Volume 3, Issue 3 by Authority of the Ohio Military Reserve. In accordance with OHMR Regulation 601-5 April 2010

The Official newsletter of the 1st Battalion / 1st Civil Support and Sustainment Brigade

This newsletter is for informational purposes only and does not replace or amend orders or information from the Commander or your chain of command. This newsletter is UNCLASSIFIED and approved by the OHMR PAO for unrestricted distribution

Benefit Info Page 4

People News Page 3

Operation RESPECT Page 1

Photo Gallery Page5

(Cont’d page 2)

1st Civil Support Battalion Commander COL James Riddell briefs 1

st

Battalion soldiers on what training lies ahead towards the goal of readying the 1

st Civil Support and Sustainment Brigade for deployment.

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SSSpppeeeaaarrrhhheeeaaadddsss ttthhheee FFFuuutttuuurrreee ooofff ttthhheee OOOHHHMMMRRR Story & photos by 1SG Gary Kiser

It’s “ A Brave New World” wrote Aldous Huxley in 1931 describing events of a future society in his novel of the same name. The 1

st Civil Support Battalion is also writing its own history and the

future of the Ohio Military Reserve by aggressively moving forward with a training program that will prepare soldiers for the critical mission of the Brigade in times of disaster. The Adjutant General for Ohio, MG Gregory Wayt, has clearly defined what needs to be done to make the OHMR a viable asset to the Governor, and our soldiers and leadership are stepping up to the challenge to ensure that goal is met. All eyes are on the 1

st Battalion as we begin coordinating training with our National

Guard counterparts and civilian agencies. Since October 2009 the reorganization of the Ohio Military Reserve has created a dramatic impact on the command structure from the top down and that impact is being felt at the soldier level. Soldiers are being chosen for training opportunities with the National Guard which supports our mission of providing shelter and resource management. Training would include food service operations, sanitation training, logistics to include transportation and supply operations and security. In turn, Ohio Military Reserve units support the National Guard state missions with ready troops able to respond when called to augment and support Guard units in times of disaster or state mobilization. “Our goal is quite simple”, states 1

st Civil Support Battalion Commander COL James

Riddell “to provide ready soldiers when called upon. This presents a real challenge for us because of the variety of tasks that can fall into our primary areas of assignment”. COL Riddell refers to the broad mission of the OHMR and particularly the 1

st Battalion.

OPERATION RESPECT Helps To Protect a Symbol Of Freedom And Duty Story by CPT James Nowak B Co 1st BN

Since 2001 Operation Respect, at the

Andersons stores in Toledo, collects faded, worn & torn flags to be respectfully retired as prescribed in the U.S. Flag code. This year, Boy Scouts and members of the Pershing Rifles from the University of Toledo staffed the collection posts. Each year 2,000 - 3,000 flags are accepted and occasionally, a flag is turned in along with a story. It was surprisingly sunny & warm for an Ohio November. Even amidst the bustle of the Saturday morning errands at The Andersons, many people walked up to the Operation Respect volunteers with an air of quiet reverence, carefully handing their worn flags to the Scouts & soldiers… usually with a quiet smile, a soft, ―Thank you.‖ Probably a hundred flags had already been turned in when a gentleman approached Pershing Rifle‘s SGT Jasmine Tropf. He shook her hand with both of his and thanked her for her service. When he released her hand, there was a small, folded American flag in her palm. It was about 4 by 6 inches, stained & dirty. ―This was my younger brother’s,” he said. “He carried it in his breast pocket in Vietnam. That’s where it was when he was killed there. Another soldier from his unit brought it back to me and told me he knew my brother would have wanted me to have it”.

(Cont’d page 3)

Iott Runs For Congress Page 4

BRING A FRIEND

TO DRILL! Do you know someone who

would like to receive the 1

st Battalion OHMR newsletter?

Email: gary.clinton.kiser@us.army.mil

Getting Soldiers Out Of the Classroom

What is more boring than sitting in a classroom

for hours on end? While it‘s true that certain educational requirements demand a formal classroom environment, your soldiers are better served by having them step away from the desk and head to a training site more realistic to the mission of the unit. Studies have shown that soldiers retain more information when challenged both mentally and physically. Putting a task to the test in an environment that challenges a soldiers decision making skills as well as the physical hardships of a critical mission develops a better sense of what lies ahead in the case of mobilization.

