Last Update
February 2, 2012

108th ADA holds Soldier, NCO of the year competition
By Sgt. Eddie R. Smith
108th ADA Bde. PAO

Photo by Sgt. Eddie R. Smith/108th ADA Bde. PAO Pfc. Regina Caldwell, 1st Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery, goes through the steps of evaluating a “casualty” during the Warrior Tasks and Battle Drills phase of the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade’s Soldier of the Year competition Jan. 9 through 12. Caldwell was one of several Soldiers competing for the privilege of representing the brigade at upper level competitions.

Soldiers from the 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade participated in the brigade’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition Jan. 9 through 12.

Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Robertson, operations specialist, Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 108th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, said the purpose of the competition was to identify two junior enlisted Soldiers and two noncommissioned officers to represent the brigade in upcoming competitions. Four of the competitors traveled from Fort Campbell, Ky., where they are assigned to 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery.

The Soldiers competed in different events including the Army Physical Fitness Test, land navigation, warrior tasks, an obstacle course, a written exam and a mystery event. Each Soldier competing had either previously won a Soldier or NCO of the quarter competition or had been selected by their chain of command to represent their respective units.

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Devil Brigade concludes pre-deployment training
By Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod
1st BCT, 82nd Abn Div. PAO

	Photo by Sgt. Michael J. MacLeod/1st BCT, 82nd Abn. Div. PAO Two paratroopers with the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team and a trainer run through a smokescreen during a live-fire exercise Jan. 14, at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, La. The middle Soldier is carrying several tools used to breach doors.

FORT POLK, La. – A brigade of Fort Bragg paratroopers wrapped up nearly four weeks of training at the Joint Readiness Training Center here Saturday for a recently announced deployment to Afghanistan.

After several weeks of classroom instruction, hands-on field exercises and a week of “force on force” war games pitted against resident Soldiers, the 82nd Airborne Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team, which flies the colors of the venerable 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, headed home to North Carolina.

“This rotation is probably the most important thing that this brigade will do in preparation for combat operations in Afghanistan,” said Col. Mark L. Stock, commander of the “Devil Brigade,” as 1st BCT is known.

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Wonderful World for Kids hosts first Recycolympics
By Jonelle Kimbrough
Environmental Management, DPW

	Photos by Jonelle Kimbrough/Environmental Management, DPW Can Guy congratulations the children at the Wonderful World for Kids on a successful RecycOlympics.

Children at the Wonderful World for Kids carried the torch for sustainability at the installation’s inaugural RecycOlympics in January.

Event organizers chose the WWK as the site of Fort Bragg’s first RecycOlympics because the facility maintains a robust recycling program that has benefited both the staff and children in numerous ways.

“Recycling is important at the WWK because it is an excellent way to teach our children about environmental awareness and understanding,” said Arlene Andrade, WWK director.
“Implementing recycling programs for children also teaches them about the importance of respecting their environment. It is best to introduce children to recycling projects when they are young so that they can build lifelong, environmentally sound habits and gain valuable life skills,” she explained.

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Fort Bragg builds archery range at McKellar’s Rod and Gun Club
By Kevin Goode
Paraglide

	Photos by Kevin Goode/Paraglide Daniel Liss, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division nocks an arrow and takes aim at a target 35 yards away at the archery range at McKellers Rod and Gun Club Jan. 24.

Fort Bragg celebrated its archery range grand opening at McKellar’s Rod and Gun Club with a ceremonial ribbon cutting Jan. 24.

Col. Stephen Sicinski, Fort Bragg Garrison commander, invited post archers as well as Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation employees
to cut the ribbon and officially open the range to the public.

“I think it is wonderful” said Sicinski. “I think the community is going to love the archery range. We have been talking about it (an archery range) for several months now and found out through surveys that we took that there was a real interest from hundreds of people on post.”

The new range consists of 10 targets that are positioned at varying distances of 15 to 75 yards away from archers. The range is designed to meet the needs of everything from the casual archer to the avid bow hunter.

“I love bow hunting and like to use a traditional bow,” said Sgt. Daniel Liss, 1st Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division. “My dad initially got me into bow hunting. For my dad, bow hunting was an easy way he could continue hunt.

“With bow hunting you have to get really close to the prey so it is a challenge,” said Liss. “You have to be comfortable with your equipment so I train for it everyday. My wife likes that I do it,” he said.

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