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Newsletter Title

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l r y

Special points of interest:

1-7 CAV receives Bradleys

Kuwaiti Army partnership

Farewell to MAJ Sanchez

Hail and Farewell

Garryowen 6 and 9 1

Hellfighter 6 4

Apache 6 5

Blackhawk 6 6

Comanche 6 7

Darkhorse 6 9

Echo 6 10

Inside this issue:

GARRYOWEN COMMAND TEAM UPDATE

FEBRUARY 2012

LTC Dolph Southerland

GARRYOWEN 6

CSM Mervyn Ripley

GARRYOWEN 9

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

THE 7’S

Hello from Camp Buehring, Kuwait. For those who have been here before not much has changed. The place is still surrounded by an ocean of sand and the winds like to kick up to wreak havoc on Troopers and equipment. The isolation has caused many to affectionately call it the monastery while the three layers of triple strand concertina wire surrounding the wall have caused others to call it the “Gulag.”

Because the SCO is on R&R I get to write this month’s newsletter. It seems hard to believe we have been in Kuwait for four months already; the time has really flown by. It just seems like yesterday when we were boarding a plane from Ft. Hood TX to begin our deployment to Iraq and Operation New Dawn. I guess time going by quickly is a good thing. That means we are busy and I can say in all honesty we have been very busy. Our mission is a big one and what we do here in our day to day lives directly affects the region and our Allies. Our mission makes for some very long, tiring, and sometimes downright miserable days. In fact, the past month has brought some of the coldest and windy days I’ve seen period. Your Troopers will have some great stories to share about how cold it really gets in the desert, when they get home.

As far as living conditions, our Soldiers are very well taken care of. The living quarters are not the best but as Soldiers always do they are constantly improving their foxholes. The food is not bad but by now your troopers will tell you it all tastes the same. We have great facilities for Physical Training, Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR), and good internet access. The Army has provided nearly all the comforts of home except privacy and their own bathroom.

Our Soldiers continue to face each and every day with the dedication and professionalism that has been the standard of every great Garryowen Soldier that has ever served. Our mission requires flexibility, adaptability, and multi talented individuals that can work as a cohesive team under a variety of ever changing situations. Trust that this team can overcome any challenge placed in front of them and accomplish any mission they are given.

As the Command Sergeant Major of Squadron, I am honored and humbled to serve with these great Soldiers, they are truly the best of the best. As we continue our mission in the coming months we know we will continue to face new challenges. We will rise to meet all of these challenges in the true tradition of the Regiment. I would like to thank all of you for your support; the packages from home have been incredible. It is amazing what a card, letter, or package will do for the mental well being of your Soldier. Thank you once again and keep them coming. I would also like to thank all of the Family and friends back home that take care of our loved ones while we are deployed. Your concentrated efforts in taking care of the home front are critical to our focus and our success. I cannot overstress how important your support is to every Garryowen Trooper. SEVENTH FIRST!

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Camp Buehring, Kuwait— The Soldiers of 1st Squadron, 7th US Cavalry

Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, departed from

Camp Buehring, Kuwait, on 6 February 2012, for a journey to Camp Arifjan,

Kuwait. The Squadron moved to Camp Arifjan for the entire week to build

their fleet of vehicles for upcoming training events and missions. The unit

received their favorite fighting vehicle—the Bradley. Also, they inventoried

and drew all of the other vehicles and parts that make up a doctrinal armored

reconnaissance squadron (ARS). The APS-5 draw gave the Soldiers of 1-7

CAV the capability to perform any ARS mission that the Army needs them to

perform. The vehicles were part of the Army’s fleet of prepositioned

equipment ready to supply units with all equipment they need to go to war.

The totally refurbished equipment gives the Soldiers of GARRYOWEN the

ability to train and prepare for future missions. GARRYOWEN!!

Ceremony of Remembrance/Combat Patch Ceremony

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry

1-7 CAV Receives Bradley Fighting Vehicles

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

1-7 CAV Partners With 94th Kuwaiti Brigade

Above: CPT Bradley Koerner, HHT Commander, 1-7 CAV, 1BCT, 1CD, discusses training in February 2012.

Above: Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment meet with the 94th Kuwaiti Brigade in February 2012.

Above photos taken from 1-7 CAV’s movement to Camp Arifjan, KU, for the APS-5 draw. (US Army photos: SPC Jonathon Thomas, HHT, 1-7 CAV)

Right: LT Lawrence McNamara, the Executive Officer for Blackhawk Troop, 1-7 CAV, 1BCT, 1CD, shares a laugh with LT Melendez and the Soldiers from the 94th Kuwaiti Brigade in February 2012.

