FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Seven Soldiers were honored at the monthly retirement ceremony hosted by 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at Founder?s Field Aug. 29.

?(These) Soldiers have spent the last two plus decades in tremendous service to our Nation, and it is my privilege to recognize them and to thank them for their service to our great nation as they end their active military careers,? said Col. Omar Jones IV, commander, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., during the ceremony.

A formation of Soldiers from 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. stood proud in as a show of honor and respect during the ceremony.

?Its not just standing in formation,? said Spc. Francisco Rios, cannon crewmember, Battery B, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. ?It?s showing pride and showing them that we respect them for being in this long and that we are honored to be here and experience the joy that they are feeling.?

?I think this is wonderful and a great tradition,? said Spc. Nicholas Posey, cannon crewmember, Battery A, 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg. ?Its nice to be able to honor these guys that have made it through their full Army career.?

Retirees received the Meritorious Service Medal as well as a certificate of appreciation from the President of the United States, a certificate of retirement from the Armed Forces of the United States and a certificate of authentication that accompanied a United States flag.

Soldiers offered well wishes to the retirees.

?Congratulations on your careers and enjoy your retirement,? Posey said. ?You?ve spent your whole life dedicated to the Army so now this is your time to go out and enjoy your family or whatever you want to do so, just enjoy it.?

The ceremony was just one way for Soldiers to show their gratitude of what the retirees have accomplished.

?Thank you for leading the way,? Rios said.

One retiree, Maj. Jonathan Landon, had this to say to Soldiers still serving, ?This is very special to me, it means a lot but it?s time to hand the flag on so carry it proudly because I?ve worked hard to leave it as something to be proud of.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Battery A and Battery B, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard, stand ready in formation to pay tribute during the monthly retirement ceremony held at Founder?s Field, Aug. 29, 2012. Seven Soldiers were honored during the ceremony hosted by 3rd Bn., 16th FA Reg.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Command Sergeant Major Robert Lehtonen, senior enlisted advisor, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, leads the Fort Carson Mounted Color Guard into position during the monthly retirement ceremony at Founder?s Field, Aug. 29, 2012. Hosted by 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., the ceremony honored seven Soldiers who completed 20 or more years of service.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Colonel Omar Jones IV, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pins Sgt. 1st Class Christian Alexander with the Meritorious Service Medal during the monthly retirement ceremony at Founder?s Field Aug. 29, 2012. Alexander?s wife and two sons joined him while receiving the medal and received certificates of their own. Seven retirees were honored as well as their families.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Colonel Omar Jones IV, commander, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, renders a salute while the National Anthem plays during the monthly retirement ceremony held at Founder?s Field Aug. 29, 2012. Hosted by 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., seven Soldiers and their families were honored for their 20 plus years in service.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?A husband twists his wife?s arm and slams her against the wall to remind her who is in charge before going to drink with friends. A wife tells her husband he is lazy, stupid, and worthless, and she doesn?t know why she?s still with him. Either of those examples, and the many gradations in between, are instances of domestic violence. Fortunately, there are people out there ready and willing to help.

The Fort Carson community has two, 24 hour, seven-days a week, hotlines in place for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

The Army Community Service Domestic Violence hotline number is 719-243-7907.

The Sexual Harassment Assault Response hotline number is 719-338-9654.

There are two numbers, because they address slightly different audiences.

?The Victim Advocates hotline is for any adult victim of domestic violence whom is a military identification card holder, or any sexual assault victim who is an adult dependent ID card holder,? said Gail Hollis, victim advocate, Army Community Service. ?This number is for any military, or military dependents, whom are in need of domestic violence crisis intervention, safety planning, and in unrestricted cases, command notification.?

While the hotline is available at all times, it is recommended that victims ensure their own immediate safety before contacting the VA hotline.

?If you are in danger, you need to call 911 first,? said Hollis. ?Also, we do not handle child abuse calls; during work hours you need to contact Social Work Services, 526-5050 or 526-4584, or the emergency room, 526-7111.?

After contacting victim advocates by phone, they are willing to reach out in person to help, within the constraints of their position.

?We will go to the hospital to see the victim and talk about a safety plan and some of their options,? said Leah Goss, victim advocate, Army Community Service. ?We are not allowed to respond to residences however, to protect our personal safety.?

The domestic abuse hotline was created to answer a specific need within the community.

?The hotline was produced because the law enforcement and emergency room personnel needed resources for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, to help victims create immediate safety plans,? said Hollis.

According to the Fort Carson Resource Pamphlet for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, the SHARP hotline is specifically for Soldier-victims of sexual assault. The SHARP hotline is also relatively new.

?The SHARP number has been around since SHARP stood up in March,? said Hollis. ?The VA hotline has been around for 10 years, although the new number has only been around for the last couple of months.?

No matter which line is called though, victims will still get help. ?We work well with SHARP,? said Hollis. ?We will do a warm hand-off with them if a Soldier that falls under SHARP contacts us, and vice versa.?

It?s important to note that active military spouses can use victim advocates.

?Spousal sexual assault is domestic violence and advocates are here to help,? said Hollis. ?When a married active duty Soldier sexually assaults their active duty spouse, the victim can choose to work with the installation victim advocate, SHARP, or both.?

These hotlines provide an essential service to the Fort Carson community.

?Unfortunately in society, predators abound,? said Master Sgt. Jose A. Colonrivera, lead Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention representative, 4th Infantry Division. ?Even though we do everything we can to prevent sexual harassment and assault from occurring, it?s a fact of life, it happens.

?Whenever it happens, these hotlines provide a way for the victim to reach out to somebody and receive immediate support. Medical support, law enforcement support, legal support, counseling: the people manning the hotlines are trained to assist in their recovery 24 hours a day, seven days a week.?

If a person is unsure if he or she is suffering from domestic violence or sexual assault, definitions provided by the Fort Carson Resource Pamphlet for Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence may help.

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence is defined as a pattern of abusive behavior that is used by an intimate partner to gain or maintain power and control over the other intimate partner.

Types of actions/threat of actions that influence another person: physical, sexual, emotional, economic.

Behaviors: Intimidation, manipulation, humiliation, isolation, or frightening, terrorizing, coercing, threatening, blaming, hurting, injuring or wounding someone.

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is defined as intentional sexual contact, characterized by use of force, physical threat, or abuse of authority, or when the victim does not or cannot consent.

Types: rape, nonconsensual sodomy (oral or anal sex), indecent assault (e.g., unwanted and inappropriate sexual contact or fondling), or attempts to commit these acts.

Consent not given by: lack of physical resistance by the victim.

Consent unable to be given when: victim is asleep, incapacitate, or unconscious.

Can occur regardless of: gender, spousal relationship, or age of victim.

Website resources:

• Fort Carson SHARP website
• Army SHARP Program
• DoD Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
• Military One Source
• Rape, Abuse, & Incest national Network (RAINN)
• National Sexual Violence Resource Center

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Soldiers and Families of 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, gathered on a gusty morning at Iron Horse Park Aug. 25, to participate in an organizational day, where they enjoyed free food, sporting events and Family activities.

Throughout the day, squeals of delight could be heard from children enjoying the bounce house, and just a few yards away, Soldiers enjoyed a complimentary 18-ounce steak dinner provided by one of the event?s volunteer sponsors.

?This is such a positive experience for me and my Soldiers,? said Capt. Edwin Pierce, commander, Company C, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. ?It gives me an opportunity to meet my Soldiers? Families and for them to meet mine, which really builds camaraderie and cohesion within our company, unit and brigade.?

Representatives from each battalion?s Family Readiness Group were available to answer questions and distribute information to Families attending the event.

?One of the best things about an event like this is that it gives spouses and Family members an opportunity to meet each other and develop support groups outside of their Soldier?s company or unit,? said Sgt. 1st Class Crystal Kemple, intelligence noncommissioned officer in charge, 1st Special Troops Battalion.

With the Raider brigade gearing up for an upcoming rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., the event gave Families a chance to meet with their Soldier?s chain-of-command, ask questions and voice concerns, said Kemple, a dual-military spouse.

?My favorite part of this event is to see how many activities there are for the kids to participate in,? said Sgt. Joseph Lopez, training room noncommissioned officer in charge, Headquarters and Headquarters Company. ?Between face-painting, the bounce house and toy giveaways, my kids are really enjoying the day and felt like they were part of the team.?

There were plenty of activities for Soldiers to participate in as well, including a Military Family Voices booth, which gave Soldiers a chance to record a message, preserving their voices for loved ones while the brigade is away training or on deployment.

In addition to free food and services, Soldiers also got to participate in sporting events, including a basketball tournament which featured a team from each battalion.

?I really enjoyed seeing my Soldiers in friendly competition with each other during the sporting events,? said Sgt. Eric Kemple, cavalry scout, Troop A, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment. ?It shows an incredible amount of professionalism that these Soldiers can go from weeks of intensive and highly competitive gunnery tables, to friendly competition and just hanging out with each other, having a good time, in a span of a couple days.

?I also feel really great that my wife was able to connect with other spouses and expand her support group while I am on deployment,? said Kemple, a native of Pittsburgh, Pa. ?That knowledge will help us both focus on our mission while we are away from each other.?

At the end of the day, many new friendships were struck between the Soldiers and Families who attended.

