1. Knighthawk News August 2012
Task Force
Knighthawk News
Commander’s Corner
Team Knighthawk! support from the 10th Mountain the installation support mecha-
Rebecca, Gavin, Kellen and I Division ensuring its success. nisms. I cannot highlight how
are extremely happy to be part For those who were not able to important it is to establish rela-
of the team. Since our arrival in make it out to the salute to the tionships at the company level
late April we have had the op- nation parade during Mountain in order to form strong support
portunity to begin to meet each Fest, you missed an awesome teams. For the seasoned veteran
member of the Task Force and display of combat power by TF families who have survived mul-
your families. It has been a very Knighthawk as we conducted tiple deployments already,
busy time with a high turnover the Air Assault Demonstration. please pass your experience’s
of folks across the Task Force to Excellent performance by Alpha on. If deployments are new to
include changes of command and Charlie Company crew’s your family, this is the time to
within three of our Companies. who flew the demonstration, as begin preparing!
Welcome to CPT Chris Gage well as the rest of the Task Again, it is a privileged for Re-
coming over to the Pathfinders Force that supported it behind becca and me to be just two
as we said goodbye to CPT the scenes. The Division Com- more members of the Team!
Steve Hassink who is off to Har- mander said it was the best fly- Your Husbands, Wives, Sons
vard Law School. CPT Brian ing Demo the North Country and Daughters who are assigned
and Casey Green assumed com- had seen in years! to the Best Aviation Task Force
mand of the reflagged Alpha As we all return from in the Army are doing a superb
Company (formerly Golf Com- Block Leave, the remainder of job! Continue to be safe over
pany) and said farewell to CPT the summer and fall will begin the summer months and get out
Jim Coker who is off the Har- to get very busy! As Charlie and enjoy the North Country!
vard Business School. Most Company finishes training on
recently CPT Dan and Sterling the new UH-60 “Mike” Model Fly To Glory!
Reep took the helm of Echo Blackhawk we as a Task Force
Company from CPT Mattie will begin our intensive training The Braman’s
LTC Matthew Braman Howe, who is off to Fort Lee to cycle in preparation for a late
Task Force Knighthawk Com- become an instructor at the Lo- October rotation to the Joint
mander gistics schoolhouse. We will Readiness Training Center
continue to see a few more arri- (JRTC). Upon return for
vals and departures as we solid- Thanksgiving for most of us, we
ify the Team for JRTC and fu- again will send folks on the road
ture directed deployments. to Colorado for High Altitude
We have been enjoying training before and after the
the awesome spring and summer Christmas break.
weather and have been maxi- As our Soldiers con-
mizing our outdoor time (while tinue to train for our wartime
it last!) here in the North Coun- mission we will also begin to
try! It has been a great back- prepare our families for future
drop to the numerous activities deployments. The JRTC rota-
that have been going on re- tion will be a good time to iden-
cently. Riverfest was highly tify the needs of each family and
attended within the Task Force work through the company
this year and the local commu- FRGs to seek available support
nity appreciated the continued both within the unit as well as
2. Knighthawk News
Nomads
Summer will soon be here…but with the rising and we are excited to officially have him as our
temperatures, so comes an upswing in our newest NCO. Last but not least, congratula-
training in preparation for future operations. tions are in order for SGT Jason Feltzer, who
HHC continues to work hard and the Company retired this month after 20 years of military
will be looking forward to a much deserved service. Your presence in the S3 shop will cer-
block leave period this July. tainly be missed, but you have earned every bit
of your newfound time off. We know that
Jennifer and I would like to take the opportu-
Leanne and the girls are glad they’ll have you
nity to welcome some new Families to the No-
home a bit more often.
mad formation. CW3 Ed Smith is the new
CPT W. Cannon Task Force Tactical Operations Officer. CW3 In Little Nomad news, PFC Tyquannah Pace
1SG Manuel Reyes Smith, his wife Jean, and Family are not new to recently gave birth to a baby girl, Harmony.
