Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, May 2022

Volume 18, Number 5 Published in the interest of the National Training Center and Fort Irwin community • home.army.mil/Irwin May 2022
Weed ACH hosts 2nd annual Baby Expo
Blackhorse mounted Troopers uphold tradition at Regional Cavalry Competition
Spc. Juan Renteria, Horse Detachment, Regimental Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, rides Tank as he jumps over a hurdle on the Fort Concho Parade Field, Fort Concho, San Angelo, Texas, on April 21, 2022. Jumping greatly contributes to mobility, one of the cavalry’s greatest strengths. (Photo by Spc. Gower Liu)
By Kimberly Hackbarth
Weed Army Community Hospital
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Petty Officer 2nd Class Luis Aguilar, a Navy Reserve Sailor and a contrac- tor on Fort Irwin, and his wife, Barbie, said they were unsure what to expect for a birthing experience when they enrolled at Weed Army Community Hospital recently.
After watching multiple online videos of parents sharing hospital horror stories from other facili- ties, Barbie said she was preparing herself for the worst.
However, after attending Weed ACH’s Baby Expo April 9, here, the first-time parents said they found peace of mind in their deci- sion to enroll.
“Coming here...it’s actually really nice, really helpful, and overall I’m really happy we’re here,” Luis said.
Capt. Regina Manges, a labor and delivery nurse and the officer in charge of the event, said the goal was to bring awareness to families about the resources avail- able for pregnant beneficiaries and new parents at Fort Irwin.
“Right now we have over 200 pregnant moms and we have a lot of Soldiers and family members that [permanent change of sta- tion] in and out of here,” Manges said. “A lot of these are first time moms and first duty stations and they don’t even know what’s avail-
Spc. Logan Justice (center), a practical nursing specialist with Weed Army Community Hospital, gives a tour of a labor and delivery room April 9 during the Baby Expo at Weed ACH on Fort Irwin, Calif. During the event, Fort Irwin family members had the opportunity to tour the unit and ask questions. (Photo by Kimberly Hackbarth / Weed ACH Public Affairs Office)
Sgt. Cole Wheeler (center), a Soldier with 2nd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, and his spouse, Justine, visit a table at the Baby Expo April 9 at Weed Army Community Hospital on Fort Irwin, Calif. More than
100 people attended the event. (Photo by Kimberly Hackbarth / Weed ACH Public Affairs Office)
Story by Spc. Gower Liu
11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
Horse Detachment, Regimental Headquar- ters and Headquarters Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (11th ACR), brought 11 riders and three ground crew to the Regional Cavalry Competition, held by the United States Cavalry Association and hosted at Fort
Concho, Texas, from April 20 to 24, 2022. This competition is one of few chances to receive outside feedback on performance prior to the National Cavalry Competition at Fort Reno, Oklahoma, in September. The train-up will enable the necessary experience to bring the General Casimir Pulaski trophy back to Fort Irwin for a fourth straight year.
See BLACKHOURSE, Page 7
See BABY EXPO, Page 2 Secretary of the Army visits the
National Training Center and Fort Irwin
Story by Casey Slusser
NTC/ Fort Irwin Public Affairs
Fort Irwin, Calif. — On April 5, almost 100 Soldiers and civilians were recognized for their outstanding volunteer service across the National Training Center and Fort Irwin. During the 2021 fis- cal year, volunteers invested nearly $300,000 to the Fort Irwin and Greater High Desert community.
The theme of this year’s vol- unteer recognition ceremony was, “Honoring Our Desert Heroes.”
Brig. Gen Curt Taylor an- nounced the start of a new tradition here in the Desert with the declaration of the “The order of the Joshua Tree Award.”
“The order of the Joshua
Volunteers of Fort Irwin—Desert Heroes
Story by Abe Dawoud
NTC/ Fort Irwin Public Affairs
FORT IRWIN, Calif. — Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth visited the National Training Center and Fort Irwin on April 11-12 to observe firsthand the NTC’s role of training Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs) for combat op- erations anywhere in the world. This visit marked the Secretary’s first to the NTC and Fort Irwin.
Tree, will be awarded to the volunteers that are critical to the life blood her at the NTC. If you know anything about a Joshua Tree, it has deep roots, that prevent erosion, and if there is anything that symbol- izes what our volunteers do for us, it’s the Joshua Tree,” Taylor said, “They keep us all together and help us weather the hard
times. As we’ve seen with COVID it was our volunteers that got us through—These volunteers are a part of the life blood of this installation Critical to the success to our community”
Taylor said that the Joshua Tree is a majestic part of the Mojave Desert and compared
See VOLUNTEERS, Page 8
See ARMY, Page 6