1. See our Holiday Greeting video here...
3-16 FIELD ARTILLERY REGIMENT
Seasons greeting to all from Kuwait!
We write to you on December 24th, Christmas Eve, as proud as ever of the Thunder Team and their continued hard work and professionalism here in Kuwait. We’ve been deployed for just over two months now but the
Soldiers of the Thunder Battalion are executing their missions with the confidence and motivation as if they’ve
been doing it for years.
Spread across four locations in Kuwait, Task Force Thunder continues to have the most diverse mission
set of any battalion in the Warhorse Brigade. Hardrock Battery has provided the much needed leadership and mission command to make our team come together in a seamless and efficient way. Automatic Battery recently completed an intense period of live fire artillery training at Camp Buehring as well as its standing security missions at
other locations. Bulldog Battery has taken its unique security mission to a new level with its Soldiers expertly executing important tasks to keep U.S. and Kuwait personnel safe. Gladiator Company has truly taken on its mission
as the “Mayor’s Cell” of Kuwait Naval Base and has become experts on everything from pest control to building fire
extinguisher holders! Comanche Company (from 2-8 IN) has done a superb job with its security mission that requires them to commute to work, driving over 5,000 Kilometers per week. Unfortunately, we expect Comanche to
leave the task force some time early next year in order to participate in other important tactical training with the
rest of the brigade.
In the Family Readiness Group (FRG) back at Fort Carson, we’re grateful for the diligent work that Captain
Derik Munoz and Sergeant First Class Reaser, as well as our several Family Readiness Liaisons, do to assist Soldiers and Families back at home. As part of an Army and staff realignment, Mrs. Dyanne Beckman, our long time
(and the best we have ever seen!) Family Readiness Support Assistant (FRSA) will be re-locating to the Brigade
Headquarters to support several battalions in the brigade (including 3-16 FA). Your battery/company’s FRL remains your primary point of contact should you have any FRG concerns or questions. Please check out our Facebook page (link below) where we're posting “'Photos of the Day” and some great weekly 'Soldier Spotlights'.
Please 'LIKE' us and spread the word to your friends and family members.
Once again, thank you for all you do to support your Soldier and the Thunder Team—we couldn’t do our
job without you! I know I speak for every Thunder Soldier when I say that we miss you and look forward to being
home in just a few short months.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year from the Thunder Team!
ROLLING THUNDER!!
Lieutenant Colonel Keith Jarolimek & Command Sergeant Major Benito Perez
See our Holiday Greeting video here...
http://www.facebook.com/316FieldArtilleryRegiment/
2. THUNDER TIMES
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HARDROCK family and friends,
Happy December and we
hope that everyone had a
great Thanksgiving and holiday weekend!! Everyone here in Kuwait was able to enjoy a nice Thanksgiving meal and the dining facility definitely pulled out all the stops for this
year’s Thanksgiving feast. The HARDROCK family conducted a change of
command ceremony 2 December 2013, where Captain Coats relinquished
command to Captain Mark Connelley. As we farewell Captain Coats, he
will not be far as he will be serving as a brigade assistant operations officer. We welcome Captain Connelley and wish him a smooth transition as
HARDROCK 6.
The HARDROCK family also wants to congratulate SGT David McShane,
Medic NCOIC and SPC Andrew Acosta, Information Systems Network
Manager, for being recognized as the Battalion NCO and soldier of the week and will receive Army Achievement Medals (AAM). Their recognition for their hard work and tireless effort to ensure the battalion maintains
its medical support and network connectivity across Kuwait is well deserved.
As Christmas approaches we want to wish all of our family and friends a safe and
happy holiday this season. We want you to know that everyone here is thinking about
everyone at home and we appreciate all the support from home. If there are any
questions or requests you may have please feel free to email the battery Executive
Officer, 1LT Mark Walters, at mark.t.walters2.mil@mail.mil and he will be happy to
assist.
HARDROCK!!
