Page 2 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, August 2020

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Community
High Desert Warrior August 2020
www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin
WHO WE ARE
Brig. Gen. David Lesperance
Commanding General
Command Sgt. Maj. William Justice
Post CSM
Col. Jeanette Martin
Garrison Commander
Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fedorisin
Garrison CSM
Darryl Darden
Public Affairs Director
High Desert Warrior Staff
Janell J. Lewis Ford, Editor (760) 380-3450
Jason Miller, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-3073
Renita Wickes, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-3078
David Dupree, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-8917
Casey Slusser, Staff Writer/Photographer (760) 380-3076
Aerotech News Emma Uribe, Graphic Designer
HIGH DESERT WARRIOR
High Desert Warrior, a civilian enterprise newspaper, is an authorized publication for members of the United States Army and Fort Irwin community. Contents of this newspaper are not necessarily official view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Army or Fort Irwin and the National Training Center. High Desert Warrior is prepared weekly by the Public Affairs Office, National Training Center and Fort Irwin, P.O. Box 105067, Fort Irwin, CA, 92310-5067. Telephone: 380-4511 or DSN 470-4511. FAX: 380-3075.
High Desert Warrior is a digital publication, distributed monthly on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HighDesertWarrior/ as well as emailed to base personnel It is produced at Aerotech News and Review, 220 East Avenue K-4 Suite 7, Lancaster, CA 93535, (661) 945-5634.
Aerotech News and Review is a private firm in no way connected with the Department of the Army and is responsible for the commercial advertising found in this publication. Everything advertised in this publication will be made available for purchase, use or patronage without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national orientation, age, marital status, physical handicap or political affiliation of the purchaser, user or patron. A confirmed violation of this policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in refusal to print advertising from that source. The appearance of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products or services advertised.
Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288, www.aerotechnews.com.
NEWSPAPER AWARDS
2nd Place, 2017 U.S. Army IMCOM
Newspaper Competition — Feature Photograph
Honorable Mention, 2009 U.S. Army IMCOM-West
Newspaper Competition — Tabloid category
3rd Place, 2008 Dept. of the Army
Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Newspaper Competition — Tabloid Category
SEND US FEEDBACK
Send your questions, suggestions, or problems to: 1. Your chain of command
2. ICE (Interactive Customer Evaluation)
3. CG’s Hotline: 380-5463
SOCIAL MEDIA
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Ops Group, 358th resume Airborne Operations
By Cpt. Del Oclit
NTC Airborne Operations
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — After a long interval in training, Airborne Operations resumed at the National Training Center. The Tarantula and Spartan teams, along with Paratroopers from the 358th Civil Affairs Brigade and the 346th Theater Aerial De- livery Company, conducted airborne opera- tions spanning a total of six days.
The first three days were dedicated to Jumpmaster (JMR) and Basic Airborne Re- freshers (BAR). The Tarantula and Spartan team conducted the JMR for 11 Jumpmas- ters from three different units across southern California to receive airborne currency. The third day of training was dedicated to BAR for 47 total Paratroopers.
Over the course of two days in June, Op-
erations Group along with Marine Aerial Re- fueler Transport Squadron 352 VMGR-352 (Raider) of Marine Corps Airbase Miramar California and A/2916 Aviation Battalion (Desert Hawk) of Fort Irwin Calif. executed successful airborne operations over Greer DZ. On June 24, Operations Group and Raider executed an airborne assault exiting 32 Paratroopers, and on June 25, Opera- tions Group and Desert Hawk executed a rotary wing Airborne Operation exiting 25 Paratroopers.
On July 14, the NTC’s Operations Group, along with the 446th Air Wing from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., attempted an airborne operation over Greer DZ. Due to winds, the operation was scratched, however, Air Force crews were able to train on Semi Prepared Runway Opera-
tions (SPRO) and Engine Running On Load (ERO) and unload of cargo and personnel. The three months of coordination between Tarantula and 446th Air Wing planners al- lowed for a 2x C-17 ship concept. This was the biggest package of fixed wing support conducted on a single airborne operation with the Tarantula team in Six Years.
Rigger support was provided by the 36th QM DET TX and medical support from the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment. As always, no Airborne Operation could continue with- out the superb Ground and Air Support from NT’s Range Control and Desert G-3 Air at Bicycle Lake Army Airfield.
The next NTC Airborne Operation will be on Sept. 1 and will be supported by a C-130 from the 910th Air Wing of Youngstown Air Station Ohio.
Photo Credit: MSG Alec Appleton
Decorative crosses with American flags give honor to those who have passed away driving on Fort Irwin Road
Brianna Sheats
Contributor
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Fort Irwin Road is notorious for the number of crosses on the side of the road due to the amount of accidents that have happened since the 1980s.
As of right now, the total of crosses along the road is 57 crosses.
“Out of 57 crosses, we had four teams place and remove about 50 or so flags,” Marketing Manager for The Villages at Fort Irwin Cherry Langston said. “Some were down, and one already had one at the truck check-in.”
The causes of the accidents vary from reckless driving, intoxication and driving while fatigued according to a 2017 record “Crosses on Fort Irwin Road.”
Every year, The Housing Office and the Villages at Fort Irwin, participate in giving
back to the community by doing something out of the ordinary from a normal “work- day” in the office.
One of the managers suggested the idea of decorating the crosses for holidays to show tribute to those who had sadly departed.
This became an annual tradition at the company.
“In addition to the following staff, we had help from some of our spouses and children,” Langston said in an email.
It was decided that the crosses would be decorated with American flags for Memo- rial Day, Fourth of July and Veterans Day.
The plan was to go and place the flags on the crosses while also reporting any damaged or fallen crosses to Directorate of Public Works (DPW).
“We were unable to complete the Me- morial Day plans due to staff teleworking,” Langston said in an email. “But we plan on
Brianna Sheats, Contributor
Submitted by the Villages at Fort Irwin, Josie Jimenez and Colleen Mason.
setting them out again for Veterans Day.” Much of the staff make the daily com- mute to Fort Irwin from Barstow, Victor-
ville and Helendale areas for work.
“We thought it would be a great way to honor and remember those who unfortu- nately passed along Irwin and Fort Irwin Roads,” said Langston in an email. “And hopefully to remind those still driving of their own loved ones and to be careful on
the roads.”
For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin