Unique ‘Dagger Day’ delivers family fun, food and awareness

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Brian Scott | The “Grill” Sergeant Major, Sgt. Maj. Abraham Cruz, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Armored Brigade, serves up hamburgers to family members of the brigade during the brigade’s “Dagger Day” at McGregor Range, N.M., July 23. “Dagger Day” is held to show family members of the brigade what their soldiers do on a daily basis.  

FORT BLISS, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

07.23.2011

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Brian Scott 

5th Armored Brigade

FORT BLISS, Texas - More than 100 family members, soldiers and civilians of the 5th Armored Brigade “Daggers,” participated in the second annual “Dagger Day” beginning on Fort Bliss and continuing on to McGregor Range, N.M., July 23.

Organized by the unit’s family readiness group, staff sections, and subordinate battalions, the concept of the day was to “bring your family to work” and to integrate the Army’s Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which helps soldiers and family members to grow in five key dimensions.

“We’ve got a couple of goals today; first one is to give you a glimpse into what your (soldier) spouses do on a daily basis…,” said Col. Eric Schacht, commander, 5th Armored Brigade, as he welcomed the Soldiers and family members to “Dagger Day.”

The day’s activities began with hands-on use of an indoor weapons simulator, the engagement skills trainer-2000 and a resilience class taught by Level-III Master Resilience Trainer Sgt. 1st Class David Parish.

Also on display were the various weapons, body armor and vehicles soldiers use while down range. Seeing the improvements in armor and other accessories gave family members a better feeling their loved ones would be safe when deployed in a combat zone.

“I guess the HMMWVs are a lot safer than when (my husband) was over there I learned; there’s a lot more metal on the outside,” said Christine Stenger, wife of Command Sgt. Maj. Lawrence Stenger, 2nd Battalion, 361st Combat Support Regiment "Coyotes." “He said when he was there it was just canvas. It’s good, I know if he has to go back over it’s a lot better.”

Another one of the goals of the day was to give the families an understanding of what goes on during their spouse’s duty day; most working as observer controller/trainers.

“The families don’t know what happens either on the training lanes or even on post where we’re conducting all of our training, or even overseas,” said 2nd Lt. Khahaku Barrett, 1st Battalion, 361st Engineer Regiment “Redhawk.” “So this is an opportunity for the families to get that experience.”

In the late morning, after a ride in air-conditioned buses to McGregor Range, all were treated to a colored-smoke and exploding artillery simulator-enhanced demonstration of clearing rooms and securing an “Iraqi” village by soldiers of 1st Battalion, 360th Infantry Regiment “Warhawg,” 5th Armored Brigade.

After many soldiers’ children got a chance to “secure” an Iraqi village themselves, the families moved over to watch soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 361st Combat Support Regiment, rescue “casualties” from a simulated downed helicopter and show the improvements made in battlefield medicine on the combat lifesaver course lane.

Then it was off to a hot lunch of grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the trimmings served by brigade staff members.

After lunch, they were treated to a combatives and unarmed self-defense demonstration by soldiers of “Coyote” and 3rd Battalion, 362nd Regiment “Stallion” respectively.

Six-year-old Anna Kauffman liked combatives the best, “My favorite thing was the (demonstration) with the knife.”

For some family members it was a good chance to see what the other soldiers from 5th Armored Brigade do on a regular basis.

“I know a lot about what my husband does, but it’s nice to see what other people do,” said Rachel Kauffman, wife of Master Sgt. Christopher Kauffman, operations NCO, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Armored Brigade. “My husband doesn’t do combatives, so it’s nice to see that kind of demonstration to get an idea of what everyone else does when they drive out here every day.”

Not only was it a learning experiencing for spouses, but the children got to see and learn what their soldier parent did every day.

“Today’s been fantastic with all the different training and everything they do it’s hard for the wives to understand everything they’re doing, especially the kids. My son (T.J.) said today is the best he’s had since we’ve been to El Paso,” said Heidi Kokes, wife of Lt. Col. Thomas Kokes, commander, 1st Battalion, 362nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, “Renegade.” “So they’ve enjoyed it and it just gives them a greater understanding what their father is doing out there.”

“I’m just glad that you came out to see what your spouses do on a daily basis to support the joint war fighters that are going downrange,” added Schacht, in closing the day’s activities.

The brigade plans on continuing “Dagger Day” to show the capabilities of their soldiers and give future family members a chance to see some of the Army’s elite trainers in action, who continually prepare service members for deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and other contingencies.

• Date Taken: 07.23.2011
• Date Posted: 08.01.2011 11:58
• Story ID: 74629
• Location: FORT BLISS, TEXAS, US