CPT Mark Connelley
1SG Tonio Childress
The Soldiers and junior Leaders of Automatic Battery continue to impress on a daily basis. Their tireless effort to accomplish the mission in Kuwait is simply remarkable. Across the board, the members of the
Battery have demonstrated that they can accomplish
anything asked of them. Our families and friends back
home already have a lot to be proud of from their Soldiers.
Southern Kuwait experienced record-breaking rain and severe flooding in mid-November which greatly affected the region. Automatic Battery was asked to secure breaks in the fence where wash-outs occurred, give
real-time updates to higher headquarters and provide assessments of damage throughout our Forward Operating Base. Some 1st Platoon sections even assisted towing local vehicles from deep mud and water, thus extending some good will to our Kuwaiti friends.
Meanwhile, 2nd Platoon continued to train on their core artillery competencies. The platoon certified and
qualified cannon sections and the fire direction center by meeting all time and computational standards without
incident. After qualifying, the platoon supported a brigade level Joint Air Attack Training exercise by complementing the close air support with their accurate cannon fire. Overall it was
an impressive display of American firepower.
We would like to thank all of the Automatic family
and friends for your continuous support! We couldn’t do our jobs out here without you!
AUTOMATIC STEEL!!
CPT DAVE COLLINS
1SG WILLIE MURPHY
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THUNDER TIMES
To the families, friends, and Soldiers of Golf Company: We would
like to welcome Gladiator’s newest member to the family SPC
Widener’s daughter Jazzlyn Adelle. She was born on Nov 27,
2013 at 0109. She is 6 lbs, 6 ozs and 19.25" long. This month we
celebrated SPC Barnett, PFC Gadsen, SGT Gingrich, SGT martin,
1SG White, SPC Vando, and SPC Widener’s birthdays on the
beach at Kuwaiti Naval Base by having a BBQ. At the BBQ we
also had the pleasure of promoting SPC Nelson to SGT Nelson. Lastly we would like to say Happy Holidays! 1SG White and I can't thank you enough for what you do for our Company. We hope you had a
blessed Thanksgiving celebration!
The Maintenance platoon is spread out more than any
platoon in the battalion. The platoon conducts maintenance operations at Camp Buehring, Camp Arifjan, Kuwaiti Naval Base,
and with the Amiri Guard. At all locations, the maintainers are
consistently repairing the Thunder Battalion’s equipment to ensure its capabilities of security force and contingency operations
throughout Kuwait are never degraded and ready to perform. At
Camp Buehring, SFC Richardson has taken his team and set
the gold standard for hard work and dedication to the mission.
His team’s ability to maintain his assigned fleet has truly been
appreciated as the Thunder team had all equipment available to
conduct firing exercises. At Camp Arifjan, 2LT Halverson, CW2
Varelas, and SFC Fultz have supported all maintenance operations from a managerial position but have also directly provided
maintenance support to Automatic Battery. The crew of 17 personnel has repaired an aging fleet of HMMWV’s that had a
readiness rate of 64% upon arrival to an astounding 95%. SSG
Sanchez and SPC Harrypersad have shown off their metal working skills and fabricated much needed door latch plates that have assisted in the security of the Command
Team and the female living quarters at KNB. At the Kuwaiti Naval Base, SFC Day and SSG Breen have
produced a maintenance team that, not only works hard, but has fun while doing it. Their Soldiers are always full of smiles and can accomplish any task given to them. They have truly had the most difficult task as
they are Paladin mechanics that are repairing wheeled vehicles. Their team is extremely competent and we
look forward to seeing the continued growth of them all. I would like to acknowledge the work of PV2
Hamed; he is our newest SAMS clerk and has proven himself as a valuable asset to our team.
Members of the Distribution Platoon have been hard at work making sure Camp Patriot functions every day.