?That?s really what this event is all about,? said Pierce. ?The friendships built or strengthened today will carry over to training and eventually to deployment. Whether it is Soldiers, their spouses or Family members, each relationship built is an important aspect of what makes Raider Brigade the strongest, most capable fighting force in the Army.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Scott Hess, electromagnetic spectrum manager, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, pushes his daughter Maluhia on the swing during ?Raider? Brigade?s organizational day at Iron Horse Park, Aug. 25, 2012. With the Raider Brigade gearing up for an upcoming rotation to the National Training Center, Fort Irwin, Calif., the event gave Families a chance to meet with their Soldiers? chain-of-command, ask questions and voice concerns.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Volunteers prepare 18-ounce steaks for 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, Soldiers during ?Raider? Brigade?s organizational day at Iron Horse Park, Aug. 25, 2012. In addition to free food and services, Soldiers also got to participate in sporting events, including a basketball tournament, and a softball tournament which featured teams from each battalion.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Jorie Raczkiewicz, daughter of Staff Sgt. Jeremy Raczkiewicz, military information support operations planner, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, plays on the monkey bars at Iron Horse Park during ?Raider? Brigade?s organizational day, Aug. 25, 2012. Throughout the day, Soldiers and their Families enjoyed free food, competed in sporting events and relaxed with their comrades and co-workers.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Private First Class Kendrick Worthy, signal support systems specialist, Company B, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, swings at a softball during the ?Raider? Brigade organizational day softball tournament at Iron Horse Park, Aug. 25, 2012. The 1st STB team came in first place in the tournament and third in the overall sports competition.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Rocky McKnight, water treatment specialist, Company A, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, shoots a three-pointer during the ?Raider? Brigade organizational day basketball tournament at Iron Horse Park, Aug. 25, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Command Sergeant Major Dennis Defreese, senior enlisted leader, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, presents the 1st Special Troops Battalion, softball team with a trophy for placing in first during the ?Raider? Brigade Organizational Day softball tournament at Iron Horse Park, Aug. 25, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? The Fort Carson Army Community Service, Family Advocate Program, held a ?Kids Chat? session as part of their Family Violence Prevention Plan at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, to help military children open up about their feelings and to hear the concerns of deployed parents.

ACS?s FVPP is currently a working group and is in the process of becoming an official service provided by the FAP.

Kids Chat was developed to attack the problem of domestic and Family violence at Fort Carson, said Jill Nugin, manager, FAP, Fort Carson ACS.

?The Family violence task force was developed a year ago because of a significant increase in infant deaths in El Paso County?the community put this working group together to address what we could do to reduce the impact of child abuse,? said Nugin.

Victim advocates and project managers, the volunteers for Kids Chat, divided the kids into three age groups: 3 to 5 years old, 6 to 10 years old, and 11 to 16 years old. Adults also participated in the service; they gathered in a separate room and addressed concerns about their spouses returning from deployment.

?Kids Chat speaks to Family resilience and making Families stronger and happier,? said Nugin.

Toddlers and the slightly younger kids drew pictures, completed puzzles and participated in story time, where the volunteers read stories to their group.

?These types of activities help nurture our children,? said Sgt. Brandie Senior, ACS operations, ACS. ?Children don?t know how to communicate like adults, so integrating games helps them to open up and communicate their feelings and emotions.?

Children from each age group showed their enthusiasm for the service through their openness with the volunteers. Children from all three age groups talked about their home lives and concerns about when their parents return from deployment.

?One of the things I miss most about my dad is spending time with him,? said Evan Burciaga, 13. ?When he was home, he would take me to the gun show, but since he deployed, I miss the time we would spend together.?

Children in the middle group spent their time making Halloween-style picture frames for Family photos, while talking about their parents and how they felt about their parents? deployment.

?We developed this program because, when the war first started, kids didn?t have a good place to talk about their dads deploying or coming home,? said Nugin.

This service is offered whenever kids are faced with a parent deploying, said Nugin.

In the teen?s group of Kids Chat, they colored, made bead jewelry and participated in an opening-up exercise. They could choose between 14 strips of green paper, each containing a question.

Each teen answered their question, opening up about their lives at home and how their parent?s deployment has affected their roles in the Family.

?Since my dad has left, I can do things that I haven?t done before when he was here,? said Jason Griego, 14. ?I just feel like I?m a bigger person, like I have matured and become more independent.?

As each group wrapped up their session, they all gathered in the 4th BCT HQ common area to mingle and eat ice cream. Kids from each group spoke with each other about what they learned from the service and how it helped them cope with their parents being deployed.

?Kids Chat is a great social-networking environment for our children because they get to be creative and play with adults and other children,? said Senior. ?The kids light up when you give them that one-on-one attention, making them feel special.?

For more information on Fort Carson ACS, Family Advocacy and Family Violence Prevention Programs, call (719) 526-4590, or visit http://community.carson.army.mil/ACS.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Jill Nugin, manager, Family Advocacy Program, Fort Carson Army Community Service, directs children into their designated age groups during ?Kids Chat,? a service provided by the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012. ACS?s FVPP is only a working group, but is currently in its final stages before being signed and becoming an official service provided by the FAP. Kids Chat was developed to attack the problem of domestic and Family violence at Fort Carson, said Nugin. ?The Family violence task force was developed a year ago because of a significant increase in infant deaths in El Paso County?the community as a whole put this working group together to address what we could do to reduce the impact of child abuse,? said Nugin.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Francesca Vavioa (left),11, and Jaden Oberst, 13, choose between 14 different questions to answer and talk about during ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012. In the 11 to 16 age group of Kids Chat, they colored, made bead jewelry and participated in an opening-up exercise. Each teen answered their question, opening up about their lives at home and how their parent?s deployment has affected their roles in the Family.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Evan Burciaga (blue shirt), 13, opens up about his feelings to Julia Woodhouse (far left) victim advocate, Army Community Service, and Nate Nugin (bottom middle), program manager, Family Enrichment Program, ACS, with the 11 to 16 age group of ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012. ?One of the things I miss most about my dad is spending time with him,? said Burciaga. ?When he was home, he would take me to the gun show, but since he deployed, I miss the time we would spend together.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Children in the six to 10 age group of ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, make Halloween-style picture frames for their family, while they talk about how their parent?s deployment is affecting their home life, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Mariana Grauptmann, victim advocate, Family Advocacy Program, Fort Carson Army Community Service, helps a child make her Halloween-style photo frame during ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Brandie Senior, Army Community Service operations noncommissioned officer, Fort Carson ACS, helps children in the 3 to 5 age group assemble a puzzle during ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012. The children drew pictures, completed puzzles, and participated in story time, where the volunteers read stories to their group. ?Kids Chat is a great social-networking environment for our children because they get to be creative and play with adults and other children,? said Senior. ?The kids light up when you give them that one-on-one attention, making them feel special.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Dale Mckitrick (right, red shirt), financial, Fort Carson Army Community Service, and children part of the 3 to 5 age group, celebrate after completing a puzzle during ?Kids Chat,? a service provided under the Family Violence Prevention Plan working group, at the 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Headquarters building, Aug. 24, 2012. ACS?s FVPP is currently a working group, and is the process of becoming an official service provided by the Family Advocacy Program. Kids Chat was developed to attack the problem of domestic and Family violence at Fort Carson, said Jill Nugin, manager, FAP, Fort Carson ACS. ?The Family violence task force was developed a year ago because of a significant increase in infant deaths in El Paso County?the community as a whole put this working group together to address what we could do to reduce the impact of child abuse,? said Nugin.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Women serve many different roles to many different people; mothers, wives, daughters, caretakers and nurturers, but it?s only been since 1971, with the advent of Women?s Equality Day, Aug. 26, that their role in shaping the political, social and economic aspects of our great nation has been officially honored.

4th Infantry Division Soldiers celebrated Women?s Equality Day at the Elkhorn Conference Center Aug. 24, to recognize women in America?s history, both civilian and military, who have made significant contributions to the country?s success and continued progress.

?It?s important to celebrate Women?s Equality Day because gender shouldn?t be a limiting factor on one?s ability to serve the nation, either in the Army, or through the community,? said Lt. Col. David Cushen, Equal Opportunity and Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention program manager, 4th Inf. Div. ?Soldiers of all ranks need to recognize that performance is not a function of gender.?

According to the National Women?s History museum, Women?s Equality Day, Aug. 26, celebrates when women?s right to vote, the 19th amendment, was signed into law by the U.S. Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby, in 1920.

One of the highlights of the ceremony was when different Soldiers detailed the past accomplishments of different women in U.S. history and challenged the audience to identify them with the question: ?Who am I??

The Soldiers portrayed Condoleezza Rice, the first African-American woman secretary of state; Madeleine Albright, the first woman secretary of state; Rosa Parks, whose refusal to change seats on a bus was influential in starting the movement to end segregation.

Sandra Day O?Connor, the first woman to be elected to the Supreme Court, and Sacagawea, the Native-American woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804 to 1806 as a translator and guide, and was awarded the rank of Honorary Sergeant in the Regular Army by President William J. Clinton in 2001, also had their contributions highlighted.

The guest speaker for the ceremony was Dr. Pamela Shockle-Zalabek, chancellor, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She is a Colorado Springs community member who has written eight books and more than 100 articles and productions on organizational communication, and is the recipient of numerous awards from the university and local community.

