Promotion Boards
The Standardized Senior Enlisted TPU Promotion Board dates are listed below. All
of the RSCs use this same timeline and format. For more information click on the
USARC G-1 site link:
https://esaiwr.usar.army.mil/AKOG1/PersonnelMgt/Promotions/Enlisted/Senior/Standard_Board/Standard_Board.htm
70th Training Division
(Functional Training)
---------------Brig, Gen. Alton Berry,
Division Commander
---------------Command Sgt. Maj.
Derrick Simpson,
Division CSM
----------------Public Affairs
Operations NCO,
Master Sgt.
D. Keith Johnson
----------------TRAILBLAZERS
is
produced for personnel of the 70th Training
Division (FT), and is an
authorized publication
for members of the Department of Defense.
Contents of TRAILBLAZERS are not
necessarily the official
views of the U.S. government, the Department of the Army, the
US Army Reserve or
the 70th Training Division (FT). For information, or to suggest story
ideas, send an email to
donald.keith.johnson@
usar.army.mil, or call
502-624-8977.
“The deadliest weapon in the world is a Soldier and his rifle.”
-- Gen. John “Black Jack” Pershing,
U.S. Army Commander of American Forces in World War I
Cover: Sgt. 1st Class Russell Moore receives a plaque and an
M1 Garand rifle from Col. Charles Durr, the Maneuver Center of
Excellence chief of staff, during the awards ceremony after the
2010 All-Army Small Arms Championship held at Fort Benning,
Ga. Moore, from 2nd Battalion, Small Arms Readiness Group,
won the Overall Individual Championship, his second in a row.
Photo by Michael Molinaro, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit PAO.
Are you in an over strength MOS without much of a promotion future? Are you an E-6 or below looking for a
change to a military career with skills you
can use in a civilian career? If you have a
GT score of 107 or higher, US Army Reserve Public Affairs has open E-5 to E-8
positions across the country. Contact
the 70th Training Division PAO for details.
RETENTION
70TH Training Division
Staff Sgt. Lisa Mask - Reenlisted
NCOA – Lewis
Sgt. 1st Class Luis Castillo III - Reenlisted for 3 years
NCOA – McCOY
Staff Sgt. Allen W Stephens - Reenlisted for Indefinite
4-339TH
Command Sgt. Maj. Michael D Winters - Reenlisted for Indefinite
2nd BDE (TD)
Staff Sgt. Cassandra Taylor - Reenlisted for Indefinite
Sgt. 1st Class Michael L Domke - Reenlisted for 6 years
2nd BDE (PD)
Spec. Michael P Burke - Reenlisted for 6 years
Sgt. Michael D Nelson - Reenlisted for 3 years
Staff Sgt. Tina M LeMay - Reenlisted
Staff Sgt. Scott Larson - Reenlisted
Staff Sgt. Phillip T Rice - Reenlisted for 3 years
SARG
Spec. Jacqueline L Beard – Reenlisted for 6 years
Sgt. Eric W Smith - Reenlisted for 6 years
Sgt. Stephanie C Ramskugler - Reenlisted for 6 years
Sgt. Richard C Trowbridge - Reenlisted for 6 years
Sgt. Ronald A Harvey - Reenlisted for 3 years
Staff Sgt. Kalab A Matlock - Reenlisted for 6 years
Staff Sgt. Jim A Taylor - Reenlisted
Staff Sgt. Tonya S Gross - Reenlisted for 2 years
Staff Sgt. Francisco Posada Jr - Reenlisted
Staff Sgt. Wayne R Marsh - Reenlisted for 6 years
Army Reservist claims A
By Michael Molinaro
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit
pistol, rifle, long-range
rifle and combined
arms matches.
"Everybody
should come here. I
feel it's a Soldier's duty
to come here and test
their capability, test
their mettle against their
peers," said Moore,
who works at Fort Sam
Houston as a Department of the Army civilian working with combat medic trainees.
"Hopefully
everybody here takes the
spirit of the event for
what it truly is, which is
a training event, where
somebody can come
FORT BENNING, Ga.
(March 1, 2010) -Close to 300 Soldiers
from all elements of the
Army descended on
Fort Benning Feb. 2027, to take part in the
2010 All-Army Small
Arms Championships,
the Army's pre-eminent
marksmanship training
and competition.
