1. Crosswire
The
Issue 4 | July 18, 2012 Official Newsletter of the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team
Cold Steel Battalion:
Eager for the Struggle
Training Center (JRTC) at Fort
Polk, Louisiana or the National
Training Center (NTC) at Fort
Irwin, California. Training un-
der these conditions is critical
in preparing our formations for
future operations.
Additionally, this year’s an-
By Lt. Col. Nick Johnson, nual training provides us an op-
Commander, 1st Battalion, 178th
Infantry Regiment portunity to showcase ourselves Cpl. Paul A. Minder of Roanoke, team leader, Spc. Waylon S. Hol-
as a member of the premiere land of Columbia, Mo., and Pfc. Collin A. Watts of Plainfield, all
The Cold Steel Battalion was Infantry Brigade Combat Team infantry Soldiers in Co. A, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. bound while
excited and eager to participate in the Army National Guard. the other half of their squad covers them. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt.
in this year’s eXportable Com- During Operation Showcase our Jesse Houk/ Released)
bat Training Capability (XCTC) friends, families and our state
at Camp Ripley, Minn. This and national leaders witnessed and preparing for XCTC. We command. This will support the
training provides a culminat- first hand our hard work and have conducted many MUTA- goal of the IBCT to be in the
ing event for us as we transition dedication. During my conver- 5s, MUTA-6s and MUTA-8’s to elite position as the premier In-
through the Army Force Gen- sations with those visitors, they attain near 100% qualification fantry Brigade Combat Team in
eration Model (ARFORGEN). were highly impressed with the rates on our individual and crew the National Guard.
XCTC affordes the over four- training and skill of our soldiers. served weapon systems. This Regardless of the training lo-
hundred members of the bat- Their messages and pictures will allowed us to focus our training cation, you can be assured that
talion to develop and hone their serve us well in conveying posi- during this exercise on collec- the Soldiers from communities
skills. These skills will help our tive impressions of the brigade, tive training at the squad and as far south as Bartonville and
soldiers attain collective training the activities of the training peri- platoon level. It has been our as far north as Woodstock who
certification on mission-specific ods, and prove that we are good intent to establish a P+ rating as represents the Cold Steel Bat-
tasks. XCTC also provides a stewards of the resources pro- the new floor for our proficien- talion will be ready and able to
theater-immersed environment; vided by the American people. cy at the platoon and company demonstrate that we are the best
replicating conditions, as if Over the last eighteen-months, level as well as exercise the bat- Infantry Battalion within the
we were at the Joint Readiness we have excelled in planning talion staff to excel in mission Army National Guard.
Army National Guard CSM visits Illinois guard
by: Sgt. 1st Class Mike Chris- of a three-week training exer- later the brigade, which encom- Like us on Facebook!
man, 139th Mobile Public Affairs cise, which prepares them for passes about 3,400 Soldiers in www.facebook.com/33rdibct
Detachment possible future mobilizations. 30 companies across the state,
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard The 33rd Infantry Brigade is undergoing similar training.
Burch, Army National Guard Combat Team based in Urbana The 33rd is no longer scheduled
In this issue
Command Sergeant Major, ex- was the first unit in the coun- for a 2013 mobilization, but
perienced first-hand what Illinois try to participate in the Army they are continuing to prepare Cold Steel Battalion
Army National Guard Soldiers National Guard’s eXportable for deployment. page 2-3
are enduring in 90-plus degree Combat Training Capability “The National Guard de-
heat at Camp Ripley, Minn. (XCTC) program in 2008 as signed this training a few years Unique assets: Snipers
Illinois Army National Guard they prepared for mobilization ago and it’s amazing to see how page 4
Soldiers are at the midway point to Afghanistan. Four years continued on page 4
Page 1

2. Cold Steel Battalion
Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment based in Sgt. Mike L. Maher of Frankfort, Pvt. Paul A. Franson of Mokena,
Chicago assault an enemy objective during a training exercise at and Spc. Daniel C. Schmitt establish a perimiter prior to going on
Camp Ripley, Minn. on July 14. The unit has completed multiple a patrol. All three Soldiers are a part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf.