She had this to say about equality: ?Equality is not sameness; it is about opportunity and contributions. Equality doesn?t make us all the same, and I?d say thankfully, but it does mean we all have a seat at the table of opportunity.?

Shockle-Zalabek also talked about why equality is important for the community as a whole.

?The problems we face require diversity of thought. We know it is a mistake not to get the best thinking at the table? It is not just the right thing to do? it is by far the most effective thing to do.?

After the speech, Shockle-Zalabek received a certificate of appreciation from Brig. Gen. Ryan Gonsalves, deputy commanding general for maneuver, 4th Inf. Div., to close out the ceremony.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Specialist Andrea Surles, Multichannel Transmission Systems Operator-Maintainer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 714th Brigade Support Battalion, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reads the accomplishments of Sacagawea, the Native American woman who served as guide and translator for the Lewis and Clark expedition, as Surles, along with four other Soldiers, challenged audience members to identify ?Who am I??, during the Women?s Equality Day ceremony at the Elkhorn conference center, Aug. 24, 2012. The guest speaker for the ceremony was Dr. Pamela Shockle-Zalabek, chancellor, University of Colorado Colorado Springs, a Colorado Springs community member who has written eight books and more than 100 articles and productions on organizational communication, and is the recipient of numerous awards from the university and local community.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Dr. Pamela Shockle-Zalabek, chancellor, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, and guest speaker for Women?s Equality Day at the Elkhorn conference room, addresses the audience, Aug. 24, 2012. ?Equality is not sameness; it is about opportunity and contributions. Equality doesn?t make us all the same, and I?d say thankfully, but it does mean we all have a seat at the table of opportunity.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Soldiers scrambled through mud, charged over walls, and inspected, treated and transported the wounded, all in pursuit of the Expert Field Medical Badge.

More than 200 Soldiers came to Fort Carson, from as far away as Alaska, for Expert Field Medical Badge testing, which the 4th Infantry Division hosted at the Wilderness Road Training Complex from July 30 to Aug. 24.

The candidates arrived at WRTC Aug. 12 to in-process and begin EMFB standardization, where they were shown the correct way to perform all the tasks they would be graded on, and remained there until graduation.

The testing portion began Aug. 19 with a written test and night land navigation, followed over the next four days by common task lanes and day land navigation, and concluded Aug. 24 with the 12-mile foot march, followed by the graduation ceremony.

The prestige associated with the badge brings many candidates back for multiple attempts to earn it.

"It took me three times to earn my EFMB badge," said Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hays, emergency room noncommissioned officer, Medical and Dental Activity Alaska, Bassett Army Community Hospital, Fort Wainwright, Alaska. ?Attention to detail and the communications portion got me.?

Hays also felt attention to detail was the greatest obstacle for the candidates going through this EFMB as well. ?The most challenging part is doing the mannequin, doing the assessments, doing the treatments; there?s so many attention to detail tasks in the lanes. It?s different sitting here (in the staging area), from when you get there, you?ve got patients yelling at you, you get flustered.?

The difficulty of earning an EFMB badge can be measured by numbers. Out of the 224 candidates who began the EFMB, only 14 graduated. Hays had some motivational words for those whom didn?t make it.

?Don?t quit, keep trying,? said Hays. ?This is your first time; you?ve got an idea of what it?s like now. You can?t take it personal.?

That sentiment was echoed by Pfc. Kyle Kenter, healthcare specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., and the first Soldier to complete the 12-mile foot march, at 2 hours, 32 minutes.

?If it?s something you really want, keep trying. It (EFMB) is a stressful event; don?t get discouraged when you get there.?

The road to victory may have been long, but the Soldiers who completed the EFMB enjoyed their success.

?It?s definitely something to be proud of,? said Kenter. ?It?s something I never thought I?d have the chance to do.?

Kenter attributes his strong finish to his determination: ?I never quit, I never give up, and I try to give a 110 percent in whatever I do.?

Sergeant Nagiv Samad, senior line healthcare specialist and Kenter?s immediate supervisor, HHC, 7th Bn., 10th Cav. Regt., had no doubts about his Soldier?s success. ?I knew he was going to come across first; he?s the epitome of motivation.

?He?s one of the best Soldiers I ever had, I couldn?t ask for a better guy.?

During the EFMB presentation ceremony, Maj. Gen. Richard W. Thomas, commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, and senior market executive for TRICARE Puget Sound, took a moment to share his thoughts about the importance of the badge.

?This ceremony is not only the culmination of what has obviously been a very difficult and challenging competition, but it also represents a significant milestone in the military careers of these medics who are receiving the coveted EFMB today.

?The EFMB symbolizes that Army heritage; it symbolizes the best of Army medicine; it?s a symbol for excellence in combat medical skills.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Specialist Jonathan Belt, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, drops into a fighting position as part of his movement in a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 22. There were three CTLs, a day and night land navigation course, a written test and a foot march Soldiers were required to complete to be awarded the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Jonathan Belt, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, climbs over an obstacle as Spc. Donald Clark, communication specialist, Company B, 3rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, and Spc. Anthony Emmerson, cavalry scout, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., stabilize the litter while Spc. Kenneth Hayes, truck driver, Company A, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd BCT, moves around the outside at Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 22. The wall was one of three obstacles Belt had to lead his team through in one of three Common Tasks Lanes for the EFMB test hosted by the 4th Inf. Div., July 30 to Aug. 24. The test also included a written exam, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?First Lieutenant Ryan Fritz, executive officer and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Company C, 101st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan., helps Pfc. Joshua Morrison, nutritionist and injured role-player, Company B, 10th Combat Support Hospital, walk with the assistance of Pvt. Jonathan Hutchins, nutritionist and security detail, Company B, 10th CSH, while Fritz?s grader, Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hays, emergency room noncommissioned officer in charge, Medical and Dental Activity Alaska, Bassett Community Hospital, follows behind and evaluates his performance on a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? First Lieutenant Ryan Fritz, executive officer and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Company C, 101st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan., wraps a bandage around Pfc. Jared Moore, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician, and injured role-player, Company B, 10th Combat Support Hospital, on a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 21, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Jonathan Belt, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, wriggles out from underneath an obstacle consisting of a muddy pit overlaid with barbed wire as he navigates a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 22, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? First Lieutenant Ryan Fritz, executive officer and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Company C, 101st Battalion, 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan., assesses Pfc. Joshua Morrison, nutritionist and injured role-player, Company B, 10th Combat Support Hospital, for injuries as Pvt. Jonathan Hutchins, nutritionist and role-player, Company B, 10th CSH, maintains security and Fritz?s grader, Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Hays, emergency room noncommissioned officer in charge, Medical and Dental Activity Alaska, Bassett Community Hospital, evaluates his performance on a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 21, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Jonathan Belt, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, pulls an injured role-player on a sled as he navigates a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 22, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Jonathan Belt, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division, removes Spc. Richard McClenan, M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle mechanic and injured role-player, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 68th Armor Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, from a Humvee, using an organ and spine splint, with the assistance of Spc. Michael West, healthcare specialist and role-player, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 4th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., as he navigates a Common Tasks Lane during the EFMB test at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 22, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 CTLs, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Pfc. Kyle Kenter, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., receives congratulations from fellow Soldiers after being the first to complete the 12-mile foot march at Founder?s Field, having finished in 2 hours, 32 minutes, during the EFMB test Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers also had to complete three Combat Lanes, a written test, and a day and night land navigation course in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers encourage Expert Field Medical Badge candidates to complete the 12-mile foot march within the 3-hour time limit as they near the end point at Founder?s Field, during the EFMB test, Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers also had to complete three Combat Lanes, a written test, and a day and night land navigation course in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Pfc. Kyle Kenter, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., receives congratulations from fellow Soldiers after being the first to complete the 12-mile foot march at Founder?s Field, having finished in 2 hours, 32 minutes, during the EFMB test Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers also had to complete three Combat Lanes, a written test, and a day and night land navigation course in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Pfc. Kyle Kenter, healthcare specialist and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Battalion, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., smiles as he sees the finish line across the street; he was the first to complete the 12-mile foot march at Founder?s Field, having finished in 2 hours, 32 minutes, during the EFMB test Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers also had to complete three Combat Lanes, a written test, and a day and night land navigation course in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? First Lieutenant Ashley Browne, environmental science and engineer officer, and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 61st Multifunctional Medical Battalion, Fort Hood Texas, receives a warm welcome by Soldiers as she completes the 12-mile foot march at Founder?s Field during the EFMB test Aug. 24, 2012. She was the only woman to complete the demanding test, and one of the 14 to complete it out of the 224 candidates that began the EFMB. Soldiers also had to complete three Combat Lanes, a written test, and a day and night land navigation course in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Justin Rios, medic and Expert Field Medical Badge candidate, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., receives his Expert Field Medical Badge from Maj. Gen. Richard W. Thomas, commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, and senior market Executive for TRICARE Puget Sound, at Founder?s Field, during the EFMB Badge Presentation Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 Common Tasks Lanes, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Major General Richard W. Thomas, commanding general, Western Regional Medical Command, and senior market Executive for TRICARE Puget Sound, speaks at the Expert Field Medical Badge presentation at Founder?s Field, Aug. 24, 2012. Soldiers had to complete 3 Common Tasks Lanes, a written test, a day and night land navigation course, and a 12-mile foot march in order to earn the EFMB. ?This ceremony is not only the culmination of what has obviously been a very difficult and challenging competition, but it also represents a significant milestone in the military careers of these medics who are receiving the coveted EFMB today,? said Thomas.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, built staff cohesion and bolstered their knowledge of Decisive Action operations during the Warfighter training exercise, on Fort Carson, Aug. 13-22.

