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DA LAVA FLOWThe Official Newsletter of the 29th Brigade Combat TeamCommander's CornerTo all of the dedicatedWarriors of the LavaBrigade. You are responsible for the greatsuccess we have seenover these past weeks atFt. Bliss. As we continue to progress throughcompany to Battalionand Brigade Operations,our success will continue to rest on the efforts of every soldier inthe Brigade CombatTeamTo stay focused, ourArmy Values, The Soldiers Creed, and ourWarrior Ethos will beour compass. Our Armyis serving our nationwith great courage andhonor during very dangerous times. We enjoygreat support and theconfidence of theAmerican people, whomwe serve, and we arerespected around theglobe.In view of currentevents, we must redouble our efforts, holdour heads high, anddrive on to accomplishour individual tasks andcollective missions.I nt e gr it y i s n o n negotiable. Everyonehas leadership responsibilities when it comes tothe legal, moral, andethical.The warrior ethosmeans to me that whenwe place mission first,we talk about everyonefocused on doing ourassigned mission and allassigned tasks. Missionfirst also applies to youpursuing your goals andassisting others realizingtheir goals. Never leaving a fallen comrade isabout being a loyalfriend, spouse, someonepeople can rely on. If asoldier is experiencingdifficulty, we will notleave that soldier behindby not attending to theirconcerns. And finally,never accepting defeatsimply means beingpersistent, you don’tquit. To be successful inanything we do takespersistence. We knowwhat we must accomplish, and therefore musttake action on a persistent basis in orderto succeed.On the historic journey that lies ahead, wewill encounter roadblocks that seem to jumpout of nowhere in anattempt to halt our progress. Count on theseobstacles. They are apart of life. Your job isto be persistent andwork through those obstacles. If you find littleor no obstacles alongthe way, chances are youare not really challenging yourself. Make yourgoal a challenging one!If you take the time tostudy any successfulperson, you will learnthat the vast majority ofthem have had ed on Pg. 5Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2004Let the training begin“Wedomorebefore9amthan most people do allday.” Irememberthatphrase as part of a commercial the Army used to run inthe early nineties. So true,so true.Training has been fast andfurious. Boots are hittingthe ground, troops are moving out. Classes, rehearsalsand then the performance.Sounds like a play at thelocaltheatre butit’sallhappening in the field.“Rehearsalsarethekeytoour success.”said StaffSergeant Henry Pilanca ofAlpha Company 487th Artillery after completingambush training. Practice,practice, and practice somemore. When will it all end?“Closeofbusiness.2006.”exclaimed a soldier as hewas walking away from theTactical Operation Center.What is being learnedyou ask? Everything fromconvoy training to detainingthe enemy. Somebody gotreal smart and decided tohave soldiers that have hadthe Iraqi experience comehere to Ft.Bliss to train theSoldiers of the 29th BCT.“ We werealltrainedtostandard.to be combateffective. Said SpecialistWillie Sims of Headquarters 184th after goingthrough the different phasesof platoon operations.General Joseph Chaves observes training with Echo Company 100thbattalion.what ever was needed to theSimultaneous trainingright place at the right time.at the command post“Alongwiththemotivatedexercise (CPX) providedsoldiers and once the battleleaders with simulatedstaff gets used to workingscenarios that had to betogether we will be able toacted upon in a quick andmonitor and maintain theanalytical format to de29th Battle Combat Teamtermine potential patoperations throughout ourternsoftheenemy.“ThestayinIraq.”said MajorCPX established a baseJason Matsumura whenline of where we stand asexplaining the purpose ofa staff and how we candoing this phase of training.fix things to prepare usMajor Matsumura said thefor upcoming missionsCPX conducted is the firstespeciallyinIraq.”exof many building blocks toplained Battle Major Paulcomplete the constructionWilson.of a fully trained BattleDuring the CPX thestaff.staff manned each stationWith Soldiers both trainof battle around the clocking in the field as well asIt was the real thingthe planning staff gettingplayed out on computeroperations down, things aresimulations. Communicafalling into place and antions were key to moveunderstanding is takingpersonnel, equipment andshape for the 29th BCT.Important Thanksgiving policy pg. 3

