Bulldogs show diversity, win top honors

Photo By Christina Bhatti | Newport, N.H., native Spc. Michael Cunningham, number one man, Battery B, "Banditos," 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks; Hawaii and Laguna Pueblo, N.M., native Spc. Brandon Tiller, assistant gunner, Battery B "Banditos," Battery B, 2nd Bn.,11th FA Regt., stand ready to complete a fire mission at Camp Taji, Iraq, Jan. 2, 2008. The Soldiers prepare to fire the M777 Light Weight 155 mm Howitzer. The unit made history as the first Army unit to field and fire the cannon system in Iraq.  

TAJI, IRAQ

02.01.2009

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

By Sgt. 1st Class Christina Bhatti
2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division

CAMP TAJI, Iraq – The artillerymen assigned to Battery B "Bulldogs," 2nd Battalion, 11th Field Artillery Regiment "On Time," 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team "Warrior," 25th Infantry Division, Multi-National Division – Baghdad, are the 2008 winners of the Henry A. Knox award, recognizing them as the best active duty artillery battery in the Army.

The annual award is named for Maj. Gen. Henry A. Knox, the first chief of artillery, and recognizes the best active-duty battery based on specific criteria and a narrative of performance. The last time the battery earned the award was 76 years ago.

"The Army is finally recognizing what I already knew," said Capt. Zachary Reed, a native of Sandwich, Mass., and Bulldog commander.

During their 15 months in Iraq, the Bulldogs shown tremendous diversity in their mission, said 1st Sgt. Ramon Malave, a native of San German, Puerto Rico. Malave, a 17-year veteran, said he was honored to receive this award, his first.

In addition to the traditional artillery mission of firing howitzers, the Soldiers were called upon to support a personal security detachment for the embedded provincial reconstruction team attached to 2nd SBCT. They provided Soldiers to improve security at various joint security stations, manned the entry points to Camp Taji, northwest of Baghdad and supported 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 2nd SBCT, with Soldiers for the brigade's Tactical Reserve and the Division Rapid Reaction Force.

Each of the batteries in the "On Time" battalion rotated through the missions.

"Because we were the first battery on each of these tasks, we paved the way for the other batteries," said Malave.

Along the way, they shared their lessons learned to ensure the other batteries were set up for success.

"These missions were a great way to showcase the abilities of our Soldiers," Reed said.

For Spc. Bradley Shane, an Omaha, Neb., native, and ammunition specialist assigned to Btry. B, providing the ePRT with a PSD was the "most insightful mission" the unit undertook.

"We really got to see the real Iraq," he said. "We got to interact with the people and do something artillery Soldiers do not normally do."

More than 100 active duty batteries are evaluated for the competition, said Reed, and each one submits a roll up of their achievements, missions and training.

"What gave us the edge, I think, was the non standard role our Soldiers took on while we were deployed," he said. "These Soldiers really fit the theme of flexibility throughout the course of the deployment."

A presentation is scheduled for later this year.

• Date Taken: 02.01.2009
• Date Posted: 02.01.2009 01:49
• Story ID: 29505
• Location: TAJI, IQ