"The Iron Thunder" Battalion maintains combat readiness during NIE 13.2

Photo by Sgt. Brian Fore Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division fire the M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer during Artillery Table VI live-fire qualification at Doña Anna Base Camp April 26 during Network Integration Evaluation 13.2. The battalion played an important role throughout the evaluation by providing fire support to maneuver units.

DONA ANNA BASE CAMP, N.M. -Soldiers from 4th Battalion, 27th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 1st Armored Division headed out to Doña Anna Base Camp, at White Sands Missile Range, to support the Network Integration Evaluation 13.2 from late April through late May.

The battalion qualified on multiple systems including the howitzer and Radar. The unit conducted on the move fire support for brigade and battalion level convoy operations while utilizing several systems under test.

As the unit set up systems in the Tactical Operations Center during the first week, Soldiers attended ranges for the M4 carbine, M320 grenade launcher and M240B machine gun at Doña Anna Base Camp.

The battalion with its M109A6 self-propelled howitzers and M777A2 towed howitzers successfully completed Artillery Table VI section live-fire qualification. Soldiers fired over 100 high-explosive rounds.
May 16, 2013, 03:23 pm

Furloughs down to 11 days
To all Department of Defense personnel:

As you are fully aware, the Department of Defense is facing a historic shortfall in our budget for the current fiscal year. This is the result of current law that went into effect March 1. It imposes deep across-the-board cuts on DoD and other federal agencies.

Combined with higher than expected wartime operating costs, we are now short more than $30 billion in our operation and maintenance (O&M) accounts – which are the funds that we use to pay most civilian employees, maintain our military readiness, and respond to global contingencies.

The Department has been doing everything possible to reduce this shortfall while ensuring we can defend the nation, sustain wartime operations, and preserve DoD’s most critical asset – our world-class civilian and military personnel. To that end, we have cut back sharply on facilities maintenance, worked to shift funds from investment to O&M accounts, and reduced many other important but non- essential programs.
May 16, 2013, 03:51 pm

Bike Rodeo teaches skill

Photo by Adriana Salas PTA President, Carol Placchi, right, fits 4-year-old Lauren Spencer into her new helmet provided to her for free by the PTA. Placchi and her husband Christopher Brown helped ensure a proper fit on the new helmets during the Bike Parade that was held prior to the start of school.

The annual Bike to School Day was celebrated in conjunction with a Bike Rodeo at White Sands School, May 9. The Bike to School Day event is held annually nationwide to teach school aged children about basic safety practices when riding their bicycles around the neighborhood. Several safety representatives participated in the event, including the WSMR Department of Emergency Services and the Las Cruces Code Enforcement.

The full day of events began with a short bike ride from Volunteer Park to the school. The ride was led by DES Officer, Frank Sanchez and PTA President, Carol Placchi. Over 25 students participated in the ride to school. After the ride, the children were able to ride their bikes around the Sgt. Brian Pedro Track in front of the school. Children were also given free reflectors and new helmets provided by the school’s PTA.

“The PTA actually funds the helmets every year we’re able to get a good deal because they sell specifically for this event that takes place all over the country,” Placchi said.
May 16, 2013, 04:26 pm

NIE 13.2 at WSMR

Photo by Drew Hamilton

Soldiers from the 35th infantry regiment, 2nd brigade combat team, 1st armored division work on computer systems in the units tactical operations center during NIE-13.2. The TOC is loaded with computerized systems to keep the Soldiers in the field connected to their leadership.












May 16, 2013, 04:28 pm