the ecstatic 9 year-olds to lunch in

Gatesville to celebrate their big win. The

food of choice? Pizza, of course! “The

food drive is organized by our leadership

team,” said Mr. Ament, “It teaches the chil-

dren responsibility and to care for each

other

20th Annual Food Drive

SFC Walsh of the Bayonet Brigade paints the face of a

Middle School Student during Red Ribbon Week.

120th INF BDE Soldier helps collect food items.

6 IN THE FIGHT Unit Events

Halloween Fun Run

SSG Antuan Snead, 120th BDE S3 Schools

NCO

SSG Snead showed off his winning zombie costume at the Division

West Halloween Fun Run on 27 October 2012. SSG Snead was

among several Bayonet Soldiers who participated in the Halloween

Fun Run. In addition to enjoying the event bayonet Soldiers de-

signed and manned seven obstacles for the 5K and 1 mile Family

Fun Run courses. The obstacles required costumed runners to

navigate logs, snake underneath concertina wire and dodge ghouls

in a mad dash to cross the finish line. Runners who lost their flags

to a ghoul had the chance to “power up” at one of many recharge

stations by doing burpies or push-ups. The day culminated with

free steak and music for all to enjoy, courtesy of the American Beef

Battalion and the Clayton Adams Band.

120th Infantry Soldiers played the brigades' Turkey Bowl in November. The Turkey Bowl is an an-

nual intramural competition that builds morale and unit cohesion. HHC/120, 2-393

and 2-395 played a single elimination football tournament. Congratulations to 2-395 for another

Championship Year!

2-395 FA Wins Annual Turkey Bowl

7

CPT Brittiane Staton (S-6 OIC), left, and Mrs. Wilson

(wife of MAJ Wilson) brought their newest additions to

October’s “Sip ‘n See” event hosted by the Brigade S1

shop. The little ones arrived just before the quarterly

baby shower and earned themselves a separate

celebration at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Killeen.

IN THE FIGHT Stork Reports

.

BAYONET STORK REPORT

CPT Bri and Mr. Joseph Staton Jr. Kaleb Martin, 30 July, 2012

CPT Daine and Mr. Trammell

Aiden Xavier 30 August, 2012

SSG Antuan and Mrs. Deirdre Snead

Skylan 27 September, 2012

MAJ Thomas and Mrs Arcy Wilson Tiffany Ashley 1 August, 2012

SPC Judy and Mr. McCart

Olivia Ann 17 August, 2012

MAJ Dan and Mrs. Hewerdine (MDOC) are expecting triplet boys in De-cember. CPT Patricia and Mr. Cruz (3-289) are expecting twins, a girl and a boy in December.

On 2 August 2012, the Brigade hosted its first Celebration of Babies; this

was a joint baby shower hosted by volunteers of the Brigade's Family Readiness Team to recognize five couples who were all due to give birth

between 25 August through 27 September 2012. The couples honored were as

8 IN THE FIGHT Helpful Information

Chaplain Maurice Millican 254-553-5652

Ms. Cornelia Crittenden FRSA 254-553-5436

Army One Source

www.myarmyonesource.com

Army Family Team Building

Volunteer Opportunities

Army Life Information

Call 1-800-342-9647

Important Fort Hood Phone Numbers

ACS: 254-287-4471

Housing: 254-287-4212

Nurse Advice Line: 254-553-3695

Relocation Readiness: 254-287-4471

TRICARE: 800-444-5445

Darnell Appt Line: 254-288-8888

III Corps Hotline: 254-287-0100

Fort Hood Operator: 254-287-1110

Family Assistance Center: 254-288-7570

Family Advocacy Program: 254-286-6774

New Parent Support Program: 254-287-2286

Military Police (24 hrs): 254-288-1062

School Liaison Office: 254-288-7946

Child & Youth Services: 254-287-9833

Fort Hood Abuse Hotline: 254-287-2273

Employment Readiness Branch: 254-286-6684

EFMP: 254-287-6070

Ingredients:

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 1/4 cups granulated white sugar 3/4 cup salted butter, softened 1/2 cup eggnog 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large egg yolks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300°F.

2. In a small bowl, combine all the dry ingredients to-gether. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter. Add remaining ingredients and beat at medium speed until smooth. Add dry ingredients and beat at low speed just until blended.

3. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet, 1 inch apart. Sprinkle lightly with additional nutmeg.

4. Bake for 23-25 minutes or until bottoms turn light brown. Transfer to wire racks to cool.

5. Sprinkle with Confectioner’s sugar (Optional).

Bayonet Snickerdoodle