The Joint U.S.-Kuwaiti Land Forces basketball team, made up of Soldiers from the 2nd ABCT and Kuwaiti forces, won the Kuwaiti Military Forces Annual Basketball Tournament. Initially, the American and Kuwaiti players did not get along and saw each other as opponents. However, after practicing together and forming bonds, they became like brothers and viewed themselves as a family. They went on to defeat the Kuwaiti Air Force team in the championship game to win the tournament. Their relationship demonstrated how partnership between militaries can develop close friendships despite different backgrounds.
1. Serving the Soldiers, Civilians and Families of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div. Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
Soldiers of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., and Kuwaiti Land Forces, both part of the Joint U.S. – Kuwaiti Land Forces basketball team dance, together after winning the Kuwaiti
Military Forces Annual Basketball Tournament at the Kuwait Sports Complex, April 29.
‘Just Us’Story and Photos by Sgt. Marcus Fichtl
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
S
gt. Corey Jones, co-captain of the U.S. – Kuwaiti Land Forces
basketball team posts up, a Kuwait Air Force player slashes
into the lane and bumps into Jones. The ref blows the whistle
calling a third foul barely into the first quarter. The KAF player sinks
his free throws and they pull within four.
Rewind to a few hours prior, Hip-hop music blasts through a
15-passenger van as it zigzags through the streets of Kuwait City.
Inside, a handful of basketball players silently roaring in confidence
as they approach the Kuwait Sports Complex one last time, for one
last game, the Kuwait Military Basketball Championship, April 28.
They aren’t just any American basketball players - they’re the
All-U.S. Army Central Champions from the 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div.,
Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
“Just us” is their motto and according to them, it’s a brotherhood.
It’s not the hype, the refs or the fans.
Jones and his team walk into the basketball stadium as Salem, Co-
Captain of the US- Kuwaiti Land Forces basketball team greets them.
He embraces and kisses Jones and the American’s on their cheeks,
the local greeting between friends in Kuwait.
The US-Kuwaiti team didn’t start with a warm embrace - it wasn’t
“just us.” It was us or them as the two sides first met just over a
month ago.
“We walk in, we’re trying to give them handshakes, and they’re on
one side of the court and we’re on the other side - it’s a middle school
dance” said Jones. “Then the coach comes in, blows his whistle and
has us do sprints for 15 minutes. He told us ‘this is our new family
now, and that we have to look out for each other.”
A week after the first practice and the new family put their trust in
Jones, he hit two three point shots to defeat the Kuwaiti Royal Guard
84-82.
See PARTNERSHIP, Page 3
2. Warhorse PridePage 2 Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
T
he sound of a crying
baby is not something
all Soldiers are used
to, especially if they have been
deployed for the last seven
months, but expecting and new
fathers of the 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf.
Div., are preparing themselves
for anything.
The brigade hosted its second
installment of Daddy Boot Camp
at the Camp Buehring Chapel in
Kuwait, May 3.
The training included an
instructional video on how to
swaddle an infant, a slideshow
on the “do’s and don’ts” of
reintegrating back into family
life and situational based
questions.
“It’s designed to teach a lot
of different things to first time
fathers or expecting fathers,” said
Maj. Cori Etheridge, behavior
health officer, 2nd ABCT. “We
look at and explore the father’s
fears, apprehensions, what their
hopes and dreams are and what
type of father do they want to
be.”
Story and Photo by
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
Daddies fall in!
Maj. Cori Etheridge, right, brigade behavior health officer, 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf.
Div., speaks with current and future fathers during Daddy Boot Camp at the
Camp Buehring Chapel, Kuwait, May 3
For one first time father, the
class made him confident in the
ability to go home and play a
major role.
“I feel like I’m better now,” said
Pfc. Aric Golgart, infantryman,
Company A, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf.,
Reg., 2nd ABCT. “I’m more
prepared and I am going to
actually be able to help my wife.”
And why did leadership think
it is important to have the class
for the soon-to-be redeploying
Soldiers?
“Going home and redeploying
without having this knowledge
kind of puts (Soldiers) at a
disadvantage,” said Etheridge.
“Things are going to happen and
how did you prepare for them?
You will be aware of, and you
have an idea of how to address
the issues you are going to face
when you go home.”
Additionally, the training
focused on what it will be like
interacting with mommy once
Soldiers return home.
“We also explore the
importance of having a healthy
relationship between mom and
dad, and displaying healthy
interaction with the child
because that helps the child as
well.”
Soldiers spoke about what
part of the training stood out to
them the most.
“The class actually helped me
obtain knowledge on how to care
for a crying baby, or a baby that
couldn’t sleep very well,” said
Golgart.
Soldiers will now be well
prepared to handle multiple
situations they may come across
once they arrive home.
