1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY
A publication of the 2/138th FAR March 22nd, 2013
Volume 1, Issue 22
XO’s Corner Good Farmers Make Great
Headlines since we mobilized tell the story
of an Army that is different from what Soldiers
Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Steve Tressler, 2-138th Field Arillery PAO
most of us joined. In fact, the Army and
the Kentucky Army National Guard have When you hear people
changed dramatically in a few months. The describe a US Soldier
opening of combat jobs to women (012413), you tend to hear words
announced reductions in troop levels in Afghanistan (021213), like tough, strong, and
creation of the Distinguished Warfare Medal (021313), and warrior. You don’t
the anniversary of the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell typically hear things
policy (092012) all mark significant changes in the Army. The like ‘he’s a joy to have
ultimate effects of sequestration (030213) are still unclear, but around.’ It doesn’t
a new fiscal reality is inevitable within the armed forces. sound, well, you know,
As the chaplains tell us, change makes us uncomfortable, even ‘tough’ enough.
afraid. Remember, though, our Army is still a foundational However, when leaders
institution of the United States, appearing in Article 1, Section
describe Spc. Patrick
8 and Article 2, Section 2 of our Constitution. Americans
Harris, a Harrodsburg, Ky. native, that’s what they tend to
have relied on us since 1775.
say. They say that because he always does his job, he’s always
At another time of great change, in the early 1990s as the Cold where he says he’s going to be, and he’s always doing the
War ended, General (Retired) Carl Vuono gave a presentation things he supposed to be doing.
at Fort Stewart, Georgia. When asked about the role of the
Army in that new reality, Vuono replied that the job of the According to Harris’ platoon sergeant, Sgt. 1st Class Jason
Army is to fight and win our nation’s wars. Despite profound Rhodes, a Mt. Sterling native, “He volunteers for anything
changes, it still is. and everything.”
~ Lt. Col. Steve Elliott Harris agreed, saying “Yeah, that’s true, I typically don’t
know what I’ve volunteered for either, until I’m actually
doing it.”
CSM Thoughts Why would he ask?
Greetings from the Task Force Longrifles After all, Harris grew up on a farm in Mercer County, and
Command Sgt. Major! farmers tend to be different when it comes to chores. They’re
The weeks are flying by and our departure like that popular Nike slogan, they “Just Do It.” He wasn’t
date is getting closer and closer. However, raised by parents who gave him an allowance to clean his
we still have approximately three months own room and load the dishwasher. No, he and his family
before our final group departs for home. did their chores, or they didn’t eat.
The last few months will likely be the toughest on you both Makes cleaning your room for a couple bucks from dad
mentally and physically. This is because you are thinking sound silly, huh?
more and more about getting home and secondly because the
temperature and humidity are getting worse. His typical day was waking up 2 hours before the school bus
came to feed the horses, cows, dogs, and chickens and then
To counter the complacency that sets in during the second he would get ready for school.
half of any deployment you must look out for your buddy and
watch for the warning signs. These signs could be anything For Harris, after school was not time to watch cartoons and
from people showing up late to work, not being in the proper play in the driveway either. It meant tending to the garden,
uniform, or forgetting about military customs and courtesies. checking the fence for repairs, and finding and chopping
If you notice anyone getting complacent, you must act fast firewood until dinner time and then homework and bed.
and correct it. Harris is a good young man and Soldier because he wasn’t
Keep up the great work and stay motivated! raised to beg, borrow, and steal. He was raised to believe that
~ Command Sgt. Maj. Tim Gividen you work for what you get, because nothing is free.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >

2. Good Soldiers - CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > >
Soldier to Soldier
That include his own freedom, and that’s why it made sense • April 1st is the deadline for Soldiers planning on
for Harris to earn that as well. Especially since the country
was still at war. using their State Tuition Assistance for the fall and
summer terms. To submit application, go to https://
So after his graduation from Mercer County High School he
soon found himself in basic training at Fort Knox. It wasn’t ky.ngb.army.mil/tuitionstudent/frmLogin.aspx
long before the drill sergeants, instructors, and peers began • The deadline to file taxes is April 15. If you need
to admire Harris as he continuously performed above the to file for an extension, the website to do so is
standard in everything that he was tasked with. CombatZone@irs.gov . You will need to state
Upon graduating from basic training Harris went to his that you are a Soldier deployed to Djibouti and
advanced individual training in Ft Lee, Va. There he learned qualify for combat zone tax exclusion, and you are
new skills, including his main military job as a generator
requesting an extension for filing and paying your
mechanic.
2012 federal income tax.
Upon graduation he was assigned to the 103rd BSB in
Frankfort, Ky. and his command soon realized that they had • WO2 Jody Lyddane will provide information on
something special in this young man, and he was sent to how to become a Warrant Officer in building 150,
Warrior Leader Course and Airborne School, so they could on 06 APR from 1000-1100hrs.
one day utilize him as a leader of troops.
Harris, according to all that know him, doesn’t leave his Chaplain Reflections
buddies behind to do anything by themselves. In our deployment, we are turning the
Harris thanks his mom and stepdad for that lesson. His corner for the last leg of this race; we are
work ethic and motivation to get the job done didn’t always all feeling it; the finish line is just up
come easy. As a youth, he didn’t always want to do the work ahead. This is a good time to remember
that was required. When he didn’t, his stepdad would go at that deployment is more like the 110
it alone and it was then Harris realized as he matured, that it meter hurdles race instead of a sprint.
wasn’t right to let someone else do your work for you. So he Some will remember that in the 2012
would go out and join in, and later apologize for not doing it Olympic men’s 110 meter hurdles race, Chinese runner Liu
himself. It was a lesson that stuck with him and has certainly Xiang, took a tumble on the first hurdle. In fact most falls
served him well ever since. in the 110 meter hurdles occurs at the last three hurdles.
When he returns from his deployment here in Africa, Harris Here are the reasons why:
will attend Eastern Kentucky University to major in criminal 1. It requires tremendous physical and mental stamina
psychology. to concentrate and focus on executing precision-perfect
His future success at EKU, to those who know him, is a technique over ten barriers. That’s why breakdowns in
given. And knowing Harris, it will all be well-earned too. technique often occur toward the end, sometimes leading
to falls and crashes.
Photo of the Week! 2. Besides fatigue, another reason crashes occur in the
late stages of a race is because the hurdler is more focused
either on reaching the finish line or on catching up to an
opponent rather than clearing the hurdle.
3. Finally, falling isn’t always a matter of technique or
getting in enough reps during practice. Sometimes it’s
simply a matter of confidence.
Training, preparing, and executing are vital as we complete
our last hurdles. Also, having confidence in ourselves,
each other, and God will give us the strong measure of
confidence needed to finish well. This is a vital time to be
men and women of character and integrity. Let us not give
any reason for our “team” here and at home to doubt us.
Your confidence in God will be a needed source of strength
Lt. Col. Rob Larkin smiles at his surpise birthday cake shortly after the morning Commanders
as we clear the final hurdles and finish this race.
Update Brief (CUB) on Tuesay March 19th, 2013. Photo credit: Capt. Daniel Van Horn, ~Chaplain Mark East
2-138th FA PAO
Longrifles Weekly
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