October 2013 - bragg.army.mil

October 2013 Viper FRG Newsletter

Special Points “TOUGH, PROUD, and DISCIPLINED”
of Interest:
Trunk or Treat Battery Commander- CPT Ben Blane
29 Oct
Families, friends, and onto All American PZ
Halloween Soldiers of the Viper followed by the Viper
31 Oct Battery, Physical Challenge on
Ritz-Epps Field. This
Molly Pitcher Day As this is my first event not only allowed
16 Nov newsletter as Battery Soldiers to demonstrate
Commander, I just wanted their proficiency in Warrior
Upcoming events to say what a privilege Tasks but provided an
and honor it is for my wife, opportunity for the
Viper Challenge Janice, and me to be a Soldiers across different
winners part of this great sections to work together
organization. In the short as a Team while
Volunteer time I have been here, I strengthening individual
opportunities have been absolutely resiliency though
amazed at the high physically, mentally, and
Inside this issue: standards of excellence (in some cases) months, the Soldiers of
this Team sets for itself emotionally demanding the Viper Battery have set
Welcome notes 2 and continues to achieve. events. Overall, the the example for
Chaplin’s Vipers’ performance professional conduct on
In September, during this event was and off duty. I wanted to
Corner/Dates to Soldiers from every extremely impressive and thank each of you as,
section competed in the you all should be truly without a doubt, your
remember 3 annual “Viper Challenge.” proud of your Soldiers. support of these Soldiers
The competition pitted is what drives us to
Viper Challenge 4 three teams of 12 Soldiers In the upcoming achieve higher levels
against one another months, we shift focus each and every day.
End Notes 5 throughout a three day from individual skills into
competition as they support of Brigade level Viper Strike!
battled for bragging rights events while maintaining
and the coveted Viper focus on Soldier and CPT Ben Blane
Cup. The event tested Family Fitness as we
Soldiers in over 100 transition into the holiday
Warrior Tasks including season. We hope to see
small unit tactics, families participate in our
marksmanship, land Trunk-or-Treat event for
navigation, media Halloween as well as the
engagement, and annual Christmas party as
proficiency in first aid they are guaranteed to be
skills. On day three of the great events!
event, the competition
culminated with a three Over the last few
Blackhawk Air Assault

HHB FRG NEWSLETTER

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Battery First Sergeant- 1SG James Gray

Greetings Viper families, tasks. It is great to work appreciated.
among some of the best that
I hope everyone has been the Army has to offer. To all the new soldiers
enjoying a blessed year filled Continue to strive to be the and families I would like to
with family, friends, and love. best. You are doing an say welcome to the unit.
awesome job!
I would like to thank the Lastly, God bless you all
soldiers for the amazing Finally, I would like to say and thank you for what
accomplishments they have thank you to all the you do.
made over the last several volunteers, spouses, and
months. We have been very other family members that
busy and will continue to be supports the FRG with their
throughout the upcoming time, effort and participation.
months. I am proud and The families are a key aspect
appreciative of all the hard of the unit’s readiness, and
work and team spirit the efforts of our volunteers
everyone has been are what make our FRG
demonstrating in their daily effective. All that you do is

FRG Leader- Valerie Gray

Hello Viper Family, had a dunk tank, bouncy Hartzell (Treasurer),
house, giveaways, and a Danielle Heberle
My name is Valerie Gray. I magician. (Secretary), Heather
am your new FRG Leader. Highley (Key Caller),
I am looking forward to July 9th we went out to Prudence Smith (Key
serving you and learning a Pike Park and sold lunch Caller), and of course we
lot from you as well. I to our hard-working would not be able to do it
would like to thank you in soldiers. I would like to without the leadership of
advance for your help and thank each and every one CPT Blane ,1SG Gray and
support of our FRG. of those men and women our FRG Advisor Lynn
Please come out and for supporting the FRG. It Smith.
participate. If you would is greatly appreciated.
like to be a part of the I am looking forward to
FRG, please contact me Coming up on the 29th of meeting our new families
at 910-723-8764 or October we will be having at our upcoming events.
[email protected]. Your Trunk or Treat. I am sure It’s great to have you as
great ideas, selfless giving that we will be a great turn part of the Viper family.
of your time and talent, out as well as the other
and caring attitude is events you have
much appreciated and supported thus far.
desired.
December 11th will be our
On the 3rd of July we had Holiday Party right before
a BBQ. It was a great turn our hard-working soldiers
out. Thank you so much. I start their half day
would like to apologize schedule and start
again for the magician planning vacation time.
being late. The event not
only had great food I would like to thank our
cooked by our soldiers wonderful committee who
and families, but we also is helping to create these
wonderful events Amy