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LTG Helmick and CSM Rice Presents Coins to GO Troopers

GARRYOWEN Hail and Farewell

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry

GARRYOWEN SAYS FAREWELL TO MAJ SANCHEZ

With the GARRYOWEN family on their current deployment to Camp Buehring, Kuwait, the unit took the time to hold a Hail and Farewell for incoming and outgoing Soldiers. The unit conducts these events on a monthly basis.

We would like to welcome our new S-1 officer, 2LT Hanson and say goodbye to 1LT Perez as he returns to Fort Hood. We’d also like to welcome SPC Wicinski who will work in our S-1 shop, SGT Barnes who will work in our S-3 shop and PV2 Stang, our newest medic. We also welcome MAJ Cuviello, his wife Amy, and four children as he assumes duties of the squadron XO. MAJ Sanchez will rotate back to Fort Hood to become the aide to the III Corps Commander. Thanks to his wife Mindy for her support to the Squadron. The

HHT XO, 1LT Renfroe will go on leave and then move back to 1-82 FA to become a platoon leader. He will be replaced by 1LT Fritz who was most recently the Comanche Troop XO. Please help me welcome their Families

at Fort Hood and wish those moving on

good luck. Thanks for everything.

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

The GARRYOWEN family wants to say thank you to the Sanchez family for their dedication to the Soldiers, families, and friends of the unit. Many wonderful successes in the future—GARRYOWEN!!

Please see MAJ Sanchez’s farewell on the 1-7 CAV, 1BCT, 1CD Facebook page.

The GARRYOWEN family said farewell to a fine officer and leader this past month. MAJ Andy Sanchez, the Squadron’s Executive Officer (SXO) and former Squadron S3, departed from the unit to pursue a great opportunity to become the III Corps commander, LTG Campbell’s, aide. MAJ Sanchez was instrumental in helping to prepare the unit for its deployment to Iraq by ensuring all training was planned and properly executed. He led the movement of equipment and Troopers in support of Operation NEW DAWN and the Squadrons movement to Kuwait. He kept the Squadron’s staff, Troop XO’s and maintenance in order for the unit to succeed in their trainings and missions. One of the greatest highlights MAJ Sanchez brought to the GARRYOWEN was his intense love for Crossfit. As a Cross fit trainer, MAJ Sanchez gifted the Soldiers with the opportunity to improve their physical fitness with this outstanding program.

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HELLFIGHTER

HELLFIGHTER TROOP! Greetings from the Middle East! February has seen a lot of activity and the Soldiers have participated in a number of Squadron and Troop events. This month saw the addition of a number of new Soldiers who will fill key positions within the Troop. With new Soldiers coming in we will also say goodbye to a few as they return to Fort Hood to PCS or ETS. Early in the month we traveled to Camp Arifjan to inventory and sign for a fleet of vehicles from the Army’s pre-positioned stock. We received many vehicles like those we left at Fort Hood in order to replicate our normal training and mission. These vehicles will allow us to go to the field and have the ability to train as a traditional Reconnaissance Squadron. The Squadron Commander’s focus has been to train the basics and include our traditional full spectrum operations in all that we do. Most of your Soldiers have conducted counterinsurgency missions while we were stationed in Iraq. Now we have the opportunity to get back to the basics and traditional way of fighting. This has come as a shock for some, but is welcomed by all. As with any new vehicle and equipment we set out to make sure they were fully operational giving our Soldiers the chance to perform standard maintenance and prepare them for future training. We also conducted an Advanced Close Quarters Marksmanship range. This range taught many of our Soldiers the art and technique of firing their rifle while moving and while not directly facing the targets. After we learned the basics we moved on to a react to contact lane. During this lane we moved through a small town in buddy teams of two and reacted to enemy targets. The Soldiers had to discriminate civilians from enemy combatants and did an outstanding job. Overall a great training event for our more technical Soldiers, who rarely get the opportunity for this type of training. Our UAV raven operators SGT Dawson and

SPC Plack were able to fly the raven over

the training areas to keep up their proficiency

so they can support any future missions.

