GHOSTRIDER GAZETTE

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GHOSTRIDER GAZETTE Golf Battery, 1-79 Field
Artillery Class 511-09, 22MAY09, Week 8
Dear Family Member, This
has been a great training week for your Soldiers.
Last week was concluded with your Soldiers
participating and marching in Lawtons Armed
Forces Day parade. Although rainy and wet, your
Soldiers looked sharp and even got to see the
last half of the rest of the parade behind them.
I know the people and community of Lawton/ Ft.
Sill really showed their appreciation for the
hard work and dedication of Americas newest
Soldiers! The first two days of training this
week were focused preparations for their
week-long situational training exercise (STX) and
this is one of the last major training events
your Soldiers conduct. Your Soldiers received a
cultural awareness class from former Iraqi
citizens who are trained foreign language
speakers (FLS) and taught the Soldiers about the
culture, history, language and some social
customs and courtesies that they might encounter
in Iraq or Afghanistan. They also prepared for
the field by conducting mission classes and
rehearsals and packing. Wednesday was our first
day of STX I training in which Soldiers learned
about how to guard and operate an entry control
point (ECP) or traffic check point (TCP). The
foreign language speakers assisted us in training
by providing real world scenarios involving
security, vehicle and personnel search, and
detainee operations. Thursday, your Soldiers
further evolved in their training by using the
engagement skills trainer (EST 2000) which
provides video scenarios and firer feedback for
the use of the escalation of force in urban and
potentially hostile situations. Friday, your
Soldiers conducted some great, realistic training
and rehearsals during STX II in which Soldiers
learned to conduct a react to contact battle
drill from HMMWVs (high-mobility multipurpose
wheeled vehicles), and also learned about radio
communication procedures, MOUT (military
operations in urban terrain) and room-clearing
procedures. Tomorrow your Soldiers will
conduct additional great situational training for
STX V, by conducting a dismounted patrol to
rescue a downed pilot in which they will have
to negotiate through a sniper ambush, interact
with local nationals (FLS), secure an objective
with intel on the location of the pilot, and
finally conduct a simulated aerial medical
evacuation call (MEDEVAC). All of this
situational training serves to force the Soldier
to think, and introduces him to the tactics,
techniques and procedures he will likely need
and encounter in his first unit of assignment.
The graduation letter and information packet
were sent out via U.S. Mail on Monday, 04MAY09
there was also a digital copy of the packet
included with a previous E-letter please let me
know if there is anyone else who would like the
information. Family day activities will begin
Wednesday, 03 June at 930 a.m. at the Golf
Battery Area (Building 6050, C-wing). Graduation
is Thursday, 04 June at 1000 a.m. at McMahon
Auditorium. I encourage you to continue
to write to your Soldiers. A little bit of
encouragement from home goes a long way. Letters
are fine, but do not send packages that contain
magazines, food, or other contraband items.
Letters should be mailed to (Line 1) Soldiers
name (Line 2) Golf Battery, 1-79 FA, PLT ___
(Line 3) 5001 North Rothwell Rd (Line 4) Fort
Sill, OK 73503. If you have questions
pertaining to an emergency concerning your
Soldier, please do not hesitate to contact me. I
look forward to meeting you all in the future.
Respectfully,
KYLE A. LIPPOLD
CPT, FA Commanding
Foreign Language speakers assist in training by
telling a Soldier how he should interact with
female Iraqi/Afghani citizens.
Soldiers learn the proper way to enter a stack
prior to entering and clearing an unknown
building during MOUT training.
Soldiers witness a M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
after marching in Lawton/Ft. Sills Armed Forces
Day Parade.
Senior Drill Sergeant Thomas gives a saftey
brief and range orientation to Soldiers during
STX II training
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Additional Photos of Ghostrider Soldiers In
Action!
STX II (React to Contact / MOUT)
STX I (ECP / TCP Operations)