Photos by Michael Molinaro
Army Reserve
Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne presents a plaque and pistol to
Sgt. 1st Class Russell
Sgt. 1st Class Russell Moore during the awards cereMoore, 2nd Battalion,
mony.
Small Arms Readiness
being a rifleman first."
Group, Camp Bulsons learned through
Soldiers
were
lis, Texas, withstood
competition to enhance
given hands-on marks- the capability and lestrong competition and
manship
in- thality of the Soldier in
unpredictstruction
by
able weather
“Everybody should come here. I the hosts of combat," said Lt. Col.
to win the
Daniel Hodne, comfeel
it’s
a
Soldier’s
duty
to
come
the
competi2010
Overmander, USAMU. "The
all Individual here and test their capability, test tion, the Sol- All-Army is designed to
C h a m p i o n - their mettle against their peers.” diers from the be the ultimate trainU.S.
Army the-trainer event for
ship, his sec-- Sgt. 1st Class Russell Moore M a r k s m a n - marksmanship;
ond in a row.
the
ship
Unit,
with
Moore and his
implications to raising
the intent of the Army's overall comteammates
claimed the top team and learn depth and rel- using those lessons bat readiness after an
prize after a week full of evance to their trade of learned in instruction event such as this one
and in competition to are enormous."
bring back to their units The overall infor dissemination.
dividual winners of the
"At the USAMU, main categories were
we use the phrase awarded
Secretary
'Competition to combat' of the Army M1 Gato describe the phe- rand Trophy Rifles. A
nomena of taking les- 1911 pistol built by the
USAMU gunsmiths was
Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne
awarded to the overall
presents a plaque to Sgt.
Spc. Michael Martin, Com- pistol champion. Teams
pany D, Small Arms Read- were given plaques to
iness Group.
display back at their
All-Army championship
Lt. Col. Daniel Hodne presents a plaque to Sgt. 1st
Class Richard Clark during the awards ceremony. Clark
won the High Drill Sergeant award and is assigned to
Regional Training Center - East at Fort Dix, N.J.
units' headquarters and
numerous prizes were
awarded to the second
and third place awardees in all categories.
Five
Reserve
Officer Training Corps
Cadets earned scholarship money provided
by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. Two
Soldiers, Sgt. 1st Class
Marc Sheehan, 209th
Regional Training Institute, Nebraska National Guard, and Staff Sgt.
Jason Godel, 2nd Battalion, SARG, earned
their Distinguished Rifleman's badges, the
highest honor one can
reach in rifle marksmanship.
A new award
Members of 2nd Battalion,
Small Arms Readiness
Group pose with their
awards during the awards
ceremony. The Soldiers
took the Top Team award.
was added to the mix
this year-the Col. (Ret.)
Ralph Puckett Excellence in Marksmanship
award. It was given to
the Soldier in the novice class who achieved
the highest cumulative
score of the two Excellence in Competition
matches. Sgt. 1st Class
Graham Faris of C
Company, 29th Infantry
Regiment, 197th Infantry Training Brigade on
Fort Benning, earned
the distinction as being
the first Soldier to win
the award.
During the closing ceremony, Hodne
reminded the Soldiers
who competed that
while the seeds have
been strewn at the AllArmy, it is now up to
them to incorporate
what they learned to
take back to their units.
"The
lessons
learned on the fields of
friendly strife are helping our Soldiers accomplish their missions
in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and elsewhere," Hodne
concluded.
The
following
70th Training Division
Soldiers were honored
at the awards ceremony that brought the
successful event to a
close:
Service Pistol Champion - Sgt 1st Class Russell Moore
High Drill Sergeant Sgt. 1st Class Richard
Clark, Regional Training Center-East
High Reservist - Sgt 1st
Class Russell Moore
High Reservist (E1-E4)
- Spc. Michael Martin, D
Company, Small Arms
Readiness Group, Fort
Douglass, Utah
Photos from
Left: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif.
-- Brig. Gen. Alton Berry, commander, 70th Training Division (Functional Training), left, checks out a
rocket propelled grenade launcher
used by OPFOR at Regional Training Center-West.
Photo by Staff Sgt. James Blaine
Left: FORT McCOY, Wis. -- Brig.