The billeting office has ensured that all transient service members of all branches have housing, to include
sometimes as many as 500 Marines. The MWR office has accomplished getting the Camp Patriot Cultural
and Morale Event trips back on track for all tenants of Camp Patriot. Cultural and Morale events allow Soldiers to experience the culture of Kuwait every Monday and Wednesday. PFC Ponce has worked hard to
maintain the Flag Program on Camp Patriot, allowing service members to dedicate US flags flown on Camp
Patriot. The Camp Patriot Projects Office and Base Support Operations have been working diligently to
make sure improvements are constantly being made. SSG Medico and SSG Young are always on ground to
ensure projects are properly inspected before and after a project is completed. 2LT Biondo has joined CPT
Figueroa in many senior leader engagements with our Kuwaiti Naval Force partners and we have even
started playing soccer with them. Trying to stay strong for their family members back home, Distribution Platoon organized weekly Master Resiliency Training to help Soldiers develop themselves into strong and resilient warriors. Pictures are always taken to ensure family and friends back home can stay in the loop of all of
the amazing work their Soldiers are doing here during their deployment.
GLADIATORS!!
CPT CARLOS FIGUEROA
1SG TONY WHITE
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Task Force Thunder has returned to the sands of Kuwait. This time the Soldiers of Bravo Battery, 3-16 Field
Artillery Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team
secures, protects, and partners with the Kuwait Naval
Base (KNB) located South of Kuwait City. The mission is
multifaceted, with security at the forefront. The Rolling
Thunder Battalion has the opportunity to partner with the Kuwaiti Naval Academy and its’ security forces.
For Bravo Battery, led by CPT James Mason and 1SG Amin Henriquez, this means balancing the tactical security mission while enhancing our understanding and the capabilities of the Kuwaiti Security
Forces through partnership.
Bravo Battery
Bulldogs have been
deployed now for
more than thirty
days. CPT Mason’s
intent remains clear;
Soldiers must stay
vigilant in securing
and protecting the
critical assets of the Kuwaiti Naval Base and
Camp Patriot, while simultaneously being
prepared to provide close, timely, and accurate fires in support of 2ABCT contingency operations. Bravo Battery’s two line platoons and one 2STB
Engineer platoon comprise the Security Force (SECFOR) for the Kuwaiti Naval Base. Elements of
SECFOR conduct continuous roving patrols, control access to the facility, and partner with Kuwaiti security personnel to ensure the stability and protection
of this dual-national base.
Life on Camp Patriot has fallen into a routine;
the days are filled with G.T.L: Guard, Training, and
Laundry. Bulldogs know when they work, train,
and have time off. Our uniformed readers can relate to a reliable schedule to base the day.
Camp Patriot (CPAT) is an ideal sized camp. It
has the necessary amount of amenities and population density. Everything from the gym, DFAC,
MWR building, the Combatives room, the PX,
phones, the mail room, laundry, and Soldier sleeping quarters are all within walking distance of each
other. Unlike Camp Buehring or Camp Arifjan’s city sized landscape, CPAT is like a small town. Soldiers do not have to waste precious down time riding on multiple buses or navigating zones of vastness
to get to the PX or gym. CPAT’s DFAC is its’ own meeting hall; Bulldogs can always spot an outsider.
CPAT isn’t home to just our Bulldogs, elements of the US Navy, Coast Guard, Army Deep Sea Divers,
Air Force, Marines and various DOD civilians also make use of what CPAT has to offer.
The Bulldogs of Bravo Battery, 3-16 FA remain vigilant as sentinels, ready to provide accurate and
responsive fires when called, and ever steadfast and loyal.
BULLDOG NATION!!
CPT JAMES MASON
1SG AMIN HENRIQUEZ
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Start saving for retirement as early as you can. 10-15% of your base pay is ideal, but
even $20 a month is better than nothing. Because your investment builds interest, and
that interest makes more interest; the earlier you start, the better. If you’re using the
TSP, know that it is defaulted to the “G” Fund. You want to use the “L” Fund, or diversify
your money across the funds for the best results.
The Thunder times is an authorized online publication for the members of the Department of Defense. Contents
of the Thunder Times are not necessarily official views of or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, DoD, or
Department of the Army. The editorial content of this monthly publication is the responsibility of the 3rd
Battalion, 16th Field Artillery Regiment.