“Now that they have this
knowledge and the expectations
of what these changes are,
they are able to adapt better to
these changes,” said Etheridge.
“It’s preparing them for those
types of changes in that home
environment.”
The brigade plans to continue
the classes through the end of
the deployment as needed for the
new fathers
Top NCO, Soldier crowned
Sgt. Tyree
Kitchen,
generator
mechanic,
Company B, 204th
BSB, 2nd ABCT,
receives the Army
Commendation
Medal for winning
the brigade
NCO of the Year
Competition on
Camp Buehring,
May 1.
Spc. Elizabeth
Laskey,
intelligence
analyst, Company
A, 2nd STB, 2nd
ABCT, receives
the Army
Commendation
Medal for winning
the brigade
NCO of the Year
Competition on
Camp Buehring,
May 1.
Photos by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
3. Warhorse PridePage 3 Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
“It’s been like that ever since – family,”
Jones said.
But this isn’t the first game, this is the
championship.
The game looks like it might get out of
hand any minute with Jones on the bench
and the other American’s starting to get into
foul trouble. What started as a 15-point lead
quickly turned into three.
But the Kuwaiti half of the team picked
up the slack as Salem makes a key stop and
follows up with and easy layup. The KAF’s
run ends.
Now with the lead secure, the teammates
prove they can rely on each other.
“The Kuwaitis know the game and they
shoot lights out,” said Jones.
“Not only are they skilled, they use the
same lingo you would find on the courts in
the US,” said Jones.
“Salem says a lot of ‘boom shakka-lakka,’
or ‘its money time,’ when he’s about to dunk,”
said Jones.
Its midway through the third quarter, the
US-KLF team maintains a slight lead when,
Sgt. Nathaniel “Slim” Prigian fakes out a
defender, and with a clear shot of the basket,
Slim slams the ball down, “its money time.”
The fans chant “Slim, Slim, Slim,” as Jones
and the rest of the bench go wild.
The KAF never came back.
With a trophy in hand, the month-long
partnership reached its peak, but a lifetime of
brotherhood began.
from PARTNERSHIP, Page 1
Soldiers of 2nd ABCT, 4th Inf. Div., and Kuwaiti Land Forces, both part of the Joint U.S.-Kuwaiti Land
Forces Team, put their hands together as they prepare to play the Kuwaiti Military Forces Annual
Basketball Tournament at the Kuwait Sports Complex, April 29.
“We came together,” said Jones. “They
have different cultures and backgrounds, but
all we want to do was win a championship.
I thought it was about basketball that first
practice when we ran sprints up and down
the court, but it’s not about basketball
anymore to me, it’s about love, we’re
brothers, we’re family.”
Salem agreed.
“The Americans are our friends and
they help us everywhere and anywhere,”
said Salem. He continued as he pointed to
himself, “They have a brother here, they
have a family; we love the guys.”
“Just us,” a brotherhood, a Kuwaiti-US
brotherhood.
The US-Kuwaiti Land Forces team
defeated the Kuwaiti Air Force Team 78-62
to win the Kuwaiti Military Basketball
Tournament.
Tip off
between the
Joint U.S.
– Kuwaiti
Land Forces
basketball
team and
Kuwaiti Air
Force starts
a game
during the
Kuwaiti
Military
Forces
Annual
Basketball
Tournament
at the
Kuwait
Sports
Complex,
April 29.
4. Soldiers round up duringTruck Rode
SoldiersofHHC,204thBSB,2ndABCT,pushanM1151EnhancedArmamentCarrierduringthe“RoughRiders”BattalionTruckRodeoonCampBuehring,Kuwait,April30.Thetruckpush,oneof
duringtheround-robincompetition,requiredSoldierstoconductaquickmaintenancecheckandpushthevehicleapproximately200meters.
Warhorse PridePage 4 Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
Photos by Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch
2nd ABCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
S
oldiers of 204th BSB, 2nd ABCT, participated in a truck
rodeo on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, April 30.
The truck rodeo, made up of three lanes, allowed Soldiers
to be tested in the areas of communications, maintenance and
medical readiness.
“It’s important for Soldiers to be well rounded because you never
know where you are going to find yourself and in what situation
you re going to find yourself,” said Sgt. Hannah Kobit, healthcare
specialist, Company C, 204th BSB. “You need to be able to adapt and
overcome any situation.”
Soldiers worked together to complete the lanes as they
received grades on time and competency.
“In situations like this when you are deployed, you need to
depend on somebody who can be your battle buddy next to you, who
is going to stick by you and help you through everything,” said Spc.
Shameen Bonnick, automated logistical specialist, Company B, 204th
BSB.
Working together allowed the Soldiers to do more than just
compete in the competition.
You are bringing everyone together,” said Bonnick, a native of
Duluth, Ga. “Everyone has to work together. It builds esprit de corps.”
