1) Soldiers from the 2-138th Field Artillery Regiment attended the Warrior Leader Course in Djibouti, Africa with 58 out of 62 soldiers graduating. 2) Sgt. Bradley Osbourne from Danville, KY was named the Distinguished Honor Graduate. 3) The course prepares soldiers for leadership roles and is required for promotion to Staff Sergeant, though it is rarely held in Africa.

1. LONGRIFLEs WEEKLY
A publication of the 2/138th FAR April 6, 2013
Volume 1, Issue 24
CPT’s Corner Warrior Leader Course
I realize that most of you have seen in the
news senior enlisted members and officers
a Success for KYARNG
of the military being reprimanded for
inappropriate actions. And I know some of
Soldiers in Africa
Story by Staff Sgt. Steve Tressler, 2-138th FAR PAO
you have been asking, “Well if they can act
that way, then why can’t I act that way too?”
However, I want to remind you that you cannot and will not
act in that way. First off, you are better than that. Secondly
there are very many senior enlisted NCOs and Officers in
this battalion who are positive role models and have shown
you how to act correctly. Most of our senior leaders in this
battalion are good shepherds of the young flock of Soldiers
they look after and try every day to impart the knowledge
and wisdom they have acquired from their extensive military
careers and previous combat tours. I see how you emulate
these senior leaders and admire them by wanting to become
NCOs or go to OCS when we return from our deployment.
For our young enlisted Soldiers I ask that as our time grows CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - New graduates of the Warrior Leader Course wait to
receive their graduation certificates. (Photo by Capt. Chris Fitzwater)
shorter here you continue to adhere to the Army Values and
strive to do what is right both during your time on shift and CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – The heroic portrayal of
your liberty time. an individual is called hagiography. So allow the indulgence
here as we are very proud to announce that the Distinguished
Do not bring discredit upon yourself, this professional
Honor Graduate for the Warrior Leader Course (WLC) here
Artillery Regiment, or the great state of Kentucky. For our
senior enlisted NCOs and Officers I want to make very clear was from the 2-138th Field Artillery Regiment!
that your personal life is very much public and I ask that you
continue to do what is right and always know that Soldiers Every enlisted Soldier Army-wide, who wants to continue be-
watch everything you do. ing promoted and more importantly, to eventually lead Sol-
~Capt. Christopher Fitzwater diers must at some point attend WLC.
1SG Thoughts Task Force Longrifles is proud to announce that 58 out of 62
Although we have plenty left to do here Soldiers graduated from the intensive, March 2013 edition of
with our current mission, we are closing WLC, conducted here at Camp Lemmonier.
in on getting back to the states as well. To
a lot of you Soldiers that means finding WLC is usually a month-long
employment. There are several ways to get course that teaches Soldiers
started right now. Don’t wait until you are the basic skills to lead small
home to start looking for a job! groups of Soldiers. It is also a
The Kentucky National Guard has set up a website specifically course that is offered at sever-
for us here in Africa to help you find employment: http:// al locations in the US, but this
operationhiredjibouti.com/ This website will walk you is only the second time in 10
step-by-step through the job hunting process. You will be years it has been offered here.
assigned an employment-counselor that will review your The Texas National Guard and
goals and objectives, then review your current military and the Kentucky National Guard
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Sgt.
civilian skill-sets to help you find a job in your desired field. Bradley Osbourne, a Danville Ky. native, were the only organizations
Remember, ‘if you fail to plan then you plan to fail.’ Ask for was the Distinguished Honor Graduate for to make the school available
the Warrior Leader Course here at Camp
help if you need it. Also, Lt. Lowry can help you put a resume Lemonnier, Djibouti, Africa. (Photo by
to their Soldiers while here at
together. Staff Sgt. Steve Tressler 2-138th FAR PAO) Camp Lemonnier.
~1st Sgt. Ray Fortier CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 > > >

2. WARRIOR LEADER CONTINUED FROM P. 1 > > > Soldier to Soldier
The instructors said this group was a little easier to instruct • The deadline to file taxes is April 15. If you need
and train than normal. “This unit already had great cohesion
to file for an extension, the website to do so is
and it was evident that the working relationships of the Sol-
diers were already established. This made it easier for us be- CombatZone@irs.gov . You will need to state
cause we didn’t have to manage those relationships the way that you are a Soldier deployed to Djibouti and
we normally would in the US with a class full of Soldiers who qualify for combat zone tax exclusion, and you
don’t know one another” said Assistant WLC Commandant are requesting an extension for filing and paying
Master Sgt. Rick Ewert. your 2012 federal income tax. You will also need to
provide your full name, stateside address and zip
Task Force Longrifles Command Sergeant Major Timothy
Gividen pushed to get WLC brought to Africa for his Soldiers. code from the last tax return you filed with the IRS,
He said the reason behind bringing the course to the Soldiers DOB and date of deployment to combat zone area.
here, rather than waiting until they got back to the US, was • Need help filing an insurance claim for flood loss?
simple, “We (leadership) wanted to get as many young Sol- Go to http://www.jagnet5.army.mil/pclaims
diers through the course as possible.”
• Soldiers, do not forget to visit http://
WLC is not MOS (military occupational specialty) dependent; operationhiredjibouti.com/ This website is designed
every Soldier must attend if they have any desire to be to help Guardsmen find jobs upon returning from
promoted. It’s an intensive school with the primary emphasis deployment.
on leadership skills. It also prepares Soldiers to advance to the
rank of Staff Sergeant. Chaplain Reflections
Here are some life lessons I’ve learned
The Soldiers of Task Force Longrifles were able to attend this
from playing golf (oh yeah, and reading
course here in Djibouti thanks to the officers and the NCO
corps already in place within their unit. The NCOs covered the Bible):
down on the their mission so that the junior Soldiers could Focus on the Positive:
attend. On the golf course I could choose to dwell
on the shots that I missed, and the slow
The WLC Distinguished Honor Graduate, Sgt. Bradley Os-
play of the foursome in front of me. Or I
borne, is serving here with his brother and two cousins.
His father is Sgt. 1st. Class Michael Osbourne of JFHQ-KYNG could choose to dwell on the good shots, and the beautiful
(currently attached to CBWTU-IL). scenery. Both points of view would be true reflections of
my day, but which would be more beneficial? Think of
His uncle, Francis Osbourne, is a retired Officer and Sgt. Maj. Paul’s words, and don’t spend your time dwelling on the
who served multiple tours. He is also someone the story au- negative:
thor here (‘yours truly’) admires very much. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix
your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right,
and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things
that are excellent and worthy of praise. – Philippians 4:8
Focus on Your Purpose:
While on the golf course my purpose was to hit the ball
toward the next hole. I only hit the ball well when I focused
on the task at hand. When my mind wanders so does my
shot. My focus didn’t guarantee success, but it makes it
possible. Are you giving your all to the task at hand right
here, right now? If not, stop identify your goal, focus on the
task at hand and give it your best shot.
Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were
working for the Lord rather than for people. - Colossians
CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Sgt. Alexa Becerra, a Versailles, Ky. native, and one of 3:23
the six nominees for Distinguished Honor Graduate, prepares to receive her graduation
certificate. Following close behind are WLC graduates Spc. Brandon Bell and Sgt. Travis ~Chaplain Mark Slaughter
Berthold. (Photo by Capt. Chris Fitzwater)
Longrifles Weekly
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