Good leaders recognize that realistic and challenging training is the cornerstone of an effective unit. Realism can only be achieved by utilizing creative training techniques and falling back on the experience of qualified instructors. Soldiers who engage in this type of training outside of the classroom are more likely to re-enlist and maintain a higher attendance at drills and annual training. As with any effective training program, good planning is the key. Here are some pointers to get you out of the classroom:

Get a list of training aids throughout the Battalion. If you don’t know where they are -ASK.

Take a walk around the armory. Make notes of locations, terrain features and buildings. Note everything including posts, fences, roads, ditches, out buildings, etc.

Prepare your people. Make sure they have the proper gear; gloves, field jacket, poncho, extra uniform. Be prepared to ‘practice being miserable’.

Do not wait for higher to direct your training program. Create your training outline now but ensure it is in line with the Battalion METL.

One thing is certain; we will not be mobilized to a classroom. Flood, tornado or blizzard will bring hardship on both those we‘re helping and our own soldiers. Along with your training outline you will need to feed, clothe and shelter your people. The best place to learn that lesson is outside. Keep your soldiers coming back for training by making it interesting, uncomfortable and most of all challenging. Photo 1LT Charles Defer

SFC Toby Notestine 1st BN Operations &

Training NCO, plots the Battalion training calendar

1st Battalion Leads the Way (cont’d from page 1)

COL Riddell goes on to add “ESF #6 and #7 can encompass many different assignments, so training our soldiers in the myriad of potential scenarios is a daunting task. This has presented a significant challenge to all battalion trainers and planners, but every soldier has risen to the task”. ESF #6 and ESF #7 are the core tasks of the OHMR. Emergency Support Function (ESF) #6 — Mass Care coordinates Federal assistance in support of State and local efforts to meet the mass care needs of victims of a disaster. Emergency Support Function (ESF) #7 — Resource Support provides operational assistance in a potential or actual presidentially declared major disaster or emergency. COL Riddell continues, ―The most important goal at this point is to increase our recruiting efforts. Our current small size presents a considerable obstacle. Without full staffing, we will be unable to participate in sustained operations‖. (Editors note) The 1

st Civil Support Battalion continues to lead the way for the

entire Brigade in training and preparation to aid the citizens of the state of Ohio, However, without the manpower the unit can only do so much. The Commander would like to remind soldiers of the 1

st BN that everyone is a recruiter. Friends,

family and acquaintances need to know what we do and why we do it. Share this

newsletter with those you know.

People & Places in the News

Welcome to the newest ‗Alpha Dog’ PVT John D. Johnson. Johnson will be assigned to 1

st

platoon A company and will attend BELT at annual training in September

SSG Jeremy Whaley of B Company Nominated AUSA NCO of the Year The Association of the United States Army has announced it‘s nominees for Non Commissioned Officer of the Year. SSG Jeremy Whaley has been nominated by his command and will represent the Ohio Military Reserve on Friday, April 23, at the Highland Country Club, Fort Thomas in Kentucky. The guest speaker will be Lt. Gen. Eric Schomaker, the U.S. Army‘s Surgeon General and its highest-ranking medical officer, as he honors these elite soldiers. Four honored NCOs will be selected from many who will have been nominated from four Army components—Active, National Guard, Army Reserve and Ohio Military Reserve. Their respective Army units or organizations from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana nominate their NCOs. They are of the middle NCO ranks from sergeant to sergeant first class. Each comes highly recommended by their commanders. From this elite group a special chapter committee of senior NCOs selects an awardee from each category. The finalists will also receive an all expense visit to the national AUSA meeting in Washington, DC, this fall. AUSA is a private, non-profit educational organization that supports America's Army - Active, National Guard, Reserve, Civilians, Retirees and family members. Good luck SSG Whaley!

BELT Class 2010 Graduates 3 from 1st BN PV2 Brandon Drabek of HHC, PVT David Everett & PVT Daniel Kiser of A Company recently

graduated from BELT and began their journey as Ohio Military Reservists.

Respect cont’d from page 1

He paused a moment, then said, “I think it’s time to let go, I know my brother would want me to retire this the right way.” Then he walked away. Probably 40 years have passed since

this man lost his little brother. His loss was still felt, and a grateful brother wanted to honor his brother’s sacrifice once more. We don’t know his name but we will honor his service and

the wishes of his older brother. In doing so, we also honor & commemorate the dedication &

sacrifice of all our brothers & sisters in uniform. I thought about what the American flag meant to that soldier. It was so important to him that he carried it to his death. I reflected

on how soldiers in the OHMR dedicate their time & talents to serving, and it brought to mind the burgee flag of Ohio that was recently added to our uniforms. It’s also a symbol of the

values we uphold and represents the fact that who wear it will do whatever it takes to protect and promote the rights & freedoms we hold so dear. Some of us have served

overseas in combat, and some of us have served solely here in Ohio. Nevertheless, I believe

all of us share the selfless spirit of our nation and are thankful to be an American.