During the 10-day exercise, brigade and battalion staffs received orders from a notional division headquarters, planned missions through the military decision making process and directed simulated forces on the battlefield.

?The purpose of this exercise is to integrate the staff and get them working together and functioning as a team to support the commander?s decision making process during combat operations,? said Maj. Robert Walker, fire support officer, 1st BCT, 4th Inf. Div. ?Any time you put people in an environment where they can learn together, it builds cohesion,?

?It?s been a crucible of an exercise,? Walker said. ?We?re being pushed hard, we have to work fast; but it?s been a great teambuilding experience for a lot of our Soldiers. We?ve found out a lot about ourselves individually and about our processes as a staff.?

Exercise facilitators from the Mission Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., who developed the training scenario, mentored Raider leaders, providing a constant stream of suggestions throughout the exercise.

The scenario focused on a large-scale operation to defend a fictional country from an outside aggressor.

Walker explained the scenario presented an interesting challenge for the Raider Soldiers, most of whom have spent their entire careers combating insurgent threats in Afghanistan or Iraq, rather than conventional forces.

?The facilitators simulate, down to the company and platoon level, what our Soldiers are doing on the battlefield,? Walker said. The simulations provide feedback for the planning process and help identify holes in the planning and where processes can be improved.

The Warfighter exercise took place on a small training area cordoned off by concertina wire. Raider headquarters and each of the brigade?s battalions set up their Tactical Operations Centers in large tents, keeping all of the staff sections in a centralized location, simulating a deployed environment.

?A lot of the brigade staff is new, so keeping us in such tight quarters helped us communicate,? Walker said. ?Most of the primary staff officers are still getting to know their noncommissioned officers and Soldiers. It is very important to do this before any upcoming deployment or rotation to the National Training Center, because it helps us understand how our folks work together, where we can make improvements and where we can build on success.?

Even Soldiers who have served together for months or years benefited from the training, said Pfc. Jonathan Soto, infantryman, headquarters and headquarters Company, 1st BCT.

?I was friends with a lot of the people on staff before this, but during the exercise, I learned how to actually work with them,? said Soto, who works as an operations assistant, is tasked with monitoring operations on the battlefield. ?I may have known somebody for a long time, but never had to work directly with them, so this has definitely been a learning experience for all of us.?

At the battalion level, new staff Soldiers learned how their specific duties affected their unit?s mission as a whole.

?We have a few new guys straight from Advanced Individual Training, and this is the first exercise where they got to see how intelligence works during deployment,? said Sgt. 1st Class Joe Green, intelligence analyst, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st BCT. ?I think it really gave them a better understanding of what to expect.?

One of Green?s Soldiers, Sgt. Gabriel Brown, intelligence analyst, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 7th Sqdn., 10th Cav. Regt., stressed the importance of new Soldiers becoming comfortable working with other troops outside of their career field.

?Coming from AIT, you learn how to do your job, but you don?t know how to communicate and work with other (Staff) sections, so coming out to warfighter teaches, our young Soldiers especially, how to work with current operations, aviation and all of the other sections,? Brown said. ?Even something as simple as getting a broken computer fixed can get complicated if you don?t know who to give it to.?

The Brigade made excellent strides toward becoming a cohesive and effective fighting force during Warfighter, said Green.

Raider Soldiers participated in Warfighter in preparation for a rotation to the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., this fall.

?The great thing about this exercise is we brought all the equipment out, we brought all of our Soldiers out, and we found what works and what doesn?t,? Green said. ?We?ve improved on a lot of things these past couple of weeks, and when we get to NTC, I?m certain my Soldiers will be ready for whatever they throw at us.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? From front, Pvt. Carlos Alvarado, Spc. Spencer Berdan, and Spc. Jacob Edens, cavalry scouts, Troop A, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, plot roads and terrain features on a sand table, Aug. 13, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during deployment. During the 10-day exercise, brigade and battalion staffs received orders from a fictional command, planned missions and directed simulated forces on the battlefield.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Nicholas Bradford, signal support systems specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, changes the voltage on a gas-powered generator to power his communications equipment, Aug. 18, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during deployment.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Lieutenant Colonel Eric Larsen (right), commander, 1st Special Troops Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, discusses troop movements with Leon Buel, a trainer role-playing as an allied officer, Aug. 19, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during deployment. Exercise facilitators from the Mission Command Training Program at Fort Leavenworth, Kan., who developed the training scenario, mentored Raider leaders, providing a constant stream of suggestions throughout the exercise.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Wade Myers (left), Pfc. Jacarious Garth, and Staff Sgt. Phillip Dontje (standing), intelligence analysts, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, observe digital actions on the notional battlefield, Aug. 20, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during decisive action operations.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Antony Dang, armor crewman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, climbs out of an M1A2 Abrams tank while conducting maintenance checks, Aug. 20, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during decisive action operations. Raider Soldiers participated in Warfighter in preparation for a rotation to the National Training Center at Ft. Irwin, Calif., this fall.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Norman, commander, 7th Squadron, 10th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, takes notes as he monitors radio traffic while directing a simulated combat operation from an M2A3 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Aug. 20, 2012, during Warfighter, a training exercise designed to prepare ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers for the challenges of operating as a cohesive unit during decisive action operations.During the 10-day exercise, brigade and battalion staffs received orders from a fictional command, planned missions and directed simulated forces on the battlefield.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Hands held aloft, Soldiers rushed out of the small concrete structure, coughing and sputtering, flapping their arms wildly as if attempting to fly away from the horror within.

Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, reaffirmed trust in their equipment during protective mask confidence training at the Fort Carson chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear gas chamber Aug. 6-10.

Each day, CBRN specialists assigned to 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, guided dozens of masked ?Raiders? into the CBRN chamber, filled with 0-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS gas), a vapor that causes intense irritation and a burning sensation to the eyes, nose and throat, without lasting side-effects, most commonly used to break up riots.

The gas caused minor skin irritation to Soldiers as they shuffled into the chamber, but their masks kept the primary side effects at bay.

?It burns, but I think this training actually builds morale,? said Pvt. Christopher Johnson, infantryman, Company A, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. ?It proves that you can do something other people are afraid of, or don?t want to do.?

To validate the Raiders? ability to properly use their M40-series protective masks, CBRN specialists directed their students to remove the masks from their faces for five seconds before replacing them, expelling any gas trapped inside and then resealing the masks to their faces.

?Once you?re confident in your mask and know the proper procedures, you have nothing to worry about,? said Sgt. Denver Stennet, CBRN specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt. ?If you stay calm, you?ll be fine.?

When used properly, a pro-mask could save a Soldier?s life from countless situations, Stennet said. He emphasized the importance of training with the CBRN equipment in preparation for possible attacks during deployment.

After each group cleared and resealed their masks, the CBRN specialists directed them to take their mask off, hold it above their heads, and recite their last names and the last four digits of their social security numbers as they exited the chamber.

Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Lambert, CBRN noncommissioned officer, 1st Bn., 22nd Inf. Regt., said this final phase of the training demonstrates the masks? effectiveness to Soldiers.

?(Taking their masks off), Soldiers really feel the CS gas,? he said. ?It?s hard to doubt your mask after trying to breathe in there without it.?

Lambert said reaffirming Raider Soldiers CBRN skills will make them more well rounded and efficient warfighters capable of engaging an enemy in any situation.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? First Lieutenant Nicholas Mueller, assistant plans officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, seals his M40-series protective mask during mask confidence training at the Fort Carson chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear gas chamber, Aug 10, 2012. To validate their effectiveness, Soldiers removed their masks for five seconds before replacing them, expelling any gas trapped inside, and resealing the masks to their faces.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Lambert, chemical, biological radiological and nuclear noncommissioned officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, releases 0-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) Gas, preparing the Fort Carson CBRN training room for mask confidence training, Aug 10, 2012. ?We?ve been fighting a war and focusing on that mission, but now it is time to get back to the (basics),? he said. ?This is something Soldiers should be doing every year and we are going to make sure that happens.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Lambert, chemical, biological radiological and nuclear noncommissioned officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, explains the procedures for Mask confidence training to 1st BCT Soldiers at the Fort Carson CBRN training site, Aug 10, 2012. To validate Soldiers? ability to properly use their M40-series protective masks, the CBRN specialists directed students to remove the masks from their faces for five seconds before replacing them, expelling any gas trapped inside and then resealing the masks to their faces.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, lift M40-series protective masks from their faces in a room full of chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (CS) Gas to test their masks? effectiveness during confidence training at the Fort Carson Nuclear Biological and Chemical range, Aug 10, 2012. ?(Soldiers) really need to take this training seriously,? said Sgt. Denver Stennet, CBRN specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT. ?If you get into a situation where you need to use your mask and you?ve never done this before, chances are you won?t get it on in time, or you won?t use it properly.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hold their M40-series protective masks above their heads to experience the full effects of CS Gas and highlight their equipments? effectiveness during Mask confidence training at the Fort Carson Nuclear Biological and Chemical range, Aug 10, 2012. Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Lambert, CBRN noncommissioned officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, , said this final portion of the training demonstrates to Soldiers just how effective pro-masks are. ?During that last part, Soldiers really feel that CS gas,? he said. ?It?s hard to doubt your mask after trying to breathe in there without it.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Soldiers assigned to 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division exit the Fort Carson Nuclear Biological and Chemical building during Mask confidence training, Aug 10, 2012. During the last phase of the training, Soldiers take off their masks, hold them above their heads and recite their last name and the last four digits of their social security number as they exit the chamber. Staff Sergeant Jeffrey Lambert, CBRN noncommissioned officer, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st BCT, said this final portion of the training demonstrates to Soldiers just how effective pro-masks are. ?(Taking off their masks), Soldiers really feel that CS gas,? he said. ?It?s hard to doubt your mask after trying to breathe in there without it.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers, Families, friends and community members gathered to honor the memory of Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, senior enlisted leader, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Thomas Kennedy, fire support officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.; and Air Force Maj. Walter ?D.G.? Gray, air liaison officer, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a memorial service held in their honor at Founder?s Field, Aug. 23.