FRG Leader the Brigade, however. They were last assigned Harmony decided to enter the world a little
Jennifer Cannon with Task Force Phoenix during our most re- earlier than planned, but we are glad to report
cent deployment and he brings a wealth of ex- that both she and Mom are doing very well.
perience to the team. Next, SSG Stephanie
Many of you may know that SSG Wolfe, our
Thomas and her Family come to us from Ko-
Headquarters Platoon Sergeant, recently lost
rea. SSG Thomas is a new addition to our S4
his house due to a fire. While that is certainly
shop and will play a major role ensuring that
not good news, the outpouring of support and
the Task Force is properly equipped. We have
assistance from the Nomad Family was truly
also recently welcomed two Captains to our S3
inspiring. Many of our Soldiers and Family
section. CPT Jon Ryder, an Apache pilot, and
members gave of their time, money, or donated
his wife, Courtney, come to us from the Avia-
belongings to help SSG Wolfe and his Family
tion Captain’s Career Course at Fort Rucker.
get back on their feet. I would like to thank the
In addition, CPT Mark Axtell, a Blackhawk
whole Company personally for their efforts in
pilot, and his wife, English, were last assigned
helping one of our own in his time of need. In
to Fort Benning, Georgia, where he attended
case you haven’t heard, SSG Wolfe has already
the Infantry Captain’s Career Course (we’ll try
begun the process of rebuilding his home and it
not to hold that against him though). We
will hopefully be complete this Summer.
would also like to welcome SSG Shawn Cal-
vert, our new S2 NCOIC, and 1LT Meghan In closing, I hope everyone is enjoying the
Brower, our new S6. We are glad to have all change in weather and making plans to take
of these key players on board. part in all the North Country has to offer. As
always, please be in touch if there’s anything
On 1 June, we were privileged to promote two
we can do for you.
very deserving Soldiers. First, PFC Mark
Dunn from our S2 section was promoted to
SPC. In addition, CPL Rogelio Lamont is now Captain Wes and Jennifer Cannon
wearing Sergeant stripes. SGT Lamont has Nomad 06 Team
Page 2 proven himself from day one with the Nomads
3. Knighthawk News
Deathstalker
The Summer Block Leave period could not be immediate future, but I am confident that all
more well-deserved or come at a better time. this training will pay off dividends come next
Alpha Company has been working hard and year.
accomplishing more than expected recently, as
we are now knee-deep into our train-up that In other company news: Congratulations to
will continue until we deploy in the spring of Amanda and Delbert Conley for the birth of
2013. I encourage everyone to take advantage their second son, Mason. Another congratula-
of these two weeks off by resting up, spending tions goes to Dan Misenhimer for graduating
from the Maintenance Test Pilot Course in Fort CPT S Lancianese
lots of time with family, and preparing for the
Rucker. He will return to Fort Drum and fill 1SG J Chilson
training that is coming up after the Leave pe-
riod ends. the position of Company Maintenance Officer,
a role that has been vacant for months. Alpha FRG Leaders
I am proud of all we have accomplished so far: Company is still very short on people, and we Becky Blanchard
We have been acing all of our inspections, and should start to finally see some more new faces Carole Barlow
we continue to fix the aircraft as soon as they around the company area. It will come as wel-
break, which is a daily occurrence. We made it comed relief to those who have been working
through the Aerial Gunnery exercise, and we overtime, sometimes filling the roles of two or
received glowing compliments from all who three people in order to accomplish the mis-
attended the Mountain Fest Air Assault demon- sions so far.
stration. Finally, we have been focusing on
physical fitness and coming together as a team. I want to thank all the families again
for their continued support. Enjoy your time
Following Block Leave, we will be getting away from work, take advantage of the beauti-
right back into training with a Division-wide ful weather, and remember to be safe.
event called Mountain Peak, where we will
provide Aviation support to Infantry companies
from 4-31 IN, 2-14 IN, and 1-89 CAV as they Steve Lancianese
go through platoon and company training
lanes, live fire exercises, and practice air as- “Deathstalker 06”
saults. In August, Alpha Company will, once
again, participate in an Aerial Gunnery exer-
cise. We have a lot of lessons learned from the
last Gunnery, so it will be a great opportunity
to train the pilots and maintainers who weren’t
able to participate last time, and those who did
participate last time will be able to see their
scores improve. In September, the focus will
be on Air Assault training, as we prepare for
our deployment to the Joint Readiness Training
Center, which will begin October 29th. As you
can tell, there is no sign of slowing down in our
Page 3
4. Knighthawk News
Warlords
Things have been busy with the
Warlords and will continue to be busy;
Change is the one constant that everyone
however this is a company that is definitely
can count on in the Army. Since the last
newsletter, there have been many changes up for the challenge. I look forward to
that have occurred within the Assault Com- keeping everyone up to date on what the
CPT Green pany in Task Force Knighthawk. On May Warlords are doing and I am very excited
to be a part of the Knighthawk Team.