HHB FRG NEWSLETTER

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Chaplin’s Corner-

“The Viper Soldier and the everything in place, along light. Find joy in the Caption describing picture or
Blustery Day” comes that gust of wind. leaves piled at your front graphic.
door. Find joy in chasing
In the Disney In the book of Luke in after a blown trashcan.
classic cartoon, “Winnie the Bible, the disciples find Find joy in the rain and the
the Pooh and the Blustery themselves in the midst of puddles—you know your
Day”, Winnie the Pooh and a storm—on a very kids will! Find joy in
his friends experience a blustery day. They seek muddy boots and wet
day full of troublesome Jesus for help and “He got goulashes. During their
events, all produced by an up and rebuked the wind blustery day, Owl said,
unexpected change in the and the raging waters; the “This is just a mild spring
weather. The wind blows storm subsided, and all zephyr compared to the
in and their lives turn up- was calm. “Where is your big wind of '67. Or was it,
side down. faith?" he asked his uh, '76? Oh, well, no
disciples. In fear and matter. Oh, I remember
Have you ever had one amazement they asked the big blow well.” And
of those days? Blown one another, "Who is this? Piglet replied, “I'll
over by a storm? Tossed He commands even the remember this one, too.”
in the air by a gust of winds and the water, and Seek joy today during
wind—or a sudden change they obey him." Luke those wild days, so that
in mission? Every time we 8:24-25 (NIV) tomorrow you will
PCS, we work to unpack remember smiles and
and settle into our new This Fall season, as giggles and not just the
home. We look to varying weather fronts frustration.
establish routines and move in and days change
‘normalcy’ (whatever that from sunny, to wet and Let the wind blow!
is!). And just as soon as windy, I encourage you to
we think we have look at those blustery days .
of challenge in a positive

Dates to Remember

OCTOBER: NOVEMBER: Monday, 23 Dec

• Marriage Resiliency • Pay Day Activities: Friday, 01 Nov • Half Day Schedule: Tuesday, 24 Dec

Workshop: Tuesday, 01 Oct • Veterans Day: Friday 08 Nov – • Christmas Holiday: Wednesday, 25

(Belmont House) Monday, 11 Nov Dec

• Marriage Resiliency • Molly Pitcher Day: Saturday, 16 Half Day Schedule: Thursday, 26- Friday,

Workshop: Thursday, 03 Oct Nov (comp day TBD) 27 Dec
(Belmont House)
• DIV Family Newcomer Orientation: - Training Holiday: Saturday, 28- Monday, 30

• Pay Day Activities: Friday, 04 Wednesday, 20 Nov Dec

Oct • Thanksgiving Holiday: Thursday, - Half Day Schedule: Tuesday, 31 Dec

• Mary Walker Submissions 28 Nov – Sunday, 01 Dec

Due: Monday, 07 Oct JANUARY:

• Columbus Day: Friday, 11 DECEMBER: • New Years DONSA: Wednesday, 01

Oct – Monday, 14 Oct • Pay Day Activities: Friday, 06 Dec Jan
• DIV Family Newcomer • DIV Family Newcomer Orientation: • Back to work: Thursday, 02 Jan

Orientation: Wednesday, 16 Wednesday, 18 Dec • DIV Family Newcomer Orientation:

Oct • Christmas Holiday: [Concurrent Wednesday, 15 Jan

• Iron Mike Ceremony: Leave Period Monday, 16 Dec – • MLK Training Holiday: Friday, 17-

Tuesday, 29 Oct (1600 at the Thursday, 02 Jan] Monday, 20 Jan

Ft. Bragg Club) • Half Day Schedule: Monday, 16-

• Halloween (1500 Release): Friday, 20 Dec HHB FRG NEWSLETTER
Thursday, 31 Oct • Training Holiday: Saturday, 21-

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Viper Challenge Sept 18-20

Wi Viper Challenge Wining Team

SSG Law (S6)

SSG Heberle (S6)

SPC Johnson (S1)

SPC Lewis (FCE)

SPC Kemp (FCE)

SPC Laister (S1)

SPC Deforges (Supply)

SPC Martinez (Behavioral Health)

PFC Villarreal (S6)

PFC Estridge (FCE)

PFC Juarez (Medics)

PFC Scott (Behavioral Health)

HHB FRG NEWSLETTER

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HHB, 18th Fires BDE (ABN) Tough, Proud, and Disciplined
Viper Strike
2175 Reilly Road, Stop A
Fort Bragg, NC 28310

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/18th-Fires-Brigade-Airborne/ 127645070844

If you have suggestions to improve the FRG, or
you would like to volunteer to assist the FRG or to
assume a leadership position in the FRG, then
please contact Valerie Gray.

HHB, 18th Fires Brigade Family Readiness Group
Leader – Valerie Gray [email protected]

HHB FRG NEWSLETTER