Griffin, Kennedy and Gray were killed on their way to a provincial council?s office in Sarkowi, Kunar Province, Afghanistan, Aug. 8, when two suicide bombers detonated their bombs.

Soldiers assigned to the 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div., held a memorial service in Afghanistan Aug. 10, to honor the three Soldiers who lost their lives in the incident.

Friends and colleagues of the fallen warriors spoke of their experiences at the ceremony. They told stories of time spent with their fallen comrade, laughed about inside jokes, and reminisced about time spent together.

After speeches, a Pikes Peak Highlander bagpiper honored the fallen warriors with a rendition of ?Amazing Grace,? which he played as he marched to the Soldier?s memorial.

Griffin, a native of Riverton, Wyo., joined the Army in 1988, and was first assigned to 2nd Battalion, 70th Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, in Fort Riley, Kan., as an armor crewman.

Griffin is survived by his wife, Pamela, and their two children, Dane and Kylie.

"I received short notice?that I would have a new sergeant major upon arrival, Griffin from Fort Lewis,? said Command Sgt. Maj. Jody Heikkinen, senior enlisted leader, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th BCT., 4th Inf. Div. ?I called a fellow sergeant major and asked if they knew this Griffin guy, and he said, ?You?re getting Griffin? You?re going to love him Jody, he?ll take care of you guys,? and truer words have never been spoken.?

Kennedy, a native of West Point, N.Y., commissioned in the Army in 2000, and was first assigned to the Republic of Korea and served on ?Freedom?s Frontier,? as a fire support officer.

Kennedy is survived by his wife, Kami, and their two children, Brody and Margaret.

"I met then cadet candidate Thomas Kennedy in the summer of 1996 while serving as his cadet first sergeant at the U.S. Military Academy, and from the moment I connected with this hard-charging, motivated, positive, inspiring guy, I knew I had met someone very special,? said Maj. Timothy Knoth, 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. ?Tommy brings out the best in everyone, and for that summer immersion together, I will remain forever grateful.?

Gray, a native of Conyers, Ga., enlisted in the Air Force in 1994, and served three years as an enlisted tactical air controller prior to joining the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps program. He graduated in 2001 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant and assigned to 47th Operations Support Squadron at Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, as the airfield flight operations officer.

Gray is survived by his wife, Heather, and their three children, Nyah, Garrett and Ava.

?Always a positive force in the Brigade, D.G.?s smile and engaging demeanor regularly brightened a room during staff meetings, in the chow hall, or huddled around a map, planning operations,? said Lt. Col. Nicholas Palarino, commander, Rear Detachment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.

As a final tribute paid by soldiers to their fallen comrades, Ivy Division conducted the Last Roll Call. It has its origin in the accountability roll call conducted by the unit First Sergeant following combat, and is called with the conviction held by soldiers that all unit members will be accounted for, and none will ever be forgotten.

After Final Roll Call, the Firing Volley echoed through the field, honoring the memories of each Soldier. Families, Soldiers, and friends walked up to the memorial to render final honors and pay their respects to their loved ones.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? The Fallen Soldier Battle Cross is used to show honor and respect for the fallen. Started during the American Civil War as a means of identifying the bodies on the battleground before they were removed, today, it is a means of showing respect for the fallen among the still living members of the troop and as a private ceremony among those still living as a means to mourn. A memorial placed at Founder?s Field honored Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, senior enlisted leader, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Thomas Kennedy, fire support officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.; and Air Force Maj. Walter ?D.G.? Gray, air liaison officer, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a memorial ceremony held Aug. 23, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Palarino, commander, Rear Detachment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, talks about memories shared with of Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, senior enlisted leader, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div.; Maj. Thomas Kennedy, fire support officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.; and Air Force Maj. Walter ?D.G.? Gray, air liaison officer, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a memorial ceremony honoring their memory at Founder?s Field, Aug. 23, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? The 2nd Battalion, 12th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Honor Guard, honor fires three volleys to honor the memory of Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, senior enlisted leader, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Thomas Kennedy, fire support officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.; and Air Force Maj. Walter ?D.G.? Gray, air liaison officer, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a memorial ceremony at Founder?s Field, Aug. 23, 2012.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers and friends of 4th Infantry Division, present Final Honors in memory of Sgt. Maj. Kevin J. Griffin, senior enlisted leader, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division; Maj. Thomas Kennedy, fire support officer, 4th BCT, 4th Inf. Div.; and Air Force Maj. Walter ?D.G.? Gray, air liaison officer, 13th Air Support Operations Squadron, during a memorial ceremony held at Founder?s Field, Aug. 23, 2012. Griffin is survived by his wife, Pamela, and their two children, Dane and Kylie. Kennedy is survived by his wife, Kami, and their two children, Brody and Margaret. Gray is survived by his wife, Heather, and their three children, Nyah, Garrett and Ava.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Leaders from the ?Warhorse? Brigade attended an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training workshop Aug. 9 - 10 at Veterans Chapel.

The two-day workshop allowed leaders to learn the warning signs of suicide, and skills to intervene and help at risk Soldiers.

?The training is intended to compliment the Army?s ?Ask, Care, Escort,? suicide prevention program,? said Maj. Ricky Way, chaplain, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. ?It focuses on (leaders) making connections with Soldiers within the formation to help better understand the reasons behind suicidal thoughts and feelings.?

Way is one of five primary ASIST trainers in 2nd BCT who completed a five-day ?train the trainer? workshop.

The ASIST model is the way to apply the ACE program effectively, said Staff Sgt. Adam Ward, senior chaplain?s assistant, 2nd BCT.

?Comparing decisive action operations in combat to counterinsurgency methods is just like comparing ACE to ASIST,? Ward said. ?When you?re conducting COIN, you are much more invested in the long run and the enduring process, and it?s the same thing with the ASIST model.?

The workshop consisted of several lectures, simulations and practical exercises, and culminated in a role playing exercise that allowed leaders to apply their newly-learned intervention skills.

?I honestly thought this was going to be a dry and boring type of training,? said Sgt. Nathan Lewis, infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, who attended the training. ?I couldn?t have been any more wrong. The ASIST model really opened my eyes and I feel like I?m so much better equipped to care for my Soldiers if they are having issues.?

Thirty leaders from 2nd BCT took part in the two-day training. Additional leaders will be certified in the weeks to come as the Unit Ministry Teams in the brigade plan to hold ASIST every other week. According to Way, the ASIST program was incorporated on Fort Carson by 4th Infantry Division through Mission Support Order 10-0261 in April 2010. The order requires battalions to have a minimum of 85 percent of their first-line leaders certified.

U.S. Army Garrison Fort Carson will host a five-day ASIST workshop Oct. 1 - 5 to certify additional trainers on post.

?If we can save just one life as a result of this training, then we have made a difference,? Way said.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Doris Fisher (left), supply sergeant, Company G, 3rd Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, talks Capt. Joel Payne, chaplain, 204th Brigade Support Battalion, 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., out of committing suicide during a role- playing exercise as part of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at Veterans Chapel, Aug. 10. The workshop consisted of several lectures, simulations and practical exercises, and culminated in a role playing exercise that allowed leaders to apply their newly-learned intervention skills.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Major Ricky Way, chaplain, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, lectures first-line leaders from the ?Warhorse? Brigade during Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at Veterans Chapel, Aug. 10. ?The training is intended to compliment the Army?s ?Ask, Care, Escort,? suicide prevention program,? Way said. ?It focuses on (leaders) making connections with Soldiers within the formation to help better understand the reasons behind suicidal thoughts and feelings.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Kpandja Mahoulyou (left), infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 67th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, makes a connection with Sgt. Nathan Lewis, also an infantryman with Company B, during a simulation exercise as part of Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training at Veterans Chapel, Aug. 10. The workshop consisted of several lectures, simulations and practical exercises, and culminated in a role-playing exercise that allowed leaders to apply their newly-learned intervention skills.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?The Army provides many services to assist Army Families suffering from domestic violence.