1SG B Boots 11, 2012 the G/2-10 colors were cased and
G/2-10 was reflagged as C/2-10. During
FRG Leaders
that ceremony, a change of command also
Casey Green
Heidi Woerheide
took place between CPT James Coker and
CPT Brian Green. CPT Green
I am very grateful to have the op-
portunity to write this column for the news-
letter. Since the change of command,
things have been very busy with the War-
lords. We have conducted an aerial gun-
nery qualification to qualify all of our pro-
gressed crewchiefs , we have started send-
ing our pilots and crewchiefs through the
UH-60M Model qualification course, and
have even begun conducting our planning
and rehearsals for the Mountain Fest Air
Assault demonstration. This is a busy first
month for a new command, but this com-
pany is definitely up to the task.
Our biggest training event coming
up is the Mountain Fest Air Assault dem-
onstration. On Thursday 28 June 2012, TF
Knighthawk will be flying the Air Assault
Demonstration during Mountain Fest. C/2-
10 was given the opportunity to conduct
the 4-ship Air Assault of 2-14IN. This is
going to be a great demonstration of the
capabilities of the UH-60 aircraft.
Page 4
5. Knighthawk News
Dragonhawks
CPT David Fitzpatrick was born and raised in Syracuse, New York. He attended Niagara
University and graduated with a BA in Business Management. After college CPT Fitz-
patrick went to Flight School at Fort Rucer, AL. He graduated the UH-60 course in
April of 2010 and was assigned to Fort Drum in May of 2010. CPT Fitzpatrick was then
assigned to G Company 2-10 Aviation and deployed to JRTC and later to Afghanistan in
support of Operation Enduring Freedom XI. Upon redeployment from Afghanistan CPT
Fitzpatrick was reassigned to D Company 2-10 where he served as a Platoon Leader until
March of 2012, until taking command of D Company in March of 2012. CPT. Fitz-
patrick is excited in commanding the Dragonhawks and looks forward to the road ahead.
CPT David Fitzpatrick
CPT Fitzpatrick
1SG L. Brown
FRG Leaders
Shaunna Fitzpatrick
Kimberly Perez
Page 5
6. Knighthawk News
Knight Riders
"Echo Company has undergone many bers who attended and participated in
changes in the last several months the games.
while supporting the Task Force train- We look forward to spending more
ing and conducting its own company time with the Knight Rider families in
level training. the
Echo Company would like to say near future!"
goodbye to Captain Mattie Howe and
CPT D Reep welcome its new command team: First
1SG Matlock Sergeant James Matlock and Captain-
Daniel Reep. Both are very excited to
FRG Leader V/r,
prepare the Knightrider Soldiers and
Sterling Reep
Families for the upcoming deployment. CPT Reep
Echo Company supported the Task
Force gunnery in May and is preparing
to support the upcoming August gun-
nery as well as JRTC in October. We
had a great BBQ event during block
leave this month for the Soldiers who
did not take leave and would like to
say thank you to all the family mem-
Knight Riders FRG Leader
My name is Sterling Reep, and I am any questions, concerns, problems, or
the new FRG leader. I am excited to suggestions that you would like to dis-
meet each of you. I very much appreci- cuss. The FRG is in need of volunteers,
ate all of Kelly Daniel's hard work and so if you are interested, please let me
commitment, and I am looking forward know. Thank you so much for all that
to continuing to grow and build the you, your spouse, and your family do
FRG. I am available to you and your for the Company and the Army every
families when you need me. Please do single day.
Page 6 not hesitate to contact me if you have
7. Knighthawk News
Firehawks
designated to keep pace for their group ac-
curately measured their steps, while the
05 June 2012, just moments before dusk,
rest of the team plotted the points on the
Soldiers of Foxtrot ATS Company
map and developed their game plan to ac-
(Firehawks) set forth on a journey not com-
complish the challenge at hand. With little
monly traveled by members of the ATS
daylight left, an accurate pace count estab-
community. The challenge; navigate from
lished, and a marked map each team steps
point to point through a dense unfamiliar
off almost simultaneously to their first tar- CPT J Sampsel
forest inhabited by wild turkeys and hun-
gets. Each team raced to the first point and 1SG Leavell
gry bears in the dead of the night using
found it successfully as the sun finally set. FRG Leader
only a map, a compass, and a red lens
With the complete absence of the sun it Jamie Sampsel
flashlight. To make final preparations for
became increasingly difficult to move Wendy Averett
the event that lay ahead, Firehawks under-
about in the thick brush, let alone locate the
went a series of refresher training that en-
eye-level orange and white markers that
compassed the basics of Land Navigation.
depicted each point. Fueled with their
Spearheading this training were SSG (P)
competitive natures and marked by chemi-
Pizzuto, SSG Squires, and SSG Guetersloh
cal lights, each team continued to drive on
representing their respective platoon well
seeking out their objectives. As the chal-
with quality training that fostered an excel-
lenge continued Soldier safety became an
lent opportunity for each Soldier to hone
issue and the call was made to cease the
their skills with a compass and a map.
competitive effort.