Gen. Alton Berry, commander,
70th Training Division (Functional Training), left, presents a
Welcome Home Warrior award to
Command Sgt. Maj. Neal Dicky,
Regional Training Center-Central. Twenty-seven Soldiers received WHW awards on Feb. 9.
Photo by Master Sgt. Christina Steiner
Right: FORT DIX, N.J. -- SFC Nathan Dolson ‘pops smoke’ to add to the realism
of combat at the MOUT site at Regional
Training Center-East.
Photo by Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson
Photo by Staff Sgt. James Blaine
Left: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT, Calif. -- Command Sgt. Maj. Derrick Simpson, 70th Training Division (Functional Training),
checks out a M4 Carbine paintball gun used during training at
Regional Training Center-West. RTC-West uses a variety of realistic paintball guns during the training scenarios.
m the Field
Left: FORT HUNTER LIGGETT,
Calif. -- A vehicle is stuck in the
mud after torrential rains and
floods soak the ground at Regional Training Center-West.
Photo courtesy of RTC-West
Right: FORT DIX, N.J. -- Staff Sgt. Henry
Calderon observes teams of Soldiers moving
through the MOUT site at Regional Training
Center-East.
Below: A Soldier dressed as OPFOR prepares
to ambush one of the teams moving through
the MOUT site at RTC-East.
Photo by Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson
Photo by Master Sgt. D. Keith Johnson
Right: FORT MCCOY, Wis. -- Brig. Gen. Alton Berry, commander, 70th Training Division
(Functional Training), passes the colors to incoming Regional Training Center-Central commander Lt. Col. James Erdie during the unit’s
change of command ceremony.
Photo by Master Sgt. Christina Steiner
History of the 70th
70th Division History
Twelve Soldiers from the 70th were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, the award just below
the Medal of Honor. The citations below are from the 70th Infantry Division Association website.
Honor Roll - DSC Citations
Private SAMPSON J STEPHENS, Company "C", 275th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, United
States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy.
On 22 February 1945, the enemy counterattacked positions held by Private Stephens’ company. When an
assaulting tank threatened to break through, Private Stephens, with complete disregard for his own safety,
advanced alone through intense fire, armed only with a rocket launcher. Although under direct enemy observation he obtained a position within 15 yards of the tank and put it out of action with one round of fire.
Private Stephens fought on with characteristic aggressiveness with his unit until he was killed by enemy
fire on 25 February 1945. The courage displayed and his loyal devotion to duty are in keeping with the
highest traditions of the military service.
Second Lieutenant CLAUDE J HAFNER, Company "E" 276th Infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division,
United States Army. For extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed
enemy. On the night of 6 February 1945, Lieutenant HAFNER'S Company was pinned down by intense
machine-gun, rifle and grenade fire during an attack near OETINGEN, FRANCE. Armed with a rocket
launcher, Lieutenant HAFNER fearlessly led two men against the enemy positions and forced the surrender of three Germans in the nearest emplacement. He then moved a squad forward and cleared two
connecting dugouts, taking six more prisoners. At daylight, he again distinguished himself by leading four
men against by-passed positions, killing one of the defenders, bayoneting another and capturing seven
prisoners. Lieutenant HAFNER'S heroic leadership and his inspiring, courageous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military service.
First Lieutenant EDWARD R. CROWSON, Company "K" 274th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action. On 4 March 1945, during the attack on Stiring-Wendel, France, Lieutenant Crowson assumed command of Company "K" when his Company Commander was wounded. Under heavy enemy
artillery and mortar fire, he moved erect among his men, shouting and encouraging them to follow him in
a charge against enemy-held houses. Inspired by his leadership, the men charged and overwhelmed the
enemy positions. Lieutenant Crowson was wounded by an enemy sniper, but he continued to lead the attack until late in the evening. Ordered to be evacuated, he refused, staying with his company until he had
it reorganized and ready to continue the attack. Entered military service from Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Sergeant RICE E. CRAIN, Company "K", 275th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on
22-23 February 1945, in the Pfaffenwald Forest, France. During an attack, his company was pinned down
by a heavy enemy artillery barrage and small arms fire. When two approaching enemy tanks seriously
threatened the company's right flank, Sergeant Crain, under direct enemy fire, moved to a vantage point
from which he fearlessly fired two well placed bazooka shells and forced the tanks to withdraw. On the following day, when his company was harassed by sniper fire, he heroically exposed himself to observe enemy fire and personally eliminated eleven snipers. When he had almost completely wiped out the harassing
element, Sergeant Crain was mortally wounded by the fire of one of the few survivors of his heroic attack.