PV2 Brandon Drabek, CPL David Carr (2nd BN), PVT David

Everett & PVT Daniel Kiser stand tall in BELT graduation formation

April 18. PV1 Kiser (right) accepts congratulations from academy staff.

BENEFIT INFORMATION It Pay’s To Be A Member of the Ohio Military Reserve

Lowe's Expands Military Discount Home improvement retailer Lowe‘s has expanded its 10 percent military discount to all day, everyday, throughout 2010 for active duty, National Guard and Reserve, retired, and disabled service members, and their families, company officials announced Wednesday. Those who want to receive the discount must present a valid military ID card. All other military veterans will receive the 10 percent discount on the holiday weekends of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day. The discount is available on in-stock and special-order purchases of up to $5,000. It cannot be used for online sales, previous sales, or on sales of services or gift cards.

LOOK SHARP - STAY SHARP! Reference OHMR 670-1/OHMR SOP 700.01

WEAR of the LBE Deputy Commander Runs for Congress

Interview by CPT Charles Glass

We in the Ohio Military Reserve are very fortunate in that COL Richard Iott will be running for the 9

th congressional

district of Ohio. Recently I had the opportunity to ask COL Iott a few questions about his run for congress and the state of our country. Below are my questions and his responses. 1. Why did you decide to run for the congress?

This thing called the United States, under the charter of one of the most brilliantly conceived documents known to man (the Constitution), has been the most successful social experiment in the history of human civilization. We cannot let it be destroyed by those who apologize for our success and our strengths, or those who would take the earned rewards from the honest worker and give it to those who break our laws and those who could work but are not so "inclined" or those that think the government (taxpayers) ought to support them because they ―deserve‖ it! Politics was never an ambition of mine. In fact, I have stayed as far away from the political arena as I possibly could without walking off the edge of the planet. But I can no longer sit back and watch the systematic disassembly of our form of government and freedoms. I am willing to put my life on hold for a few years while I do this. I certainly don't think that I can save America alone but I would never be able to look in the mirror again if I didn't try to help those that have the same concerns. I want to help to take this country back from the career politicians and the irresponsible spending which is so prevalent. It isn't really rocket science... it is common, fiscal sense. The Founding Fathers meant for this country to be managed by citizen-statesmen, not professional politicians. By the People; not By the Government. That is why they gave only the House of Representatives the power to introduce bills to raise revenue... along with short, two year terms so that they could go back to their farms and shops and livelihoods. That concept has become perverted and we need to fix it. We cannot survive as a country with the second highest business taxes in the world where people need to be supported - for months and months – because tax-stifled businesses cannot provide jobs; or a country where over half of what you have earned and saved in your entire life - after taxes - can be taken away from you just because you happened to have died. Cont’d next page

COL Richard Iott directs the Tactical Operations Center

during a field training exercise at Annual Training

FEMA photo

Deputy Commander Runs For Congress (Cont’d from previous page) What qualities and experience do you think you can offer that your opponents do not have? I believe that I am the right person for the job for several reasons, not the least of which is I am not a career politician and I have no desire to be one. I want to go and make a difference but I have pledged not to serve more than three terms. I am a business person, I have run multi-million dollar businesses with thousands of employees and I have run entrepreneurial, start up businesses where I put my name and my assets on the bottom line. I‘ve created jobs. I know how to set a budget and read a balance sheet. I know how to make tough decisions on spending and that just because something is the right thing to do doesn‘t mean you can afford to do it. I also know that running this country isn‘t rocket-science; the road map is laid out for us in the Constitution. The problem is that the federal government has greatly over-reached and has gotten itself into hundreds – no, thousands – of areas where it has no authority, or responsibility, to be. And whenever the government gets involved in something it becomes more expensive and less efficient then the private sector. The professional politicians – like my opponent who went to Congress from college 28 years ago and has never worked in the private sector – don‘t understand that. Do you believe that the recent passage of health care is constitutional and will it truly bring down the deficit and health care cost? The current health care bill is a tax bill wrapped up in health paper. It is not about health care reform, it is about the consolidation of power. If it was such a wonderful thing, why did the members of Congress opt out of it? This legislation will initially destroy private sector jobs through costs increases pushed on employers, increase insurance premiums, and increase costs for seniors. Eventually, it will cause the collapse of the private insurance industry to the level that only the most wealthy can afford insurance, forcing more people in to the government-run program. As more and more physicians refuse to accept government insurance reimbursements which do not cover their costs, access to quality care will become harder get. When access becomes harder, health care will have to be rationed. What is your position on the 2

nd Amendment? Please explain.