These three skilled NCOs later served as
Observer/Controllers to ensure an element
of safety during the voyage through the
rugged terrain. CSM Parmer was present
during this preparation phase and gladly
provided senior experience and tricks of
the trade to Soldiers rotating through the
training stations. Three groups were
formed and endowed with knowledge and
the appropriate tools. They eagerly waited
to moment to put them to use. As the sun
set, they executed what they had learned
and put their skills to the test. Personnel
Page 7
8. Knighthawk News
Pathfinders
Families and Friends of TF Knight- ing the skills of our profession. There will even be Battal-
hawk, ion combined events and a culminating off-post training
event at Cranberry Lake, NY. Our concentration on small
Greetings from the Pathfinder Team.
unit tactics lends itself to leader development and individ-
I am deeply humbled and honored to ual soldier skills allowing each of us to become confident
join the Knighthawk’s as we prepare in our warrior tasks and drills. This will lead to a company
for our next rotation in support of Op- that can function and adapt with little guidance or informa-
eration Enduring Freedom. In the past few months, we tion in an ever changing battle field.
have had a large turnover in both Soldiers and their leaders
Entering the heart of our training cycle, all I ask is for your
within the company. Many of the past deployment’s veter-
continued love and support in the coming weeks for our
ans have moved on to bigger and better things and we
Soldiers. The previous and future success in our training is
are sad to see them go. However, we are fortunate to have not only contributed to the Soldier’s hard work here in
gained the experience of multiple seasoned Soldiers and Pathfinder Company, but also to the dedicated support they
their families joining us from other units. I am already receive from you. Your hard work has not gone unnoticed
overwhelmed by the progression we have made as a and is greatly appreciated. Although your Soldiers are the
“Team” in just a few short months of being together. I can ones out training every week, you are just as much a part of
only anticipate this level of performance and motivation to this team and I look forward to working with each and
increase over the next few weeks as we continue to build every one of you.
the Pathfinder Family.
Knighthawks!
As we come off block leave, the Pathfinder Company will
First in Last Out!
be rapidly progressing to the “run” phase of our training.
We have already completed numerous static weapon Christopher Gage
ranges, Fire Team Live Fire Exercises, and even an off-post
CPT, IN
training event in the mountainous terrain of the Adiron-
dacks. In addition, Soldiers from the company graduated
Pathfinder School and Air Assault School, earning the cov-
eted Pathfinder Torch and Air Assault Wings. Great work
men! With individual training almost complete, we will
continue to advance, challenging the company to come to-
gether as a tightly knit team to accomplish more complex
tasks, while incorporating additional military assets in the
twilight of night and the simulated fog of war.
Your Pathfinders will continue to maintain the training
tempo as we focus on preparation for our upcoming rota-
tion to the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) in No-
vember. In the next few weeks, we will be conducting
multiple Situational and Live Fire Training events at both
the squad and platoon level, hon-
Page 8
12. Knighthawk News
Chaplain’s Corner
Hello to the family and friends Counseling, and (of course) aspect to life. As a result, our
of Task Force Knighthawk, Religion. Susanna has studied vision for this segment is to
and been certified in the areas offer practical reflections on
I would like this op-
of Communication, Sociology, relationships to the Knight-
portunity to introduce my wife,
and Mediation. As you can hawk community. We do not
Susanna, and myself to the
see, we both have a passion for claim that these are expert re-
Task Force. We are coming
relationships and communica- flections or that we know more
from Denver, Colorado and
tion. about relationships than you;
this will be our first duty sta-
rather, we just want to share
tion. Admittedly, we did not If you’re not inter-
some things that we’ve learned
ask for Fort Drum, but we are ested in the degrees and want
along the way that could offer
constantly encouraged by the to know what we are really Ch (CPT) Daniel Werho and Suzanne
some insight into your rela-
supportive and friendly com- about, I could simply tell you Werho
tionships.
munity that is the Fort Drum that we are about relationships.