Our Fire Supporters began a two week training event called FIST University that has allowed them to get back to the basics of planning and calling for indirect fires. These two weeks will culminate in March when they conduct FIST Qualification. Once qualified our FIST Soldiers will help plan and conduct

the Squadron’s MORTEP qualifying the Squadron’s mortar sections. They will also contribute to the Brigade’s maneuver shooter exercise by helping to direct multiple systems such as indirect fire and attack helicopters onto targets. Our most significant event in February was meeting with the 94th Brigade of the Kuwaiti National Guard. Our staff officers and I were given the opportunity to partner with the Kuwaitis and design a program to train together. HHT has been partnered with the Military Police Company and has outlined some events that their commander and I would like to work together on. Our first event will occur in early March with a group of our Soldiers working hand in hand with the Kuwaitis to improve our collective knowledge on checkpoint operations and vehicle searching. This is bound to be a great training event and our Soldiers are looking forward to it. Finally we would like to welcome all of our new Soldiers and say goodbye to all that have served in the Troop. To 1LT Perez and 1LT Renfroe good luck and job well done. MAJ Sanchez will rotate back to Fort Hood to become the aide to the III Corps Commander. Congratulations to him and we wish him well in his new job. Please help me welcome their Families at Fort Hood and wish those moving on good luck. Thanks for everything. First Sergeant Hankal and I have seen a lot of progress in our section leadership and the Soldiers since being in Kuwait. They continue to train and work at a high level. Continue to support them in our remaining months. Thanks again for the support you’ve given us and please continue to check the HHT Facebook page and the 1-7 CAV Facebook page for updates and pictures. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks. GarryOwen!

CPT Brad Koerner

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

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Hello from Camp Buehring,

Your Apache Troopers have been

very busy over the last month, conducting a full

range of training events. The first major event

was Scout Stakes, an 18 hour section event

covering an average of 12 miles of dismounted

scout operations and tasks. During early

February we moved the entire Troop to Camp

Arifjan and inventoried the APS-5 fleet of

Bradleys, HMMWVs, and Mortar tracks.

Apache Troopers have been diligently

conducting services, training on the systems,

and preparing themselves for the upcoming

Gunnery exercises.

On 23 February Apache Troop was

able to take their new equipment out to the

desert and put it through its paces during both

day and night driving courses. The guys even

got a chance to break track and put it back on.

It was a great training opportunity, and maybe

even a little fun.

We also have several new faces in

leadership in Apache Troop. After a year of

outstanding service to the Troop, 1LT Nash is

moving to 1-82FA to become a Platoon Leader.

His replacement, 2LT Murphy, comes to us

from the Artillery Battalion. He is already off to

a running start, leading the Fire Support Team

through the FiST University.

Our newest arrival is the new Red Platoon

APACHE

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

Leader, 2LT Cody Kopowski. Cody comes to

us after graduating from the Army

Reconnaissance Course and serving a couple

months on Rear-D. Congratulations to CPL

Aaron Falk and his wife Jaynell for their new

baby boy Alexavier J Falk, wonderful news to

hear about the newest Trooper!

Each day that goes by, your Troopers

continue to give 110% and continue to get

better. Thanks to all the families and loved

ones for your tremendous and constant

support. We will be marching across that

parade field at Fort Hood before you know it.

That’s all the news that’s fit to print.

Apache on the War Path!

CPT Marc W. Jason

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BLACKHAWK

Hello Blackhawk families! The month of February has been a busy month for us, we have sent several Soldiers on leave, participated in the Squadron’s Scout Stakes competition, picked up our fleet of vehicles, participated in FIST U and finally we are currently conducting our training that is leading up to our Bradley Gunnery.

Blackhawk is excited that several of its Soldiers were able to be home for Valentine’s Day. We had approximately ten of our Soldiers get to go home and visit with their loved ones.

The Squadron’s Scout Stakes Competition was a huge success for Blackhawk Troop. Scout Stakes tested our scout’s knowledge of individual and collective tasks. Blackhawk’s scouts were tested on everything from first aid to establishing a long duration observation post. The competition took each team approximately 18 hours to complete. We had four of our sections compete against 18 sections total. Although none of our sections took first place, we did take second, third, fourth and ninth places. As a Troop, we did outstanding, and proved that we have been training hard and taking a lot of pride in what we do as scouts. Our scouts continue to train hard as they prepare for the Bradley Gunnery in March.

While the scouts train for gunnery, the mortarmen and FISTers have been training for their upcoming competitions and events. Our FISTers are preparing for the best FIST crew competition and Bradley Gunnery, while our mortarmen train for their upcoming Excellence in Infantry Badge event and Mortar qualification. All these events require a lot of detailed and specialized training. Our Soldiers are well prepared and ready. We also picked up our fleet of Bradley’s and other vehicles. As know, military vehicles require a lot of love, and we are providing that love; day in and day out…

Finally, we have a ranger among us that will represent our Troop, Squadron and Brigade in the annual Best Ranger Competition. We wish 1LT McNamara, our Troop Executive Officer, good luck as he returns back to the states to do some last minute training before he heads to Fort Benning, GA to compete.