training exercises to include platoon attacks, platoon security pa- Regt. based in Elgin. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Released)
trols, platoon movement to contacts, and platoon live-fire exer-
cises. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)
1st Lt. Shane D. Molter of Naperville, platoon leader, coordinates
an attack plan with Staff Sgt. David K. Waters of Grand Detour
with Co. C, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Kankakee during a
dry-fire exercise at the XCTC program on July 15. “The training
provides realistic conditions and standards,” said Molter. “The
multiple integrated laser system (MILES) lets us know how well
we are hitting or suppressing our targets and the Opposing Force
(OPFOR) actors provide realistic feel to this training.”. (U.S. Army
photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)
Cpl. Paul A. Minder of Roanoke, team leader, directs Pfc. Collin
A. Watts of Plainfield during the dry run of the live fire exercises
as a part of the eXportable Combat Training Capability program
at Camp Ripley, Minn. Both Soldiers are a part of the Barton-
ville-based Co. A, 1st Bn. 178th Inf. Regt. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jesse
Houk)
Spc. Waylon S. Holland of Columbia, Mo., Co. A, 1st Bn., 178th
Inf. Regt. shoots an azimuth in preparation for squad-level tacti-
cal movements. The movements were a part of a validation pro-
cess using live fire exercises during XCTC program. (U.S. Army photo
by Sgt. Jesse Houk/released) Page 2

3. Sgt. Logan J. Wilkening of Chicago with
HHC, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Chi-
cago takes aim at a target over 600 meters
away during a ‘unknown target distance’
event at XCTC on July 16. Wilkening and
Pfc. Benjamin D Fletcher of Carbondale
with HHC, 1st Bn. 178th Inf. Regt based
in Headquarters and Headquarters Com-
pany of the 2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry
Regiment based in Marion was a spotter
for Wilkening during this event. (U.S. Army Pvt. Matthew B. Peterson of Barrington, pulls security while Spc. David C. Saunders
photo by Spc. Christopher A. Garibay/released)
of Chicago, detains an aggressive civilian. Both Soldiers are a part of Co. B, 1st Bn.,
178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin. The training was a part of a security patrol that turned
into a fire fight when Company B took fire from hostiles. (U.S. Army photo bySgt. Jesse Houk/
released).
“... you can be assured that the Soldiers from commu-
nities as far south as Bartonville and as far north as
Woodstock who represents the Cold Steel Battalion will
be ready and able to demonstrate that we are the best
Sgt. Mike L. Maher of Frankfort, Pvt. Paul
Infantry Battalion within the Army National Guard.“
A. Franson of Mokena, and Spc. Daniel -- Lt. Col. Nick Johnson, commander, 2nd Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment
C. Schmitt establish a perimiter prior to
going on a patrol. All three Soldiers are
a part of Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt.
based in Elgin. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse
Houk/ Released)
Sgt. Sergio Rodriguez of Chicago, Co. B, 1st
Bn., 178th Inf. Regt. based in Elgin, tries to
communicate with a local to stop moving
forward. The training is meant to simu-
late what the Soldiers might see in a war
environment and helps them to become Spc. Shawn E. Ward of South Elgin, Co. B, 1st Bn., 178th Inf. Regt., carries a 240B to pro-
familiar with the best way to handle situ- vide extra fire power during a patrol at Camp Ripley, Minn. The Elgin-based company
ations. (U.S. Army Photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/ Re- was reacting to fire and securing a market in the Army National Guard’s XCTC (U.S. Army
leased) photo by Sgt. Jesse Houk/released)
Page 3

4. Snipers stalk, engage targets during training
by: Spc. Christopher Garibay, 33rd ship Training Center provided
IBCT Public Affairs.
training events to Soldiers who
Soldiers with the Illinois graduated from the Army Snip-
Army National Guard took part er School and those wishing to
in a series of mobile training attend the school.
