Mar. 17, 2011Issue 50Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div.

In February, 1-10 CAV, along with the rest of the Warhorse Bri-gade, trained at the Joint Readi-ness Training Center at Fort Polk, Louisiana. The purpose of JRTC is to introduce units to the environment and situation that they will face upon deployment. Each unit had unique challenges based on the districts they inher-ited, which were constructed to model the many situations that coalition forces currently face in Afghanistan. The Turan district, which 1-10 CAV was responsible for, was not

exempt from challenges. Al-though the district government was cooperative and supportive of the coalition effort, there was a robust and active insurgency in the area. The enemy was well trained and had a strong capac-ity for making daily operations a challenge at all levels of com-mand. However, because of the strength and efforts of the Of-ficers, NCOs, and Soldiers of 1-10 CAV we were able to engage and counter the enemy with opera-tions that gained praise from the cadre, and taught us much about how to operate in Afghanistan. The lessons we learned are a tremendous asset to our team,

Story and photo by Sgt. Ruth Pagan2nd Brigade Combat Team PAO

The 10th Combat Support Hospital held its first Expert Field Medic Badge course in six years at Ft. Carson, Feb. 22-Mar. 13.

“The EFMB test measures the individual medical Soldier’s physical fitness, mental toughness and ability to perform to standards of excellence in a broad spectrum of critical medical and Soldier skills,” said Master Sgt. Daniel Traver, chief wardmaster with 10th CSH.

To achieve the EFMB award a Soldier must go through a week of training and testing. During the testing week, Soldiers are required to pass a written exam; day and night land navigation course; negotiate lanes where they are tested on survival evacuation and emergency medical treatment in a simulated combat environment and then complete a 12 mile road march in three hours.

With only an 18 percent pass rate, the EFMB is one of the toughest badges to earn in the Army, said Col. Michael Place, commander of 10th CSH.

Soldiers seemed to agree that the day and night land navigation was the hardest event.

“Land navigation is a killer because it’s not a self correcting course. You don’t know

if you’ve got a go till the end,” said Sgt. Josh St. Peter, a combat medic with Company C, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

All of the lanes are challenging but the land navigation course is the toughest course out here because of the terrain, said Command Sgt. Maj. Winston Young, command sergeant major for 10th CSH.

Although land navigation may be difficult, it’s not the only challenging aspect of the EFMB.

“To be able, in a field environment, to go through a vigorous four and half days of attention to detail type training and not

Soldiers strive to acheive EFMB distinction miss a beat and then negotiate a 12 mile road march is not an easy thing to do,” Young said.

“EFMB is the hardest badge to get in the Army because of all the stuff you have to do exactly right. It’s not like when you toss a grenade and you come close then your good enough. A Soldier has to perform a task exactly by the book. If he does it out of sequence he is wrong and gets a no go,” Place said.

The level of difficulty to obtain an EFMB is high and therefore Soldiers work hard to overcome the challenge.

“I think everyone really wants it. It’s a hard course but the chance to actually get the EFMB is motivating and will push you to study,” said Pvt. Joseph McChesney, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd STB.

“Getting the EFMB, to me, means hard work and training. It shows that if I put my mind to it, I can accomplish anything and nothing can get in my way,” said Pvt. 1st Class Ian Nunag, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT.

Only 6 of the 184 Soldiers who competed for the EFMB earned the prize.

Commander’s Column

Lt. Col. John Cook, Commander1st Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment continued on page 2

Sgt. 1st Class Joel Farrens grades Sgt. 1st Class Marianne Lawless as she evaluates a casualty on the Expert Field Medical Badge course, Mar. 10.

and even as we enter our final stages of preparation for deployment, we are incor-porating these lessons into our training. We learned much about how to fight the enemy kinetically to disrupt their efforts and destroy their capacity, but we also learned a more important lesson about how partnership will lead to success. Our partnership with the Afghan government and Afghan security force will help them train and improve so that they will be able to assume sole responsibility for security and economic devel-

The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pride is an Army-funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR 360-1. Contents of The Warhorse Pride arenot necessarily the views of, nor endorsed by the, U.S. government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the 2nd Brigade Combat Team Public Af-

fairs Office. The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commen-tary, and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the publication. All issues of the Warhorse Pride can be viewed online from your home computer at www.facebook.com/2bct4id Submissions should be emailed to theeditor: seth.barham1@conus.army.mil

Warhorse Pride Mar. 17, 2011Issue 50

Col. John S. Kolasheski..................2nd BCT CommanderCommand Sgt. Maj. Ralph Delosa............2nd BCT CSMMaj. Kevin Toner...............................................2nd BCT PAOSpc. April York........................................Layout and DesignSgt. Seth Barham............................................................Editor Sgt. Ruth Pagan...............................................................Editor

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Warhorse Pride

It is said that combatives is the link be-tween who you are and what you say you are. Recently 15 Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion were challenged with this state-ment and were trained and qualified in Level 1 Combatives. Sgt. Michael Murray and his team of trained combatives instructors, also from HHC, taught this class. The week-long training covered body posi-tions, ground fighting, weapons retention, and standing striking techniques. Soldiers learned to harness the warrior ethos in tough realistic training. Soldiers’ confidence grew from the competence of their instructors and from the arduous training. The culminating event was a hand-to-hand grapple, where Soldiers were required to close the distance with a fully resistant opponent. They had to gain and maintain a dominant

position for an undisclosed time before Mur-ray gave the signal to stop. During the course, several drills were cov-ered and movements designed to enable and enhance their defensive and striking abilities

HHC conducts combatives trainingStory by 2nd Lt. Abbey Paton 2nd Special Troops Battalionphoto by Sgt. Seth Barham, 2nd BCT PAO

opment. I am convinced that partnering with our Afghan counterparts is the way forward. By assisting their development of a more professional government, military and police force the Afghan people will have brighter future. I am proud of our Squadron and their work at JRTC and I am positive that this experience will help make us a more effective force upon arrival in Afghanistan. As the 1-10 CAV and the rest of the Warhorse Brigade continues to push forward toward deployment our focus turns toward Family readiness. I am confident that Families are left in good hands with our rear detachment and our FRG. Both have been work-ing tirelessly to ensure preparedness of the Soldiers and their families and will continue their efforts in the coming months. READY AND FORWARD!

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in close combative situations. In addition, they were educated in the history and evolve-ment of the Army combative program, said Pfc. Leslie Dority, a Soldier from the Chemical Reconnaissance Platoon “Each day presented a physical challenge

through repetitive drilling in order to learn, maintain, and perfect each drill. My experi-ence was physically exhausting. However, I gained personal confidence in my close com-bative skills,” Dority said. Spc. Michael Mansini, The combatives experience was one of pain, personal growth,

and practical learning. “Sgt. Murray challenged and motivated me in ways I had not en-dured since Basic Combat Training. “Everyday my mind and body were pushed to their limit,” Mansini said. Murray continues to encourage Soldiers to join Combatives Level 1 classes whenever training time allows. Murray’s goal is to train all of HHC at Level 1 certification and then progress the company to Level

2 training. “Combatives are an invaluable skill that teaches Soldiers who they are inside, and pushes them to become stronger both men-tally and physically,” said Murray.