Keeping Hope Alive,

Blackhawk 9

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

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Comanche Troop families and friends,

February is shaping up to be a pretty exciting month right from the start. First and foremost, I would like to publicly recognize each one of our four platoon sections in Comanche Troop. Throughout the month of January each platoon section trained diligently on individual Scout core competency tasks, such as combat lifesavers skills, communications training and dismounted land navigation. Their countless hours of training coupled with their dedication to mission success proved critical during the culminating Squadron training event know as “Scout Stakes”. Tensions began to rise across Troop formations in the anticipation of who the overall winner of the event would be. After endless days of points tallying by the Squadron Staff, the end result was crystal clear. During an early cool and crisp Kuwaiti morning, the 1-7 CAV Squadron “GarryOwen!” held a formation to award the winning section. Congratulations to SSG James, SGT Gonzales, SGT Wing, SGT Campbell , SPC Reid, SPC Smith, PFC Finney, PFC Green, PFC Crilly, PFC Higgerson and PFC Turner for winning the ever coveted “Top Scout Section” streamer for Comanche Troop. Every member in the Troop is proud of your hard work and dedication to the mission success. Your actions reflect greatly on yourselves, your teamwork, Comanche White Platoon and the entire Comanche Troop Family. “Outstanding Job Scouts” Following an outstanding first week

of February, the Troop continued moving

forward starting yet another chapter in our

every changing deployment. The Troop

stayed busy preparing their combat vehicles

for a turn-in process. Soldiers said good bye

to their old warhorses as they were handed

over to the big Army supply system, to be

re-shoed and re-saddled, for future

operations. Within a short few days, the

Troop packed up and headed south to

inventory and sign for new training vehicles.

Soldiers spent the following days unloading

each new vehicle, spray painting new bumper

numbers and testing each piece of equipment

COMANCHE

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry FEBRUARY 2012 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

Needless to say, Comanche Soldiers had multiple opportunities to stretch the legs of the new horses by taking them for a gallop across the Kuwaiti desert; figuratively speaking. Soldiers obviously enjoyed themselves during the training event, proven when each returned to their tent reviewing nothing more than their bright white smiles and dust covered faces.

New Soldiers have also arrived at our door step. Welcome to PVT Bittle, PVT Holloway and PVT Greer. Each new Soldier literally hit the ground running during their first three days in Kuwait, by taking a physical fitness test. Although cautious at first to their new surroundings, each new Comanche Trooper has officially made themselves right at home.

The Family Readiness Group continues to “stride it out” with multiple events posted on their future calendars. Thanks to everyone’s support during our last big Troop personnel shift. The FRG’s organizational precision, nested with the support of every key caller, made the personnel transitions smooth and seamless. “Excellent teamwork ladies, THANK YOU!”

As time continues to move forward and training becomes more challenging, it is important we don’t forget the Troopers who helped to get us this far. To our brothers who have left our ranks, SPC Reed, SPC Termini and SGT Wing, we wish you the very best on your future EST and thank you for your sacri-fices and dedication to Comanche Troop. To LT Cody Fritz (Troop Executive Officer who moved to support HHT, 1-7 CAV) your countless hours of selfless service to our Troop are simply irreplaceable. Every Trooper, to include myself, would not be where we are today without the endless contributions you made for this organization. “Thanks, bro!” Gunnery is approaching on our horizon and the Troop is expecting the next month to pass even more quickly. The temperature continues to rise and the days seem to be getting longer, but we all know that it equals a shorter calendar and another step closer to home. Until next time, on behalf of the Troop, I wish every Comanche Family and Friend exciting adventures and safe travels. “Move Fast, Strike Hard!” BENJAMIN A. WELCH CPT, AR C TRP, 1-7 CAV Commanding

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COMANCHE

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry FEBRUARY2012 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

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DARKHORSE

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY2012

February was a great month for

Darkhorse Troop. Most of the month

focused on receiving new equipment and

getting it mission ready. Everyone in the

Troop got involved as we had to inventory

and sign for the new equipment.

Mechanics were busy taking care of their

new equipment and making sure all the

equipment was functional. The Troop also

continued our weapons training by

shooting our M4 rifles again this month.

Soldiers made a lot of improvements in

their shooting and we are really benefiting

from the increased range time in Kuwait.