One of those services is the Transitional Compensation Program.

According to Army Regulation 680-1, Congress approved the entitlement to reduce a victim?s reluctance reporting domestic violence and child abuse. The program provides payments, medical benefits, and commissary and exchange privileges to dependents of Soldiers who are involuntarily separated for domestic violence or child abuse.

?A lot of times, spouses and Families, single income Families, don?t leave domestic violence because the thought of trying to financially support themselves is daunting,? said Mariana Graupmann, victim advocate, Army Community Service. ?The program provides a viable income for Families trying to escape from domestic violence.?

The program also benefits the Army as a whole, not just the victims.

?Any program that encourages spouses to come forward and report problems within the Army Family is a positive thing,? said 1st Sgt. David Chaney, senior enlisted leader, Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division. ?It allows me to identify a potential issue within my unit, so that I can provide preventive training for my Soldiers and work to establish a cultural change to ensure that domestic violence and child abuse are seen as completely unacceptable and incompatible with the professional Soldier ethos.?

The benefits the program provides are straightforward and standardized, regardless of rank or time in service.

?The payment is a straight 36 months, and there is a stipend for the victim and each dependent child,? said Leah Goss, victim advocate, Army Community Service. ?The compensation is for both domestic violence and child abuse. Abused Soldiers in a dual military relationship are also entitled to compensation when abused by their fellow military member.?

While the program provides many benefits to victims of domestic violence or child abuse, there are some important considerations to keep in mind, such as the length of time it takes to resolve criminal charges, and how that affects the processing of the victim?s claim.

?Transitional Compensation paperwork can?t be filed until the chapter paperwork has begun,? said Graupmann. ?Commanders wait for the civil process to complete before deciding on a chapter, and it can take up to a year to get a conviction. Also, the payment is only backdated to when the chapter is initiated.?

Once the paperwork has been initiated, it usually takes four to six weeks to process it, and another four to six weeks to receive the first payment, said Graupmann.

Claimants also have to be careful about how they carry themselves after they apply for the compensation.

If victims rejoin with their spouses after receiving Transitional Compensation, they can be charged with defrauding the government, said Goss. ?We see reconciliation quite a bit, so the program isn?t for everyone.?

?Any case that we see goes through the victim advocates, the Judge Advocate General?s office, garrison command, and the Transitional Compensation approving authority in San Antonio, Texas,? said Goss. ?There are a lot of eyes on the process; they make sure the cases approved are worthwhile.?

There are other issues that can arise when applying for compensation.

?If the Soldier receives a medical evaluation board instead of a chapter, the victim is not eligible for the program,? said Michelle Eller, victim advocate, Army Community Service. ?Also, if the spouse was an active participant in the case of child abuse, they would also not be eligible. If the spouse has any prior history of child abuse on record, they can?t apply.?

When Soldiers do get a medical board, victim advocates will assist the victim in other ways.

?If the Soldier isn?t chaptered or court-martialed, we will advocate through their chain of command to get the dependent their BAH and other benefits they are entitled to,? said Goss.

The victim advocates stressed the necessity of keeping a proper perspective on the program.

?It?s a long application process, it?s not something to rely upon; cases get rejected all the time, charges sometimes get dropped,? said Goss. ?The program is available, but on very limited and specific circumstances.?

As for the success of the program, it?s hard to measure.

?It?s hard to say if there?s been any increase in reporting due to the program, as the Army has made such a strong push in many different programs combating domestic violence and child abuse,? said Graupmann. ?The military culture as a whole has shifted toward being more supportive of child abuse victims. I will say that I have definitely seen an increase in reporting in my six years here.?

While the program?s effectiveness in reporting may be hard to determine, it is definitely appreciated by the victim advocates.

?It?s very rewarding to hear our clients feel thankful and empowered, like they have a new lease on life,? said Eller. ?It does me good to see that people can change and not have to live in fear.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Every once in a while, a Soldier comes along who embodies the hard-charging ?can do? attitude associated with the Army at its finest.

For the 127th Military Police Company, 759th Military Police Battalion, that Soldier is Spc. Keanan Kite, team leader, 127th MP.

?He?s one of my specialists that sets the bar for the other guys,? said Sgt. 1st Class Jon Waterhouse, Kite?s platoon sergeant, 127th MP.

Kite recently gained notice in his unit for saving a life.

While at another Soldier?s house, Kite observed him trying to commit suicide, and was able to physically restrain the Soldier while notifying his chain of command, said Waterhouse. The unit is currently recommending Kite for an Army Commendation Medal.

Kite?s evident compassion and concern for the welfare of those around him is also appreciated by his fellow Soldiers.

"It takes the pressure off of us, knowing that he did that, that we have someone to talk to," said Spc. Alex Cornelius, military police, 127th MP.

While Kite may be the hero of the hour, he also puts in the effort to be the best Soldier he can be, day in and day out. He is one of five Soldiers on a company team for the Warfighter Competition, and the 127th MP is the only company in the 759th MP Bn. fielding a team, said Capt. Ben Cranson, company commander, 127th MP.

The Warfighter Competition is the equivalent of the best ranger competition for military police, said Sgt. Sean Ambriz, squad leader and warfighter team coach, 127th MP. ?The Soldiers that win the Warfighter Competition are considered the best Soldiers in the regiment.?

The training for the Warfighter Competition is long and involved.

?We train an average of 10 hours a day, six days a week, and we have been training since the end of April,? said Ambriz. ?There is a lot of physical training, long distance running and foot marches, two hours of high intensity interval training every day, water survival training, hiking up Pikes Peak as often as two times a week, four hours of studying each day, U.S. Army Special Forces training, and basic Soldier skills training.

?July 23-27 we did weapons training with U.S. Army Special Forces, and Aug. 7 we did the military?s highest obstacle course in the U.S. at the Air Force Academy,? said Ambriz.

All that physical training can take its toll on the Soldiers preparing to compete.

?On the five-man team, we?ve had 11 Soldiers drop out, three due to injury,? said Ambriz. ?Kite and Cornelius are the only Soldiers who have been with the program the whole time. There?s not a single guy on this team who isn?t hurt, but they?re still out training every day.?

?The Soldiers work six days a week, with a strict diet, no smoking, and can only drink on Saturdays,? said Ambriz. ?These Soldiers do it because they want to be the best.?

For Kite, being a member of the Warfighter team was an ambition long in the making.

"I was in bootcamp one day, and all these warfighters showed up on buses," said Kite. "Our drill sergeants said, 'that could be you.'"

As for which part of the training challenges Kite the most: "Hiking Pike's Peak with the altitude and the trails, that's dedication and heart right there."

Kite's dedication to the unit has also been recognized by his fellow Soldiers.

"He's stepped up since we've got back from deployment, pursuing that next rank, leading Soldiers,? said Cornelius.

Kite's desire to do well stems in a large part from his patriotism, and why he joined the Army. "There was a Soldier, Sgt. Travis Burkhart, grandpa's good friend, that died in Iraq,"

His patriotism also reflects in his plans for the future. "I see twenty years done in the military, a commission, and a degree in criminal justice. I want to be an airborne MP."

While most of Kite's time is taken up with training these days, he still finds a little time to enjoy himself.

"I like to go hiking, and going to watch the cheap local bands," said Kite. "I also like to snowboard in the winter, though that feels awfully far away with the heat these days."

Kite's immediate plans are to compete in the 759th Bn. Warfighter Competition here Aug. 17-19, and the Military Police Corps Regiment competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Sep. 10-15.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Specialist Keanan Kite, team leader, 127th Military Police Company, 759th Police Battalion provides instruction on radio procedures to Spc. Christopher Luoma (left), military police, 127th MP, Aug. 8, 2012. The Soldiers are members of the company's Warfighter Competition team, who will go to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Sep. 10-15, for the Military Police Corps Regiment?s Warfighter competition, where they will be tested on common Soldier tasks, military police specific tasks, and physical fitness. Winners will be considered the best Soldiers in the regiment. The team has been training ten hours a day, six days a week, since late April.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?Specialist Keanan Kite (right), team leader, 127th Military Police Company, 759th Police Battalion provides instruction to (clockwise from left) Spc. Alex Cornelius, Spc. Christopher Luoma, and Spc. Andrew Gluekert, all military police, on radio operating procedures, Aug. 8, 2012. The Soldiers are members of the company's Warfighter Competition team, and they will go to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Sep. 10-15, for the Military Police Corps Regiment?s Warfighter competition, where they will be tested on common Soldier tasks, military police specific tasks, and physical fitness. Winners will be considered the best Soldiers in the regiment.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? To encourage Army-wide awareness and protect our communities from terrorist acts, the Army designated August as Anti-terrorism awareness month.

The goal of Anti-terrorism month is to bring everyone?s attention to the Army?s dedicated plan for instilling heightened awareness and vigilance, preventing acts of terrorism and protecting people, installations and stand-alone facilities, units and information.

"We want people to have enhanced awareness, know how to report things when they see them, and learn to change up their patterns to be less of a target,? said Master Sgt. Donald Nelson, military police, Company A, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division.

During this month, Army leadership provides Soldiers and Families the information they need to be vigilant to prevent acts of terrorism and protect the Fort Carson community, Nelson added.

