1. Crosswire
The
Issue 6 | July 22, 2012 Official Newsletter of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Brigade Special Troops Battalion
brings specialized skills to the fight
By Lt. Col. Jeff Camp, to a battalion, all of these com- cannot maximize its effective-
Commander, 33rd BSTB
manders worked directly for the ness without highly trained and
Over the last decade the Army brigade commander. By form- motivated soldiers.
has transitioned into a more mod- ing a battalion, the burden on The BSTB contains over 60
ular fighting force. One of the the brigade commander of com- different military occupational
major changes occurring during manding four battalions and four specialties (MOS). Soldiers in of these Soldiers attend more
this period was the inception of separate companies was lessened the BSTB span throughout all than one annual training a year.
the Brigade Special Troops Bat- to five battalions. The Soldiers of Illinois; from Machesney Thanks to our highly motivated
talion (BSTB). Many soldiers benefitted because they now had Park near the Wisconsin border and dedicated soldiers, the BSTB
have no idea what the BSTB a battalion that they belonged to to Carbondale near the Missouri provides the highest level of com-
does and why it exists. and a complete headquarters that border. Some of the MOS train- bat multipliers to ensure that the
The BSTB is very similar to could process all administrative ing is so specialized that they take 33D IBCT can fight and win on
the Marine Corps Headquarters requirements for them; freeing over one year to complete. Many any battlefield, at any time. n
Battalion in that we include the them up to focus on their career
Brigade Headquarters and the development and training. The
other units that are too small to brigade commander became able
warrant their own battalion. In to focus on fighting the brigade.
the pre-911 configuration, each But what does all this really
brigade had three separate com- mean? During the transforma-
panies; these were the Engineer, tion, the BSTB was fielded with
the Signal, and the Military state of the art equipment to in-
Intelligence companies. Each clude tactical unmanned aerial
of these companies were com- systems, joint network nodes,
manded by a captain except the trojan spirit, armored security
brigade headquarters which was vehicles, prophets, and the lat-
commanded by a major. est engineer equipment. Al-
Since each of these sepa- though this listing of equipment
rate companies did not belong is impressive, the equipment
Engineers dig in artillery Spc. Jose L. Cardenas of Bensenville, Company A, 33rd Brigade Spe-
by: Sgt. Jesse Houk, 139th Mobile role in our operations,” said cial Troops Battalion, operates a High Mobility Engineer Excavator
Public Affairs Detachment Capt. Dustin W. Cammack, 1 July 16 as he digs a trench in which a generator for a field artillery
commander, Btry A, 1st. Bn., unit will be placed. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/released)
Soldiers from Company A, 122nd FA. “It’s the first time
33rd Brigade Special Troops that we’ve used them in this to combine their expertise and
Battalion partnered with Battery kind of capacity. They’ve been to operate at full capacity like in In this issue
A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field able to dig our fighting positions a wartime environment.
Artillery Regiment July 18 dur- as well as our battery defense “We are one team with this
ing the Army National Guard’s field artillery unit right now,” Specialized units bring power
and holes for our generators.
page 2-3
eXportable Combat Training It’s been a really big help.” said Sgt. Willard J. Baker of Pon-
Capability (XCTC) and proved XCTC has allowed many tiac, Ill. with Co. A, 33rd BSTB.
Armored Knight lethality
to be a valuable asset. units who normally have lim- “And that’s paramount because page 4
“They’ve played an integral ited interaction with each other they can do their job better when
continued on page 4
Page 1

2. Specialized units multiply combat power
Soldiers with Company B, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion Pfc. John Hartseil of Washington, Ill. with Co. B, 33rd BSTB waits
(BSTB) based in Peoria, Ill. prepare a RQ-7B drone for launch for the OK to launch an RQ-7B Shadow drone July 12 at Camp
July 19 at Camp Ripley, Minn. The drones can fly up to six hours Ripley, Minn. The RQ-7B Shadow can be flown manually or pro-
and send real-time video surveillence back to their operators. grammed to visit a series of pre-determined locations for sur-
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Dustin Harlow/released). veillance. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released)
Pvt. Ryan D. Rodriguez of Rockford and Spc. Joshua J. Goudy
also of Rockford with Headquarters and Headquarters Compa-
ny, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion based in Machesney
Park fix a broken generator July 21 at Camp Ripley, Minn.