A particular highlight of the range was

when we encountered a large herd of

camels that halted our convoy. SPC

Salgado was particularly impressed with

the camels and attempted to communicate

with them in Spanish, but without any

positive results. Another highlight from this

month was the success of the Darkhorse

basketball team. Our team now has a

perfect 7-0 record and I am confident of

further success. Great job Darkhorse and

let's make it to the finals! Our other big

story this month is the additions to the

Darkhorse team. We welcome to the

Darkhorse team SGT Hamilton and his

wife, Veronica, SSG Stills, CPL Wiley and

his wife, Rachel, PFC Salas and his wife

Jessica and PV2 Buning, PFC Arnold, and

SPC Triance. And a final congratulations

to SPC Stierwalt who won the Darkhorse

Soldier of the month.

Feed 'em! Move 'em! Fix 'em!

DARKHORSE!

CPT Dave Sherck, Darkhorse 6

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February has been a fast paced and

productive month. Echo Troop has

succeeded in pushing another group of great

Soldiers forward to join Garryowen in Kuwait.

With a unit that is always in transition, we

have a number of great Soldiers who are

working to make sure things continue to

happen as we keep supporting our deployed

Soldiers and their family members back here

in the United States.

We had a blast at the Mardi Gras Skating

Party, where Garryowen took over the Fort

Hood Skating Rink for several hours. Thank

you to New York Pizza for donating pizzas

and to FRG members for brining drinks and

deserts. Around 100 people participated

from across the Squadron. It was a great

chance to enjoy each other's company and to

be able to laugh as many of us put on skates

for the first time in decades. We look forward

to doing more events in the future!

Echo Troop is also providing support to our

Adopt-A-School, Palo Alto Middle School in

Killeen. We are running a weekly tutoring

session to assist the school in improving its

science and math scores for the STARR test.

This is a great time to showcase what the

Army can do for inspired young people, and

reinforces the Community Service aspect of

the Army.

CPT Jed Sargent

Echo Troop Commander

ECHO TROOP—REAR DETACHMENT

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry FEBRUARY2012 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5

Mailing addresses:

1-7 CAV (E TRP) — Fort Hood, TX

37005 Old Ironsides Ave.

Ft. Hood, TX 76544

1-7 CAV (FWD) — Kuwait

Name of Soldier

TRP/1-7 CAV

Camp Buehring, Kuwait

APO AE 09330

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GO PADRE Team Steak Super Bowl Cookout!!

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY2012

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry

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With the shortest month coming to a fast conclusion, February presents itself with many exciting ways for us to develop our methods of expressing how we care for another person. With the fantastic holiday of Valentine’s day centered in this month, we have 29 days (thank you leap day) to show our appreciation for a spouse, a child, a friend, and a battle buddy in our Troop. Yet, it’s not so much the amount for the expression, but it’s the actual desire of the heart that truly shows the value of our gift for another. What do you truly value from your spouse and/or loved one? Does it only come with material possessions? Or, could it reveal itself with the desire to tell someone a positive expression of your heart?

Frank Hath, the men’s basketball coach for the top ten ranked Missouri University basketball team shares, “success is always rented never owned.” Our relationships have this similar quality within them for the sake of needing of constantly working on them each day.

Take some time this week to express your

care and affection to a spouse or loved one.

Hopefully you will experience a renewed

excitement in your life during this month.

GO PADRE

Military Care Packages Sites:

www.adoptaussoldier.org

soldiersangels.org

adoptasoldierplatoon.org

www.hugsforoursoldiers.org

Military Deployment Resources:

www.militaryonesource.com

Call 1-800-342-9647

www.myarmyonesource.com

Call 877-811-ARMY

New Mailing Address:

Name of Soldier

TRP/1-7 CAV, 1BCT, 1CD

Camp Buehring, Kuwait

APO AE 09330

GO PADRE

GARRYOWEN CORNER

“Like” the GARRYOWEN page at “1-7 CAV, 1BCT, 1CD”

1 s t S q u a d r o n 7 t h U . S . C ava l ry

VOLUME 1, ISSUE 5 FEBRUARY 2012

In 1950, it continued to fight with the 7th

Infantry Division throughout the war. The 7th Infantry Division distinguished itself during the battles of the Naktong River, Seoul, the Yalu River and the Chosin Reservoir. The Regiment earned 8 campaign streamers and 3 more Presidential Unit Citations for its service in Korea. After its service in Korea the Regiment returned to Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division to assist in defending the island of Hokkaido from attack. In August 1957, the Regiment left Japan in conjunction with a reduction of ground forces. It moved back to Korea where it was reorganized under the Pentomic concept as the 1st and 2nd Battle Groups of the 7th Cavalry.