Kobit, a native of Downers Grove, Ill., and instructor of the
5. eo
fthreeeventsSoldiersconducted
Warhorse PridePage 5 Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
ASoldier
assignedto
204thBSB,
2ndABCT,
pullsguard
forthe
loadingof
asimulated
casualty
duringthe
battalion’s
Truck
Rodeo
onCamp
Buehring,
Kuwait,
medical lane said the work put into the event was well worth it.
“I enjoy setting up a challenging station for Soldiers and watching
them compete,” said Kobit. “It is fun when you are able to actually see
the final product when you have been planning for so long.
Bonnick said the maintenance lane with vehicle push required the
most work, but also stood out as the best event that motivated her
most.
“Seeing their battle buddies push and saying, hey, I can do this
too!”
This will be the last truck rodeo the “Rough Riders” participate in
as they are redeploying to Fort Carson, Colo. later this summer.
Soldiersof
204thBSB,
2ndABCT,
construct
anOE-254
Antenna
duringthe
“Rough
Riders”
Battalion
Truck
Rodeo
onCamp
Buehring,
Kuwait,
April30.The
truckrodeo
allowed
Soldiersto
learnbasic
skillsinjob
specialties
assigned
toother
Soldiers
through
outthe
battalion.
Spc.ShameenBonnick,automatedlogisticalspecialist,CompanyB,204thBSB,2ndABCT,
lowcrawlswhiletransportingasimulatedcasualtyduringamedicaltrainingaspartofthe
204thBSBTruckRodeoonCampBuehring,Kuwait,April30.
Spc.CotyLockhart,humanresourcespecialist,HHC,204thBSB,2ndABCT,gritshisteethas
hepushesanM1151EnhancedArmamentCarrierduringthe“RoughRiders”BattalionTruck
RodeoonCampBuehring,Kuwait,April30.
6. Warhorse PridePage 6 Vol. 2, Issue 9 April 25, 2014
New NCOs inducted
Noncommissioned Officers of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., 2nd ABCT, pose with Command Sgt. Maj. Dennis Bellinger, center, senior enlisted leader, 1st Bn., 67th Armor
Reg., after an NCO Induction Ceremony at the Gateway Theater on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 7.
Soldiers of 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., 2nd ABCT, recite the Soldiers Request, which asks their
Noncommissioned Officer to lead, train, and care for them, during an NCO Induction Ceremony at the
Gateway Theater on Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 7.
Sgt Ryan Gulfoil, newly promoted noncommisioned
officer, 1st Bn., 67th Armor Reg., passes under an
archway, symbolizing becoming an NCO at an
Induction Ceremony, on Camp Buehring, Kuwait
May 7.
7. Warhorse PridePage 7 Vol. 2, Issue 10 May 9, 2014
Shots across the AO
The Warhorse Pride is produced in the interest of the
Soldiers of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team,
4th Infantry Division. The Warhorse Pide is an Army-
funded news-letter authorized under provision of AR
360-1.
Contents of the Warhorse Pride are not necessarily
the view of, nor endorsed by the U.S. government,
Department of Defense, Department of the Army
or the 4th Infantry Division. All editorial content of
The Warhorse Pride is prepared, edited, provided and
approved by the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team
Public Affairs Office.
The Warhorse Pride welcomes articles, commentary
and photos from readers. The Warhorse Pride
reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the
publication.
All issues of The Warhorse Pride can be viewed
online from your home computer at www.facebook.
com/2bct4id
Submissions should be e-mailed to the editor:
andrew.a.porch.mil@mail.mil
Col. Omar Jones IV......................2nd ABCT Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Lehtonen 2nd ABCT CSM
Maj. Chris Maestas.................................................PAO OIC
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch..................................PAO NCOIC
Sgt. Marcus Fichtl...............................Layout and Design
Staff Sgt. Andrew Porch............................................Editor
Warhorse Pride
Soldiers assigned to HHC, 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Reg., pose in front of a “T-Wall” after
finishing painting a mural, May 6.
Newly promoted Noncommissioned Officers assigned to 1st Sqdn., 10th Cavalry
Reg., attend a three-day Team Leaders Course on Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, April
22-24.
Soldiers assigned to Company G, 3rd Bn., 16th FAR, stretch prior to participating
in a Cinco de Mayo Run at the Kuwaiti Naval Base, May 5.
SoldiersassignedtoBatteryA,3rdBn.,16thFAR,makearoutinesecuritystopwhilepulling
guardatKuwaitiNavalBase,May5.
Courtesy photo
Courtesy Photo
Courtesy Photo
Photo by: Sgt. Marcus Fichtl, 2nd ABCT PAO
Courtesy photo
9. Better Opportunities for Single SoldiersPage 9 Vol. 2, Issue 9 April 25, 2014
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