(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released)
“Thanks to our highly motivated and
dedicated soldiers, the BSTB provides the
highest level of combat multipliers to en-
sure that the 33D IBCT can fight and win
on any battlefield, at any time.”
Lt. Col. Jeff Camp, Commander,
33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
Cadet Harry D. Lanpher of Carbondale, Ill., Sgt. Dustin L. Har-
low of St. Louis, Mo., Spc. Zach L. Jahns of Glencarbon and Spc.
Dennis R. Blevins of Belville, Ill. with Company C, 33rd Brigade Spc. Raymond B. Georg, Satellite Transport Terminals (STT) op-
Special Troops Battalion raise an OE-254 antenna July 21 at erator, Belleville talks with a level one operator to maximize
Camp Ripley, Minn. Company C, a signal company, runs commu- satellite efficiency while Spc. Adam W. Fager, STT operator, Car-
nications for the brigade’s operations on base and in the field. bondale assists with inputting information. Both Soldiers were
(U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Allison Lampe/released) a part of Company C, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk).
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3. Spc. Michael J. Brown of Palatine warns
Spc. Allen R. Simmerman of Chillicothe of
suspicious looking vehicles during a patrol
July 16 at Camp Ripley, Minn. Both Soldiers
are combat engineers in Company A, 33rd
Brigade Special Troops Battalion and, for
the mission, attached to Company A, 1st
battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment partici-
pating in the Army National Guard’s eXport-
able Combat Training Capability program.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released)
Sgt. Willard J. Baker of Pontiac, team leader,
directs Spc. Martin G. Guerrero of Rockford
on July 16 as they dig defensive positions
for Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 122nd Field
Artillery Regiment. Both Soldiers are from
Company A, 33rd Brigade Special Troops
Battalion and participating in the Army Na-
tional Guard’s eXportable Combat Training
Capability program at Camp Ripley, Minn.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released)
Spc. Jose L. Cardenas of Bensenville, a
heavy equipment operator with Company
A, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion
receives directions from Sgt. Willard J.
Baker of Pontiac, a team leader also with
Co. A, 33rd BSTB, on July 16 as they dig a
sound-reducing trench in which they will
place a generator for a field artillery unit.
(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ released)
Stay Informed.
Stay Connected.
www.facebook.com/33rdIBCT
Page 3

4. Armored Knight provides lethality and security
by: Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chrisman,
139th Mobile Public Affairs Det. also ford through 60 inches of
water and muddy terrain without
“It makes me the most lethal guy getting stuck.
on the battlefield,” said Staff Sgt. “It’s fun to drive,” said Pfc. Jake
Kurt Russell of Peoria, Ill., with Johnson of Mason City, Ill. with
Headquarters and Headquarters HHT, 2nd Sqd., 106th Cavalry in
Troop, 2nd Squadron, 106th Cav- Kewanee. “We are pushing the
alry in Kewanee, Ill., as he talked limits and testing the capabilities
about the new M1200 Armored of the vehicle. There is so much
Knight vehicle that his unit began armor, it would take a lot to tear
using at Camp Ripley, Minn. one of these apart.”