A key emphasis of AT Awareness is iWATCH Army, an Army-wide terrorist watch program that encourages and empowers the Army community to identify and report indicators of suspicious behavior potentially associated with terrorist activity.

The Army iWATCH motto, ?if you see something, say something,? increases the abilities of law enforcement to detect and prevent potential terrorist attacks.

?If Soldiers or Family members see something suspicious or threatening to them, they are encouraged to report it, so law enforcement officials can take care of it,? said Nelson. ?Part of AT training is determining what suspicious scenarios would be, to provide a better understanding of what to be on the lookout for.?

?Numerous products created to establish an initial effort to teach anti-terrorism (to Families) in the Army include brochures, websites, public service announcements and newsletters,? said Sgt. Maj. Willie Mitchell, force protection sergeant major for 4th Inf. Div.

Anti-terrorism information and training disseminates through the ranks by unit leadership, ensuring each Soldier receives the proper training and information they need to understand the importance of being aware of their surroundings.

?Soldiers receive anti-terrorism training when they first join the Army through Anti-terrorism Level One Training,? said Mitchell. ?(Anti-terrorism awareness) is also incorporated into training, such as urban warfare and offensive and defensive operations.?

Terrorist activity is a persistent threat, but with proper training and vigilance, Soldiers, Families, and civilians can do their part to prevent potential terrorist acts.

?I would like to tell Soldiers and Families to continue being vigilant and be part of the solution, not the problem,? Mitchell said. ?Tell them to comply with the Army regulations on how to conduct and carry themselves, and not to take it as punishment, but as a way to protect themselves and loved ones from someone who is trying to hurt them.

For more information on iWATCH and Anti-terrorism, go to: www.myarmyonesource.com

From there, go to Family Programs and Services, and then to Iwatch to view Army public service announcements or read senior leader messages about terrorism prevention.

Families and children, 14 years and older, can also take anti-terrorism training through Army Knowledge Online: https://www.us.army.mil

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Forty-two Soldiers assigned to units throughout Fort Carson gathered around a Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun, each Soldier taking turns dismantling and reassembling the weapon. Once Soldiers believed their skills improved, they demonstrated their knowledge and skills for their instructors.

Soldiers received instruction from a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., at the 43rd Sustainment Brigade motorpool and various Fort Carson Ranges, July 30 - August 10, to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainer? program.

This train the trainer program will allow 42 Soldiers to take the knowledge and skills they learn from the class to train their units in an ongoing cycle.

?Weapons function skills are just as perishable as weapons qualification skills,? said Staff Sgt. Joe Noe, weapons instructor, NGMTC. ?We take Soldiers through the weapons step-by-step and train them on each weapons system the right way.?

Training started off each day with a weapons issue, then Soldiers gathered into a classroom where they learned the ins-and-outs of each weapon.

?We go more in-depth on the weapons, teaching about the internal parts and what makes the weapon work,? said Noe. ?If there is a problem, the Soldiers can use their knowledge of the weapon to isolate the area causing the problem.?

A benefit of mobile training teams is that they are cost effective, allowing larger groups of Soldiers to receive training at little cost to the Army.

?It?s cheaper to fly six instructors to Army Posts than it is to fly a few dozen Soldiers to a training center,? said Staff. Sgt. Jori Krasney, weapons instructor, NGMTC.

While learning about the internal functions of the various weapons systems, even Soldiers who believed themselves to be well versed with specific weapons found out a great deal more about them.

?I thought I knew a lot about the M16 rifle, but the instructors taught me about every component and its part in the weapon?s function,? said Sgt. Kenneth Green, automated logistical specialist, 247th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

Green said learning about the inside of the weapon is vital to its effectiveness.

Once Soldiers completed their hands-on training, they demonstrated their knowledge of the weapons by disassembling and reassembling the weapons systems.

?When we finish this course, I will go back to my unit and share my newfound knowledge with my Soldiers and battle buddies,? said Green. After Soldiers completed a day of classroom instruction, they went to ranges and practiced firing the weapons and, if a malfunction occurred, isolated the problem and performed an on-the-spot correction.

?I learned something new about every weapons system, which is something that I can take back to help the companies enhance their range training,? said Sgt. 1st Class Tad Newel, Bradley Fighting Vehicle system maintainer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div. ?The instructors really emphasized the right way to do things, because the quickest way isn?t always the most efficient way in the long run.?

Upon completion of the weapons-function portion of Soldiers? training, they practiced running ranges to bolster their skills as range safety officers.

It?s the duty of the range safety officer to ensure smooth operations and Soldier safety, said Newel, the class leader of the small-arms training class.

The Soldiers who completed the training will return to their units with knowledge of weapons functions and can begin the process of passing that knowledge through the unit.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Terrance Brown, ammunition specialist, 43rd Special Troops Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, and Sgt. Dorice Bland, infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, disassemble a Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a small-arms training class at the 43rd Sustainment Brigade motorpool, August 1, 2012. Forty-two Soldiers attended a small-arms training class, instructed by two Soldiers with the Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson, Ark.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Jori Krasney, weapons instructor, Mobile Training Team, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, gives Soldiers an up-close look at the internal components of a Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun during a small-arms training class at the 43rd Sustainment Brigade motorpool, August 1, 2012. During the small-arms class, Soldiers learned to disassemble and reassemble various weapons systems, including the internal components which make the weapons function. After a demonstration from the instructors, Soldiers performed hands-on training to show their understanding of the lessons taught to them.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Jeremy Obermiller, motor transport operator, Forward Support Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, disassembles the components holding the muzzle of a Browning M2 .50-caliber machine gun in place during a small-arms training class at the 43rd Sustainment Brigade motorpool, August 1, 2012. Forty-two Soldiers attended a small-arms training class, instructed by two Soldiers with the Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson, Ark.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Staff Sergeant Robert Haworth (right), infantryman, Company B, 1st Battalion, 22nd Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, disassembles an M9 pistol for Staff Sgt. Joe Noe, weapons instructor, Mobile Training Team, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, to show his understanding of its components and their functions, during a small-arms training class at the 43rd Sustainment Brigade motorpool, August 1, 2012. ?We go more in-depth on the weapons, teaching about the internal parts and what makes the weapon work,? said Noe. ?If there is a problem, the Soldiers can use their knowledge of the weapon to isolate the area causing the problem.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Charles Williams (below), motor transport operator, Company A, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, practices firing an M203 grenade launcher, while Sgt. Terry Howlett, armor crewman, Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., hands him 40 mm training rounds, during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. After Soldiers completed a day of classroom instruction, they went to ranges and practiced firing the weapons, and if a malfunction arose, isolated the problem and performed an on the spot correction. Soldiers attended a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainer? program.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Charles Williams (front), motor transport operator, Company A, 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, inserts a 40 mm training round into the chamber of an M203 grenade launcher, held by Sgt. Terry Howlett, armor crewman, Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. Soldiers attended a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainers? regimen.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Kenneth Green (below), automated logistical specialist, 247th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, practices firing an M203 grenade launcher, while Sgt. Jeremy Obermiller, motor transport operator, Forward Support Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, provides 40 mm training rounds and a second set of eyes, during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. Soldiers attended a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainers? regimen. Green said learning about the inside of the weapon is vital to its effectiveness.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Andrew Hawkins, cavalry scout, Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 3rd Battalion, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, aims his M203 grenade launcher hight to hit a target in the distance, during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. Soldiers attended a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainers? regimen.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Dorice Bland (front), infantryman, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, hands a 40 mm training round to Sgt. William Sloan, human intelligence collector, Company A, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Inf. Div., to reload his M203 grenade launcher, during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. After Soldiers completed a day of in-class training, they went to ranges and practiced firing weapons, and if a malfunction arose, isolated the problem and performed an on the spot correction.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant Antonio Drake (back), motor transport operator, 32nd Transportation Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, inserts a 40 mm training round into the chamber of the M203 grenade launcher for Staff Sgt. Will Fout, infantryman, Headquarters Support Company, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, during a small-arms training course at the MK 19 Qualification Range, August 2, 2012. Soldiers attended a Master Gunner small-arms training class taught by a Mobile Training Team from the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., to enhance the skills of noncommissioned officers, as part of a ?train the trainers? regimen.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Soldiers of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, have a piece of Army history in the form of an M47 Patton series tank on display in front of their headquarters building, as of Aug. 1.

Colonel Joel Tyler, commander, 1st BCT, requested the 1950?s era tank so that its presence could help instill unit pride and remind Soldiers of the Army?s long history of military excellence, said 2nd Lt. Blake Ritchey, engineer officer, 1st BCT.

?There is a lot to be learned from the past,? said Ritchey, who organized the transport of the tank. ?These historic pieces we surround ourselves with are just small reminders of our victories; our successful past and our promising future.?

Transportation Specialists assigned to 59th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, used a M1070 heavy equipment transporter to move the tank from Fort Carson?s Kit Carson Park to the brigade headquarters.

?Support from the 43rd SB is essential for missions like this,? Ritchey said. ?Most Fort Carson units don?t have the equipment or the expertise for a move like this, and they are always willing to help their fellow units.?

M47 Patton tanks, built to replace the M46 model and Pershing-series tanks, saw action in the Korean War before being replaced by the more effective M48 in 1959.

Although designated as a light infantry unit, Raider Brigade Soldiers probably used Patton series tanks during the division?s cold war mission in Germany in the early 1950s, said Steve Ruhnke, curator of the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Museum.

