Page 1 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, June 2021

Volume 17, Number 6 Published in the interest of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin community • home.army.mil/Irwin June 2021
No masks needed: NTC Command- Inside

ing General talks new General Order, Army’s Birthday

more possible openings in June 246 years old and still rolling
along: How NTC is celebrating
By Janell J. Lewis Ford “Never Forget:” Leaders remember the Army’s Birthday
See full story, Page 9
NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison public A airs fallen heroes on Memorial Day
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Brig. Gen. Cutis
Taylor, Commanding General of the National Courtesy of NTC Public A airs
Training Center and Fort Irwin published his
updated Yellow Hash policy on COVID-19 FORT IRWIN, Calif. — To recognize and honor
changes on June 2, announcing changes in all of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in
international travel, gym access and capacity service to this great nation, the National Training
limits on gatherings, and hinting at lowering Center and Fort Irwin community held its annual Hero Awarded
Memorial Day Commemoration as dozens of specta-
the health protection level. tors watched in person and on Facebook live.
“I’m happy to report that we have the lowest Soldier’s heroic acts earn him
case count that we have seen since the start of • International Travel requires approval of The traditional commemoration began with an honors, award. See full story, Page 4
this pandemic,” Taylor said. the CG, NTC. Unvaccinated service members invocation, remarks by NTC’s Commanding Gen-
eral, Brig. Gen. Curtis D. Taylor, patriotic music,
In his May 14 Yellow Hash General Order, returning from international leave or arriving and a gun salute. Hero Medics
Taylor indicated that masks are no longer from OCONUS PCS must observe 7 days of “This day, first observed after the Civil War, Fort Irwin medics come to the
required to be worn by fully-vaccinated De- quarantine and receive a PCR test. was originally known as Decoration Day and was rescue during cross-country
partment of Defense personnel while indoors • The Box Gym, Freedom Gym, and Memo- intended to unify a divided country,” Taylor said. ight.
or outdoors. rial Fitness Center are open to all authorized “When many of us were kids, Memorial Day was See full story, Page 3
e June 3 community live update was the users, including contractor employees, during a time to remember history and those who made Gym Reopens
Command Teams’ rst Facebook Live event operating hours. Masks are required at these it. Today, Memorial Day is much more real. After New tness facility opens in
without the use of masks, per the new order. facilities for all unvaccinated personnel. nearly 20 years of continuous armed conflict, we no time to get that summer body.
is latest order also states: • All limits on the number of authorized longer have the luxury of remembering only those See full story, Page 6
See COVID, Page 4 who died long ago. Today, those heroes include our New Dental Clinic
Fort Irwin hosts annual Best Warrior Competition friends, our battle buddies, and men and women Smile wide: New DENTAC
See MEMORIAL DAY, Page 4 facility opens.
By Abe Dawoud See full story, Page 11
The National Training Center
Fort Irwin Public A airs All Done
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — e winners of Fort Ir- and Fort Irwin grants wish for Caps o to the graduating
win’s Soldier and Non-Commissioned O cer of the 8-year-old boy Class of 2021: Photos from the
graduation and parade.
Year competition were announced on the NTC Fort
Irwin Facebook page livestream on May 6 during the By Janell J. Lewis Ford See full story, Page 2
annual Best Warrior Competition Award Ceremony. NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison
Public A airs
See WARRIOR, Page 11
FORT IRWIN, Calif.
Achievements, anti Asian American — The National Train-
ing Center and Fort Irwin
crimes are focus of AAPI observance made a wish come true for
eight-year-old Carson Gardner, as a part of a Make-A-
By Janell J. Lewis Ford Wish® event on May 24.
Carson has a progressive condition called Duchenne’s
NTC/Fort Irwin Garrison Public A airs
Muscular Dystrophy for which there’s no known cure, and
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — e National Training Center and Fort wanted to be a soldier for a day— shadowing an Army
Irwin observed Asian American and Pacific Islander month on May 26 leader, conducting drills and riding in a military tank. Remembering Rambo
with a theme of, “Advancing leaders through purpose-driven service.” “Carson loves everything to do with the Army,” Make The Fort Irwin community
remembers Military Working
Each May, the Department of Defense pays tribute to the genera- a Wish representative, Melissa Gallager, said. “Fort Irwin Dog, Rambo.
tions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders who have enriched the David Dupree, Fort Irwin Public Affairs knocked it out of the park for Carson’s wish. Carson never
See full story, Page 5
See HERITAGE, Page 5 See WISH, Page 5

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