Staff Sergeant (then Sergeant) RAYMOND E. ADAMS, Company "F", 274th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 25 February 1945, at Spicheren Heights, France. After taking strategic
high ground, Sergeant Adams' squad, occupying the platoon's forward position, was subjected to machine
gun fire which supported a two-company enemy counterattack. Sergeant Adams immediately crossed fifty
yards of open terrain, firing and maneuvering as he advanced. Throwing a hand grenade into the machine
gun position, he charged with fixed bayonet, killing the three-man crew. Quickly turning the captured gun
on the advancing troops, he inflicted many casualties and disorganized the attack. After expending all ammunition, he destroyed the gun and led his squad against the enemy. His courageous action enabled his
platoon to break the counterattack and hold its vital objective. Entered military service from Rock Springs,
Texas.
Private First Class GERALD E. SOPER, Company "F", 274th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism
in action on 7 January 1945, at Wingen, France. During a daylight attack on the town, intense sniper fire
and automatic weapons activity halted the advance of Private First Class Soper’s platoon. Disregarding
the danger, he voluntarily crawled to a basement window from which the enemy was firing and hurled a
grenade inside. Moving away from the window he was wounded. He then crawled back and tossed another grenade through the opening. He was firing his rifle into the basement when he was hit a second time
and died shortly afterwards. Private First Class Soper’s gallant actions and ability enabled his platoon to
resume the attack and aid in the capture of the town.
Staff Sergeant JOHN W. CATHEY, Company "L", 274th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 6 March 1945, near Styring Wendel, France. During an attack on a heavily fortified emplacement,
Sergeant Cathey voluntarily rode the back of a tank into battle. He directed fire and pointed out targets until
a seven-foot wall halted the advance of the company. Repeatedly exposing himself, he brought rifle fire
on the enemy, knocking out a machine gun nest, wounding several of the enemy and killing four. He then
moved through a shell hole in a wall and rushed the enemy positions, calling for his squad to follow. After
advancing thirty feet, he was severely wounded by rocket fire. His intrepid action and courage under fire
led to the success of the attacking troops. Entered military service from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Private RONDALL H. GLAZE, Company "A" 275th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action
on 17 February 1945, near Lixing, France. During a company attack, murderous enemy machine gun fire
halted the advance. Realizing the extreme gravity of the situation, Private Glaze voluntarily assumed the
task of knocking out the hostile weapon. He crept across open terrain, while exposed to heavy enemy
mortar, artillery, and rifle fire, and hurled a grenade at the machine gun crew, killing them instantly. Though
fatally wounded, his courageous action enabled his company to continue its advance and gain its objective. His valiant service reflects the finest traditions of the armed forces.
Colonel SAMUEL G. CONLEY, 274th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on 19 February 1945, near Saarbrucken, Germany. During a bitter battle for the Siegfried Line defenses atop the
strategically important Kreutzberg Ridge, Colonel Conley maneuvered under intense artillery barrages
to within thirty yards of enemy entrenchments. Miraculously eluding hostile machine-gun and mortar fire
for a sustained period, he dashed across the front lines, recruiting a tank and twenty-two infantrymen for
an assault on the enemy. He then led a charge over barbed-wire entanglements into the German-held
trenches, capturing the position and twenty-six prisoners. Colonel Conley's courageous action and superb
leadership were in keeping with the highest ideals of the infantry and reflect great credit upon himself and
the armed forces. Entered United States Military Academy from Van Vert, Ohio.
First Lieutenant HOWARD L. ARNEST, 276th Infantry Regiment, for extraordinary heroism in action on
11 January 1945, near Obermunthal, France. With the mission of taking a hill held by a bitterly resisting
enemy, Lieutenant Arnest led a day-light attack and seized the enemy's forward defensive positions. Continuing the attack despite heavy casualties, he inspired his men as they closed with the enemy in hand to
hand combat. Seriously wounded when the enemy brought artillery fire on the positions, Lieutenant Arnest
ordered a withdrawal, but refused to withdraw himself. He remained behind to cover his men until taken
prisoner. Entered military service from Cottage Grove, Oregon.
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Parting Shot...