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    Ironhorse Brigade reflects on retention success in Fiscal Year 2007

    Ironhorse Brigade Reflects on Retention Success in FY07

    Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Jon Cupp | Col. Paul E. Funk II, commander, 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry...... read more read more

    By Staff Sgt. Jon Cupp
    1st Brigade Comabt Team, 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

    CAMP TAJI, Iraq – A Bible verse that reads 'The first shall be last, and the last shall be first.' It is a mantra that career counselors and retention non-commissioned officers in the 1st "Ironhorse" Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division might be able to relate to when it comes to how their mission for this fiscal year began.

    The Ironhorse Brigade was the last brigade in the 1st Cav. Div. to arrive in theater but the first brigade in the division to meet its mission goals for fiscal year 2007— closing out its retention mission three months early, July 17.

    Having had a mission goal of 597 re-enlistments for the fiscal year, the brigade has exceeded that goal by 146 with 743 Ironhorse Soldiers raising their right hands to stay Army. In addition, the brigade has given out more than $7 million in cash bonuses to re-enlisting troopers.

    Being the first in the division to meet its mission goals for the year marks a great achievement for the brigade which was having to play catch up once it arrived in theater, according to Sgt. 1st Class Humberto Flores, 1st BCT senior career counselor.

    "It's a great accomplishment for the brigade and shows that the Soldiers, NCOs, leaders, counselors and re-enlistment NCOs are dedicated to staying Army in the combat zone," said Sgt. 1st Class Humberto Flores, 1st BCT senior career counselor and a native of Laredo, Texas. "This is a direct reflection of the great leadership that we have in the brigade and the belief Soldiers have in that leadership. There is a great emphasis on the importance of the retention mission at all levels of the command."

    Within the 1st Cav. Div., the Ironhorse Brigade currently boasts having the top battalion for retention, the 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment and the top company for retention, Battery B, 1st Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment.

    In addition, the brigade's 2nd "Stallion" Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment was the first battalion in the 1st Cav. Div. to close out its fiscal year mission, meeting their mission goals in April, about five months early. The Stallions' mission goal was 138 troops and to date they have re-enlisted 188, handing out nearly $2 million in re-enlistment bonuses.

    For closing out their mission early, Col. Paul E. Funk II, commander, 1st BCT and a native of Roundup, Mont., presented the Stallion retention team with the "First Strike" Award July 17 during a ceremony. The award recognizes the unit that accomplishes their fiscal year re-enlistment objective first.

    "Soldiers stay in good units, and they have received a plethora of options here," said Funk during the ceremony to recognize the Stallion retention team's achievements. "They stay because of good leadership that has the ability to connect to Soldiers."

    "It's a testament to the discipline, esprit de corps and tough Soldiering in this unit," added Funk. "Don't stop. Let's continue keeping great Soldiers in the Army."

    Retention non-commissioned officers for the Stallion battalion reflected on the achievements of their battalion and the Ironhorse brigade.

    "It's good knowing that even though it started rough, that it ended well for us," said Staff Sgt. Jason Janssen, a 2nd Bn., 8th Cav. Regt. retention NCO who hails from Phoenix, Ariz. "Our success can be attributed to the fact that the Soldiers were given what they wanted. The chain of command was very involved in talking to Soldiers, giving them guidance in their careers and insight into their goals."

    "Helping Soldiers get what they wanted as far as things like their next duty assignments is a definite plus," said Staff Sgt. Christopher Elman, also a retention non-commissioned officer for the Stallion battalion and a native of Cameron, Mo. "The most important aspect of this has been helping Soldiers."

    The Ironhorse brigade will continue counting new re-enlistments as Fiscal Year 2007 contracts until the year officially ends in October, but Flores has a special goal in mind.

    "I hope we'll hit 1,000 re-enlistments by the end of the fiscal year, but we'll see how that goes," Flores said.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 07.23.2007
    Date Posted: 07.23.2007 07:46
    Story ID: 11407
    Location: TAJI, IQ

    Web Views: 126
    Downloads: 92

    PUBLIC DOMAIN