Volume 1,Issue 3, October 2004CSM Oneisstandardsof conduct, and the other is on promotions. Let me discussthe promotion topic first as that is the number one issue withsoldiers. In this article, I will address how the Hawaii ArmyNational Guard or HIARNG system works. With minordifferences, other Army National Guard States follow thesame process. Our 100th Bn 442nd brothers in arms followthe procedures as directed by their OCAR and 9th RRC.First of all, as mobilized soldiers under Title 10 USC 12302,whether ARNG or USAR, we use the DA PPG, or PersonnelPolicy Guidance –Chapter 13, Reserve Component Promotions. NGB has published further guidance under theARNG PPG. General ARNG/HIARNG procedures are asfollows:1. Advancements to PV2, PFC and SPC.a. Unit commander advances soldier IAW NGR 600-200.b. Unit sends DA Form 4187 to Bn/Bde S1 verification.c. Bde S1 sends DA Form 4187 to Rear Detachmentwho is tracking both Rear and Forward Unit Manning Reports (UMR). Rear Det. then forwards to G1.d. G1 forwards documents to RC Liaison at PERSCOM.e. Soldier is promoted.2. Advancement to SGT thru SGM.a. Unit identifies need to fill a valid vacancy in FWDUMR.b. Unit submits request for Promotion Control Number(PCN)/vacancy fill throughBn/BdeS1basedontheState’sCurrent Promotion List. This request does not necessarilyrequest for a PCN by name.c. Bn/Bde S1 forwards request to Rear Det. to checkagainst the FWD UMR.d. Rear Det. verifies that a vacancy exists on FWD UMRand forwards request to G1.e. G1 prepares DA Form 4187 and forwards promotionrequest to RC Liaison at PERSCOM.f. PERSCOM forwards approval back to State.g. G1 issues PCN/promotion order.h. Soldier gets promoted.Key points are: A vacancy must exist for #2 above. TheUnit must ensure that any excess soldiers are slotted first.Soldiers must not be flagged. Soldier meets minimum Timein Grade and Time in Service For promotions to SGT thruSGM, the promotion list must be used, and the soldier mustbe at the top of the promotion list. One important thing isthat soldiers who are promoted against the FWD UMR areunder a conditional promotion. In other words, upon the29th BCT demobilizing, we revert back to a single UMR/MTOE, and if a soldier in the rear is occupying the sameposition under the REAR UMR, the soldier in the FWDUMR may face reduction, reassignment or reclassificationupon demobilization if that soldier is still in that positionupon return back to Home Station.Continued on Page 5Page 2“DuckHunters”No they don't shootThe 216th just celeducks out of the sky, atbratedit’s7th birthdayleast they try to avoidgrowing from 30 memdoing that.“Duckhunt- bers in 1997 to the size iters”are whattheyare is today, with over 100referred to in the air desoldiers. Despite it’sfense artillery circles.young existence the unit“We shoot at planes, is being called upon to dowhich we refer to asbattle. Delta Battery ofducks.” explains PFC the 216th ADA are parBen John. “ticipants alreadyEcho 216th islocated in thecommanded bywestern area ofMajor Tad HerB a g h d a d .vas. Major HervasDelta is just 2served 8 years inmonths intoit’sthe Air Forcetour but haveMajor Tad Hervasbefore joining thealready contribNational Guard. He hasuted valuable knowledgebeen the Echo 216thtoward Echo’s deployCommander since MarchmenttoIraq.”. “Delta2003.Echo 216 Air Dehas provided great inforfense Artillery is basedmation to prepare me forout of Cloquet, Minnethe Battlefield.” saidsota, about 2 hours out ofMajor Tad Hervas ofMinneapolis, but they areDeltas input to his plancurrently residing at thening strategies.“DonaAnaInn.”Echo has also gone“Wearethefirsttofire through the Elevenbecause enemy air craftBravo training to readyusually initiate the firstthemselves for what liesattackofwar.”saidPFC ahead in Iraq.Derrick Williams whenWhatever the missionasked about the mottomay call for, Echo 216thand mission of Echois ready to go duck hunt216th:“FirsttoFire.”ingandbethe “FirsttoFire”

Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2004Page 3REQUEST LINEJAG: The consumption of any beverage containing alcohol is prohibited at all times unless specifically approved by the Brigade Commander. If you have any legal issues call us at 569-9684 or 9180.IG: The IG has changed their phone number as follows. (915) 569-9042S5-: Do shake hands gently in greeting and departure, but always with your right houghtsReligious Services:Roman Catholic Services at McGregor: 1700HRS, Saturday, 23 Oct and 0700 HRS, Sunday, 24 Oct 2004.Christian Non-Denomination, and LDS Services: No Change.The story of the ant is worth repeating. Theant uses Summer to prepare for the Winter.The ant stores up enough food when the sunis shining and warm. The ant is not underpressure, and prepares deliberately and diligently. The lesson we learn from the ant ispreparation during the good times to help usweather times of need. Every moment of ourlives should be used to prepare for drawethnigh.”Remembertheantwhile at Fort Bliss, and Fort Polk, as we prepare for OIF.CH (MAJ) Leonardo JamiasA day of thanks to be observedTwo Native Americans, Samoset andSquanto ,taught the pilgrims who landed atPlymouth how to survivein the new land. ThesePilgrims who settledaround 1621 were verythankful for the guidanceand skills taught to them.Governor William Bradford proclaimed a day ofThanksgiving. Colonistsand the Native Americans turned that one dayinto three days of Celebration. These days ofcelebration are believedto be the first Thanksgiving.The Soldiers of the29th BCT will haveNovember 25th, and 26th2004 off in observance ofthis significant event inour history. Let us remember also how muchit took for everyone toget this day off. Becausewe were able to worktogether to make it happen. Let this also be atime of togethernessbecause we all knowthings were probably saidin the heat of the matterat hand.Timetables were madethen timetables werechanged to accommodatethe soldiers of our Brigade. As we progressfurther into this rotationwe will always have toremain flexible and patient.The 29th BCT unitswill conduct a day of noscheduled activities on25-26 November, 2004.DA FORM 31 Requestand Authority for leavemust be filled out byeach soldier. It will be upto Unit commanders toestablish a time out andreport-back time to ensure that soldiers will beready to start trainingrefreshed on Saturdaymorning.Let’sallhaveafun and safe time off onthis day of thanks.The Thanksgivingpolicy is detailed inFRAGO 30 to BCToperationsorder04-08(KINAOLE).Please ensure that youread it and understandthe parameters of thispass.

Volume 1, Issue 3, October 2004page 4Current Weather in Baghdad, Iraqas of Monday November 1,2004:High: 78F/chance of rainLow: 62FSunrise:Sunset:0620 hrs1712 hrsNautical Twilight:0525hrs17112 hrs.After a long day of training soldiers listen at sunset to anafter action review. Photo courtesy Major Winston LingMoonrise: (20% illumination)1914hrs0925 hrs.Average weather in Baghdad in FebruaryAverage High64 FAverage Low43 FCurrent Weather at Ft Bliss, TXHigh: 62F/Low 37F