Photo By Sgt. Joe Padula | A Soldier from 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team,...... read more read more
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FORT CAMPBELL, KY — An army who recognizes the importance of its Soldier, as well as its Soldier's family, will be a stronger army. The Soldiers of today's Army go through a vigorous training schedule, endure lengthy missions and perform tasks that are physically and mentally strenuous, but that Soldier is not the only one who has to deal with these harsh conditions.
At home awaiting for that Soldier with a hot meal and a warm heart is a loving spouse. Looking out of the front window is a child anticipating its favorite part of the day, jumping into the arms of its Soldier-parent as soon as they cross the threshold of the front door. These are the Family members of the men and women in uniform and the Strike Brigade never neglects the importance they play in today's Army.
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), are continuously looking to build a stronger overall team by incorporating the Families of their combat troops.
Events such as organizational days are set up to specialize in bringing out the best in a team to ensure self development, positive communication, leadership skills and the ability to work closely together as a team, because, according to Capt. Elijah Ward, "Their families are also a part of the 'Top Guns' team, a big part at that."
There are many reasons why team building makes for a stronger, and seemingly a better Army. It makes the workplace more enjoyable, it motivates the team, it gets everyone "onto the same page," and it improves team and unit cohesion.
"What's great about this organizational day is we're playing sports and having friendly competitions between the batteries," said Spc. Donald Whitmire, a medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Battery. "Then on top of it, the battalion commander allows us to bring our Families out here to enjoy it all together. Everyone is meeting each other and our Army Family is even bigger now."
One spouse, Julie Whitmire, believes it's a great opportunity to include the families during what would normally be their training hours. Every opportunity they get to spend with their spouses is key, because as Soldiers at any given moment they could be asked to leave those loved ones behind to fight a battle far from home.
"This will help build unit cohesion within the units as well as within the families," said Whitmire.
On the playing grounds just outside the fences of Gate 10, one such organizational day had the battalion's batteries playing against each other in five separate events. With Families cheering on, Soldiers faced off in football, volleyball, horseshoes, basketball and softball, where they were competing for the Commander's Cup. In the end, they needed a tie-breaking event to decide the winner.
Ward's battery, Battery B, broke the tie after winning the tug-of-war event, and claimed the Commander's Cup.
"This organizational day brings not just our battery, but everyone together," said Ward.
"With all of the sports and games and cooking that is available, it's a great time for the Soldiers and their Families to unwind."
The Top Guns have recently been involved in a great amount of demanding and hard-hitting training, readying themselves for future combat operations. Days like this are an opportunity for the battalion's leadership to show their gratitude for their solid performance.
"This is a reward for the Soldiers after several months of hard-nosed training," said Lt. Col. David Flynn, commander of 1st Bn., 320th FA Regt. "Months consisting of collective skills training, artillery training, Battlefield Six training, team live-fire training and a day like today gives the Soldiers a chance to relax, play some sports and be with their Families."
The Soldiers of the Top Guns battalion have been working diligently on not only perfecting their gunnery capabilities, but also their infantryman tactics.
"We're training with our artillery capabilities and also with our infantry skills," said Flynn. "Entering and clearing rooms at the team levels, building up the platoon live-fires, the mounted and dismounted attacks at the battalion field training exercise, these guys are the most versatile Soldiers I have seen in my career. We promote Soldier first."
After all of the training the battalion has recently endured, the Top Guns continue to build bonds and boost morale amongst their Soldiers and the other members of the team — their Families — for they too, though maybe unbeknownst to many, endured the hard ships of these many months of training.
"Good times with friendly competition between the batteries and this really does bring our brothers-in-arms closer together," said Sgt. Kevin Siler, communications specialist, with the battalion's Headquarters and Headquarters Battery. "I've met a lot of the families out here... and seeing the Soldiers interact with their loved ones shows a real human and humble side to them. Some guys at work are all tough and hard but then you see them here with their children and it's interesting to see that 'no so bad' side of them. It brings people together and helps make us a family."
| Date Taken: | 12.02.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 12.02.2009 14:20 |
| Story ID: | 42251 |
| Location: | FORT CAMPBELL, US |
| Web Views: | 248 |
| Downloads: | 232 |
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