The M1200 Armored Knight is Russell deployed to Iraq with
an improved version of the M1117 the 1744th Transportation Com-
Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) pany in Streator in 2006-2007
that has been used overseas and where he drove the M1117 ASV The M1200 Armored Knight is an improved version of the M1117
recently acquired by Illinois Army and up-armored humvees. Rus- Armored Security Vehicle (ASV) that has been used overseas. The
National Guard military police sell said he is thrilled to be able to sole purpose of the M1200 Armored Knight is to provide a forward
companies. The sole purpose of train for a future deployment with observer team the best communications, protection, and target-
the M1200 Armored Knight is to such great vehicles. ing technology available to quickly and accurately bring fires onto
provide a forward observer team “There is no comparison,” Rus- an enemy. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chrisman/ released)
the best communications, pro- sell said. “It can take a direct im-
tection and targeting technology pact and keep going. With the run- Brigade Combat Team in Urbana out first and scout the enemy,”
available to quickly and accurately flat tires, you can pop a tire and received four of the vehicles. Russell said. “We have to get
bring fire onto an enemy. still get back to base. If given the “It’s a great vehicle that is capa- a good lay of the land so the in-
“It’s very similar at a glance,” choice between an MRAP (Mine ble of driving on any terrain,” said fantry elements don’t come into
said Russell. “They have changed Resistant Ambush Protected vehi- Pvt. Mark Gibson of Pekin, Ill. a surprise. This vehicle allows
the turret, improved the equip- cle), up-armored humvee and the with HHT, 2nd Sqd., 106th Cav- us to take fire and lay down sup-
ment technology on the inside Armored Knight, I would take the alry in Kewanee. “I feel lucky to pressive fire while targeting both
and improved the armor to bet- Armored Knight every single day be one of the nine guys assigned hard and soft targets for sup-
ter protect us.” and twice on Sunday.” to these trucks.” porting elements and continue
The new Knight vehicle weighs The Kewanee National Guard Russell said it’s important for to move through the area. We
approximately 16 tons and can unit received three of the $1.7 mil- the cavalry unit to be equipped have the communication assets
travel about 400 miles on one tank lion dollar vehicles while at Camp with high tech equipment like the to warn other elements about the
of fuel, with a maximum highway Ripley. Headquarters and Head- Armored Knight. enemy’s position, make-up and
speed of 63 miles per hour. It can quarters Company, 33rd Infantry “The cavalry’s mission is to go other information critical to the
battlefield.”
Engineers dig in artillery While the technology helps
continued from page 1 make the missions a success, most
we’re here and we can do our Although the field artillery “It’s always great to see peo- of the Soldiers talk about the pro-
job better when we’re here with unit benefits greatly from this ple doing their jobs,” said Spc. tection the vehicle provides.
them. They can give us eyes and exchange, the engineers also see Juaquin Bandera of Melrose “I feel pretty secure and com-
guidance; what works best and it as adding value to their train- Park, Co. A, 33rd BSTB. “We fortable,” said Gibson. “The armor
what doesn’t work best.” ing as well. get to see them provide field ar- provided a lot of protection. From
The engineers of Co. A, 33rd “My guys are learning things tillery support and they get to see the thick armor on the sides to the
BSTB used their specialization they never fathomed they would us do what we do.” deflecting shield on the bottom for
to save the field artillery Sol- be able to do,” said Baker. “So Although the mutual respect IEDs, it’s a solid vehicle.”
diers time and sweat so they can it’s fantastic. It’s a good learning and appreciation are created Russell said the new sense of
focus on getting set up to start experience. They now know the through the combined training security makes his team more
providing fire support as quickly difference between a hasty and a environment, the focus is ulti- confident they will be prepared
as possible. regular construction project. It’s mately on preparation for real- for combat when called upon.
“We can roll into a position a whole different mindset when time scenarios. “In a mobile battlefield, these
and the engineers already have it you’re trying to protect troops “Their work helps in the fact trucks lead the way,” Russell said.
prepped for us,” said Cammack. and get them in a secure position that we are trying to do com- “This is just one more piece on the
“It really reduces the time that versus trying to build a finished bined arms in this exercise and brigade’s chess board of pieces to
we have to spend on position paved road.” so having engineer assets like we bring absolute and immediate le-
improvement. All we have to do A mutual appreciation has been would in the real world really just thality to the enemy.” n
is set up, throw up the nets, and built as a result of the two units facilitates in having that realism
we’re ready to roll.” training together. in training” said Cammack. n
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