Family. Thank you all for that. We value and always seek to Our ultimate goal is
We look forward to working develop authentic and suppor- that these reflections will serve
(and playing) with you as we tive relationships because we as a springboard for conversa-
all support each other through have found that there are times tion and eventually lead to
this upcoming deployment. in life when it’s just too hard deeper trusting relationships
to get by on our own. Not only that will hopefully support us
Let me take some
that, but sometimes, life can be all through this deployment.
time to share what we bring to
brighter when you’re with peo-
the table as your Taskforce
ple that you truly know and
Chaplain Couple. If you’re
can trust.
interested in the degrees and
stuff, I have studied and been We hope that you also
certified in the areas of Family share in this passion, but
Studies, Human Development, whether you’re passionate
Marital and Pre-Marital Coun- about relationships or not, rela-
seling, Stress Management, tionships are an unavoidable
Page 12
13. Knighthawk News
MFLC
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Page 13
14. Knighthawk News
Farewells
"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after
moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends."
~ Richard Bach
Clever Prince Yap James Hart
Justin Sturm Hector Huertas John Kolodgy
Matthew Smith Charles Odle Kaylee Laakso
Lee Hough James Coker
Matthew Cootware James Berge
Avonelle Brown Stephens
Ahmed Boyd Chris Dickerson
Adam Hook Jacob Rhodes
Justin McBride Jessica Cioci
John Meier Aleth Toussaint
Davis Devine Courtenay Galvin
Hails
Please take the time and extend a very special welcome to newest members of the Task Force team…
Matthew Braman Daniel Reep Cory Albertson Garrett Wood
Harold Browning Shawn Calvert Dale Hughes Zealand Shouse
Henry Nanez Jared Snyder Orville Gross Taylor Hurd
Eugene Walker Nathan Humbert Jesse Naputi Jared Casias
Andrew Bergquist Bradley Campbell Daniel Werho Robert Ibarra
Kevin Lawistowski Corey Kesty Kinyada Colbert
Mark Axtell Joseph Lancaster Chase Roe
Benjamin Schouwerwou Corey Konieczko Michael Holenchick
Ronald Scheuren Kristopher Dendtler Manuel Reyes
Travis Gordon Aaron Young Jennifer Gonzalez
Mario Nunez Scott Newhart Asaad Brown
Page 14
15. Knighthawk News
Brigade Soldier Spotlight—SPC Leonardo Sanchez
Soldier Spotlight is on SPC Leonardo Sanchez,
a vehicle mechanic with E Company, 2nd Battalion,
10th Aviation Regiment, Task Force Knighthawk.
Despite the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade's aviation mission, there remains a real need for ground vehicles
which are used by aviation support staff such as Downed Aircraft Recovery Teams, fuel and armament spe-
cialists, maintainers, logistics, and food specialists. Each battalion has a platoon of ground vehicle mechanics.
Sanchez, a native of the Dominican Republic, has been in the Army for 20 months. He entered the Army with
an electrical engineering degree from the DR and hopes to improve his English so he can one day use his de-
gree in the U.S. He would like to one day attend Officers Candidate School.
His favorite part of being a mechanic is actually working on truck. His least favorite part is paperwork and all
the abbreviations the Army uses.
"For example, why do we say 'LMTV' when we could simply say 'truck'," asked Sanchez.
When he's not working, Sanchez says he likes to read books which help him improve his English. He looks
forward to reading novels in English eventually.
Living in the North Country is perfect for Sanchez since he has family who live in Canada and New York City.
"You can raise your family here," Sanchez said. "I could live here forever."
Page 15
16. Knighthawk News
Lil Knighthawks
Your new baby will bring you joy;
Your hearts will swell with love and pleasure;
Congratulations to both of you
And a welcome to your little treasure.
Vivianna Grace Perez, born 14 Jan
Anna Reed born 13 March
Colton Andrew Reed, born 26 Mar
Charles Jeffrey Shouse, born 7April
Harmony Pace, born 22 May
Khaleesi Denise Averett, born 4 July
Savonn Roman Vanderpool, born 28 June
Nathaniel Nunez, born 4 June
Page 16
17. 19912 MSR Tampa
Fort Drum NY 13619
315-774-1373
315-405-6783
Kelley.arnold@us.army.mil What does it take to be
a 10th Mountain
Division Warrior?
Peter Wayner, from
Syracuse visited the
10th CAB's Pathfinder
company to find out
TF Knighthawk for himself
Government Organization
Free-lance journalist particpates in Pathfinders battle-focused physical training
Peter Wayner, a free-lance journalist from Syracuse visited F Company, Pathfinders, 2nd Battalion, 10th Aviation Regi-
ment, Task Force Knighthawks, July 24, to experience battle-focused physical training. Wayner is researching what it
takes to be a 10th Mountain Division Soldier.