team (MTT) exercises at Camp “We have a lot of events
Ripley, Minn. from July 10 to 18 planned for the guys out here to-
which involved honing the skills day including stalk training and
of snipers and teaching sniper shooting targets at an unknown
candidates the skills of becom- distance,” said Justin M. Hitch-
ing a sniper. cock of Conway, Ark., Sniper
The training exercises provide School non commissioned of-
a unique opportunity for the 33rd ficer in charge. “The Soldiers
Infantry Brigade Combat Team who are trained are doing well
(IBCT) to collectively train Sol- and the younger guys are pick-
diers from three battalions dur- ing up pretty well in the 8 days
we’ve been here.” Sgt. Alex Aitken and Spc. William Ingram of HHC, 2nd Bn., 130th
ing the Army National Guard’s
The MTT’s mission is to pro- Inf. Regt. participate in the mobile training team’s stalk lane dur-
eXportable Combat Training
vide sustainment training for ing XCTC at Camp Ripley, Minn on July 16. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt.
Capability (XCTC) program. Benjamin Hurst, HHC, 2nd Bn., 130th Inf. Regt./released)
Soldiers participating in the those who are qualified and in-
training were from Headquar- troductory training for Soldiers Staff Sgt. Matt R. Madiar of already graduated from Sniper
ters and Headquarters Company interested in acquiring the skill. Bensenville with Troop C, 2nd School,” he said.
(HHC), 1st Battalion, 178th In- This can be a daunting task as Sqdn., 106th Cav. said it was good Soldiers who excel will be se-
fantry Regiment based in Chi- Soldiers have been training for Illinois was able to collaborate lected to take part in future events
cago, Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 18 hrs a day. with the MTT to train Soldiers. that may lead to entry into the
106th Cavalry Regiment based “Sniper skills are perishable,” “It’s great that we had the op- elite U.S. Army Sniper School.
in Aurora and Headquarters and said Hitchcock. “Unfortunately, portunity to use equipment we The result of graduating the
Headquarters Company (HHC), if you don’t keep honing the skill, normally don’t get to use, and sniper school is that these Sol-
2nd Battalion, 130th Infantry you can lose your ability to apply to take part in training that we diers will join a handful of other
Regiment based in Marion. it when you need to. However the can’t always take part in,” said Illinois Army National Guards-
Training Instructors from the guys out here have a good base of Madiar. “We have 14 Soldiers men who carry the special title
National Guard Marksman- knowledge.” out here today, five of them have of ‘sniper.’
Army National Guard CSM visits Illinois guard
continued from page 1 with the motivation of Illinois
it’s evolved over the years,” said Army National Guard Soldiers
Burch. “XCTC brings realism to in the sweltering heat.
the training site and the Soldiers “The Soldiers are loving the
say they love it.” training, which means I am lov-
The senior enlisted advisor ing it too,” said Burch. “One Sol-
for the Illinois Army National dier told me ‘the more I sweat, the
Guard, Command Sgt. Major more fun I have and I am sweat-
Howard Robinson of Olympia ing my butt off right now.’”
Field, Ill., said he has seen a
lot of changes over his 28 year Stay Informed.
career, but Soldier standards re-
main unchanged. Stay Connected.
“Many of the dynamics remain
the same, but the technology and
how we train has changed,” Rob-
Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the senior enlisted adviser
inson said. “You put the equip-
for the National Guard Bureau, speaks to senior non commis-
ment in the hands of a young pri- www.facebook.com/33rdIBCT
sioned officers with the Illinois Army National Guard July 16 at
vate or specialist and they are on
Camp Ripley in Little Falls, Minn. Burch was visiting Illinois Army
it. Technology has improved and
National Guard Soldiers training at the Illinois National Guard’s
that furthers our advances on the
2012 eXportable Combat Training Capability at Camp Ripley. (U.S.
Army photo by Sgt. Michael Camacho, 108th Sustainment Brigade Public Affairs/ battlefield.”
released) Burch said he was impressed Follow: @xctc2012ilng
Page 4