If you believe that the ―right of the people‘ in the Second Amendment is a collective right rather than an individual right, then you must conceded that the rights of the people referred to in the First and Fourth are not individual rights but collective rights as well. I am a Life Member of the NRA (as are my wife and both children), an NRA rifle, pistol, and shotgun instructor, an FFL, and I teach Ohio CCW. That sort of tells you where I stand on this issue. If elected, how will you promote the Ohio Military Reserve and State Guard units in general on the national stage? This question goes right to the heart of what is wrong with Washington today. Congressmen and Senators are elected solely to represent the people of their State in the management of the Federal government, which, if managed properly, will be beneficial for all the people of all the States. This has become grossly perverted to ‗what goodies can I get from the Federal feeding trough to take back to MY District or State so that I can get re-elected‘. We have lost sight of the fact that the Federal feeding trough is filled with the fruits of our labor which the Federal government has taxed from our pockets and businesses. I will advocate and promote State Guards when ever and where ever possible and practical. Will you advocate for State Guard units to be able to access the Army Institute for Professional Development web site? Yes, through their respective AG Departments, like the National Guard. Will you support and advocate for H.R. 206 the State Defense Force Improvement Act and if so explain how you would do that? Yes, I would sign on as a co-sponsor, it presently has 8 co-sponsors, one of which is a Democrat. The Bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities on 12 Jan 10. I am not sure what I can do to get it out of committee…. That is one of those things I‘ll have to learn after I get there. Do you believe that there is some avenue in which the Federal Government can transfer obsolete equipment to state guard units rather than dispose of it at auction? If so how would you facilitate that transfer? The avenue is there, what has been lacking is the will of the State Adjutant Generals or the support of the NGB. A reasonable argument can be made the under the Common Defense clause in the Constitution‘s Preamble, support of State Guards by the Federal Government, to whatever level is economically feasible, does directly support the ―Common Defense‖ since today our enemies are just likely – maybe more likely - to come from within than without.

I would like thank COL Iott for taking the time to answer my questions. I tried to ask those that I think the readers of our newsletter would like to ask if they had the opportunity. If you would like to contact him, you can access his website at www.VoteIott.com -Glass (Editors note: The Ohio Military Reserve, 1st CS BN, the editors and contributors to this newsletter do not endorse any political candidate for office. The following article was submitted as a story concerning the private interest of a member of the OHMR and was deemed as a human interest story. Any implied endorsement is coincidental)

Images of the 1st Civil Support Battalion/

1st Civil Support & Sustainment Brigade

A soldier reports his status during

a field training exercise in the

old POW huts at

Camp Perry

Who’s cold?

“Burgee” Flags & ID Cards to Be Made Available at May CUTA

The authorized ―Burgee‖ flag patch for the Class C uniform will be available and sewn onto your uniforms at the MAY drill at the Norwalk armory. A small fee will be charged. ID cards will also be issued to personnel who need one, have never been issued one or need a new one because of promotion. You will need a copy of your orders stating your date of rank if you are in need of a new ID card because of promotion.

Recruits and PLDC trainees return from chow at Camp Perry during

Annual Training

SFC David Shoemaker shows ‘em how it’s done in the early morning hours at Annual Training. SFC Shoemaker is currently assigned with G3 1

st Civil Support &

Sustainment BDE in Columbus

Alpha Company Admin NCO

SGT Mark Defer secures his

MRE during a Winter FTX in

Alliance

Victims of the Haiti earthquake grapple for supplies as a POD center in Port Au Prince turns to chaos

(AP photo)

1st BN CSM Larry

Fitzgerald & MAJ Kevin Ream catch up on what‘s going on since their days together in the 107

th

Armored Cavalry Regiment. Then 2LT Ream served with CSM Fitzgerald in the ONG. They met at the TAG Commanders call at JFHQ in Columbus.

The Ohio Military Reserve

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Brigade Staff Plot

Course for the Future

5th Brigade S3 LTC Richard Vazquez and 521

st Commander 2LT

Charles Defer at the Brigade Staff meeting in April.

Seeking PRIOR SERVICE and Non PRIOR SERVICE volunteers.

CALL NOW 330-257-4158 or 330-413-7355