?The biggest improvement with this series was the 90 mm gun,? said Ruhnke. ?At the time, this was the biggest gun out there.

?In World War II, we struggled with our 75 mm tanks while the Germans and Russians had 88 mm. This evened the playing field.?

Ritchey said he hoped Raiders would draw inspiration from seeing the 44-ton tank as they arrive at work every day.

?This tank is a piece of our heritage,? he said. ?I believe it will help build esprit de corps and bring the unit together? and it is motivating to see something so impressive as you walk in the door in the morning.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Christopher Alex, transportation specialist, 59th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, secures an M47 Patton Tank to a M1070 heavy equipment transporter at Kit Carson Park, Aug. 1, 2012. ?There is a lot to be learned from the past,? said 2nd Lt. Blake Ritchey, engineer officer, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, who organized the transport of the tank. ?These historic pieces we surround ourselves with are just small reminders of our victories; our successful past and our promising future.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Transportation specialists assigned to 59th Quartermaster Company, 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, secures an M47 Patton Tank to a M1070 heavy equipment transporter at Kit Carson Park, Aug. 1, 2012. The transportation specialists moved the 1950?s era tank to the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, headquarters building. Although designated as a light infantry unit, ?Raider? Brigade Soldiers probably used Patton-series tanks during the division?s cold war mission in Germany in the early 1950s, said Steve Ruhnke, curator of the 4th Inf. Div. and Fort Carson Museum.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Matthew Zakupowsky and Spc. Gary Wall, transportation specialists assigned to 59th Quartermaster, Company 68th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 43rd Sustainment Brigade, bring tow cables to connect an M47 Patton Tank to an M88A2 heavy recovery vehicle, which will pull it to its final resting spot in front of the1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, headquarters building, Aug. 1, 2012. M47 Patton tanks, built to replace the M46-model and Pershing-series tanks, saw action in the Korean War before being replaced by the more effective M48 in 1959.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? The 1st Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, acquired a piece of Army history with the arrival of an M47 Patton series tank Aug. 1, 2012. M47 Patton tanks, built to replace the M46 model and Pershing- series tanks, saw action in the Korean War before being replaced by the more effective M48 in 1959.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ?More than 800 trauma cases went through the Forward Surgical Team at Forward Operating Base Shank, Afghanistan, From Nov. 2009 to Nov. 2010.

Many times, the first person to greet those trauma patients off the helicopter was Staff Sgt. Robert Mullins, who was in charge of medical evacuations there while deployed with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Mullins, treatment platoon sergeant, Company C, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, is one of the many Expert Field Medical Badge recipients who have come together to assist with 4th Infantry Division?s EFMB test.

The EFMB is taking place from July 30 to August 24 at the Wilderness Road Training Complex and includes set-up, site validation, standardization, and the test week. The event is attracting Soldiers from around the world.

?We have 260 projected candidates,? said Master Sgt. Daryl Forsythe, medical plans and operations noncommissioned officer in charge, 4th Inf. Div., and the EFMB noncommissioned officer in charge. ?We have candidates from as far away as Alaska, Fort Irwin, Calif., Fort Riley, Kan., and New Hampshire.?

The EFMB was established in 1965 as a special skill award to recognize ?exceptional competence and outstanding performance? by medical personnel, according to U.S. Army Medical Department Center and School Pamphlet 350-10. The pamphlet also strictly outlines the requirements for the testing of Soldiers for the EFMB.

For many Soldiers, the Ivy Division?s test is a rare opportunity for them to be able to earn the EFMB, as it requires a certain number of EFMB recipients to hold key positions among the test evaluators.

?With the operations tempo across the Army being so fast, it?s very difficult to put (an EFMB test) on,? said Lt. Col. Christopher Jarvis, 4th Inf. Div. surgeon. ?Most Soldiers have never been given the opportunity to attend one. We have people coming from all over the world so that we can have enough EFMB recipients to hold the event.?

?We have many more Soldiers with a Combat Medical Badge than an EFMB,? said Jarvis.

A CMB is awarded to medics and officers in medical positions who perform their duties while engaged by the enemy.

The last time 4th Inf. Div. held an EFMB test was at Fort Hood, Texas, said Forsythe. ?The command group requested this over a year ago; it was being worked while we were still deployed.?

While the EFMB test is a month-long event, much of that is preparation, with the final week dedicated to testing.

The first week is site-set up, which involves preparing all the test sites: the three Common Task Lanes; the day and night land navigation courses; the written test; and the 12-mile road march course, as well as emplacing water sources and latrines throughout the testing area.

The second week is site validation, which involves a representative from Fort Sam Houston, Texas, the home of the Army?s medical training.

?The evaluators will take the complete test, and be graded by their fellow evaluators,? said Forsythe. ?The representative doing the validation ensures that the evaluators grade each Soldier the same, and that the testing meets all requirements.?

The Common Task Lanes will test a total of 40 tasks through a simulated live-fire event that will include artillery simulators, and gas canisters, said Forsythe.

Week three is EFMB standardization and, from this point forward, all testers will remain at the training area.

During the week, the evaluators conducting the test will demonstrate the proper way to complete every task required to pass the test, said Forsythe. At the completion of the week, the CTLs and the land navigation course will be reset to reduce the possibility of cheating, which can result in elimination from the test.

On the first day of testing, Aug. 19, candidates will take a written test and conduct the night land-navigation course. Days two through four focus on the CTLs and the day land-navigation course. The testing will culminate Aug. 24 with the 12-mile road march ending at the EFMB award ceremony site at Founder?s Field, followed by the ceremony at 10 a.m.

The 12-mile road march is the hardest part, coming at the end of the two weeks of testing, said Mullins. ?You?re so tired; it?s a true test of heart.?

The test itself can prove to be challenging to Soldiers, many of whom have to change the way they?ve been doing certain treatment steps for years, due to changes in Army medical treatment doctrine.

The grueling regimen can result in a high rate of attrition amongst the candidates, due to exacting specifications and fatigue, said Forsythe. ?The AMEDD average pass rate for the EFMB is 17 percent.?

Those high standards result in months of training for many Soldiers to prepare for the EFMB.

?I spent three and a half months, an average of five hours each day, doing drills to prepare for the EFMB,? said Mullins. ?Perfection was the only thing that mattered.?

The rewards for completing the test and earning the EFMB, though, can be great.

?Whenever a junior medic sees a senior medic with an EFMB, they know that?s something they have to strive after,? said Mullins. ?It shows ?this guy knows what he?s doing? I want to learn everything he knows.?

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Specialist Lewis Thomas, water treatment specialist, 64th Brigade Support Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, places a plant alongside a row of others at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, July 31, 2012, as he assists other 4th Inf. Div. Soldiers prepare an obstacle for the Expert Field Medical Badge test. The obstacles are part of the Common Task Lanes, where Soldiers will test on 40 different Soldier and medical tasks, said Master Sgt. Daryl Forsythe, medical plans and operations noncommissioned officer in charge, 4th Inf. Div., and the EFMB noncommissioned officer in charge. The site preparation, validation, standardization and testing of the EFMB will take place from July 30 to Aug. 24.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant John Sharp, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and enhanced conventional weapons specialist, 615th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, assembles a 9 mm pistol in front of the weapon assembly station Soldier, Spc. Olena Varian, small arms repair specialist, Forward Support Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, and his two graders, Cpl. John Ritchie, Forward Support Company, 4th Eng. Bn., and Sgt. Vernon Harley, generator mechanic, Forward Support Company, 52nd Eng. Bn., during Expert Field Medical Badge test validation week at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 06, 2012. Sharp, one of the graders for the EFMB test, was being tested by his fellow graders to ensure a complete understanding of the tasks required in the Common Task Lanes. The graders will all take turns completing the test so that they can ensure their grading is standardized prior to validation by a representative from the Army Medical Department, Fort Sam Houston.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant John Sharp (top left), chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and enhanced conventional weapons specialist, 615th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, lifts a litter into the back of a Light Medium Tactival Vehicle with the help of some support Soldiers stationed at the LMTV; (clockwise from top right) Spc. Craig Hall, generator mechanic, Forward Support Company, 4th Engineer Battalion, Spc. Bradford Gonzales, vehicle track repair specialist, Forward Support Company, 52nd Eng. Bn., and Pfc. Austin Hansen, combat engineer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 52nd Eng. Bn., during Expert Field Medical Badge test validation week at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 06, 2012. Sharp, one of the graders for the EFMB test, was being tested by his fellow graders to ensure a complete understanding of the tasks required in the Common Task Lanes. The graders will all take turns completing the test so that they can ensure their grading is standardized prior to validation by a representative from the Army Medical Department, Fort Sam Houston.

FORT CARSON, Colo. ? Sergeant John Sharp, chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and enhanced conventional weapons specialist, 615th Engineer Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion, secures a litter to the bed of a high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle during Expert Field Medical Badge test validation week at the Wilderness Road Training Complex, Aug. 06, 2012. Sharp, one of the graders for the EFMB test, was being tested by his fellow graders to ensure a complete understanding of the tasks required in the Common Task Lanes. The graders will all take turns completing the test so that they can ensure their grading is standardized prior to validation by a representative from the Army Medical Department, Fort Sam Houston.