Thursday, August 20, 2009

Mental and Behavioral Health Assistance Cards










3d Brigade has produced a series of cards to assist Soldiers, Leaders, and Families as they adjust during redeployment and prepare for the BCTs deployment next year. These cards identify potential problems, what those risks mean, and who to call if they identify a problem. The Leader Card allows leaders to identify risks, assess those risks cumulatively, then take
appropriate action within their units chain of command or outside agencies. The Family Card allows spouses and parents to see potential warning signs of problems with their loved ones and gives them a source to call to request information or seek help.

Monday, August 10, 2009

Iron 6 Net Call - If you were the Commander . . .

The Iron 6 Net Call will be a regular event on the 3rd Brigade Combat Team's blog. We intend to use this blog as a forum to communicate with the families, Soldiers, and friends of the Iron Brigade, and encourage everyone to openly respond to the stories and articles posted here.

Every member of the Iron Brigade team is important and we value honest and professional opinions and feedback.

If you were the Brigade Commander or Command Sergeant Major for a day, what is the one thing you would sustain, change, improve, or implement?

We look forward to your comments.

Pacesetters Train in Virtual Environment







Story and photos by 2LT Justin Burney, Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 29th Field Artillery, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

FORT CARSON, Colorado -- Field Artillery Soldiers from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team are gaining an edge on victory using high tech computer enhanced simulators to prepare for their next mission in Iraq.

Fort Carson’s Reconstructable Vehicle Simulator, or RVS trainer, is the latest in advanced virtual technology currently available to train the Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 3-29th Field Artillery for combat, many for the first time.

“I have never had this experience before but I liked the feeling of looking for things that were out of the ordinary,” said Pvt. Zachary Davidson, Paladin crew gunner.

The RVS trainer uses screens and computer simulation that gives individual trainees 360 degree scanning capabilities in a variety of challenging combat environments. Inside the training room is a combat vehicle surrounded by large projector screens which depict the different scenarios. Sensors on the vehicle track fuel supply, tire pressure and malfunctions that are encountered on a typical mission while weapon systems connected to the sensors track how much ammunition is used and if they become damaged.

“The trainer had all of the effects of a real combat environment without the threat of death or serious bodily harm,” said 1st Lt. David Celski, Fire Support Officer

Programmers and designers for the system spent two and half years developing the scenarios in order to make them as real to the Soldiers as possible. Designers used current environments that Soldiers are seeing in combat.
The types of scenarios include situations like improvised explosive devices, snipers, indirect fire, direct fire and civilians on the battlefield.

PV2 Richard Hooper, Paladin operator, said the simulator was “Fun! It’s exactly like a video game but more like training. I really didn’t expect it to be that realistic.”

For many of these troops this was their first time using computer technology to train for combat. The training could be repeated if the Soldiers failed to react to the situation properly so multiple missions could be run in order to ensure they know how to react properly.

PV2 Andres Martinez, Paladin crew gunner, said, “I liked it. The first mission was kind of sloppy but it got better and people caught on to it and took it more serious.”

The RVS training simulator gave leaders and their crews the opportunity to gain valuable experience from lessons learned in combat.

This training is part of the preparation the 3rd Brigade Combat Team is conducting before it’s scheduled deployment to Iraq sometime in the second quarter of fiscal year 2010.

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

3rd Brigade Back-to-School Physicals Drive


3rd BCT Medical Team is offering Back to School physicals on Friday, August 7th, from 11:00 am to 5:00pm at the Warrior Clinic (Building 2353 on the Corner of McGrath Ave and Titus Blvd) for all brigade families. The Brigade Suregon, Physican Assistants, Registered Nurse, and medics will provide medical screening and validate school and sports physical forms. Please bring a copy of your child's shot records and the school / sports phyiscal form.