Page 2 - Fort Irwin High Desert Warrior, September 2021

2 High Desert Warrior www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin www.aerotechnews.com/ntcfortirwin High Desert Warrior 3
September 2021
September 2021
Community WHO WE ARE Community

Brig. Gen. Curtis Taylor
Commanding General
The message from Commanding General Command Sgt. Maj. William Justice Biography of General Robert W. Cone
Post CSM
Col. Jason A. Clarke
anks you for being here and celebrat- Garrison Commander
ing this important milestone as we mark the Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fedorisin By Kenneth Drylie
conclusion of the 400th rotation here at the Garrison CSM
National Training Center. Robert W. Cone Heritage Center Curator
From our rst rotation in 1981 this instal- Renita Wickes “Take it from a man who has been from the bottom of the valley to the top of the mountain, the
lation has been dedicated to one solitary pur- Public A airs Interim Director journey is truly the reward. And the reward comes from all the people you will lead and in uence
pose— to win the rst ght of the next war. High Desert Warrior Sta along the way.”
We do this by serving as the nation’s Abraam Dawoud, Editor – General Robert W. Cone
premier, combat leadership laboratory— an 760-380-3303 Robert W. Cone was born on March 19, 1957 in Manchester, New Hampshire to Donald
intense crucible where every Soldier who has Jason Miller, Sta Writer/Photographer and Marie Cone. Upon graduating from Memorial High School in 1975 he started his leader-
had the privilege to lead here has left this (760) 380-3073 ship journey by joining the “thin grey line” at the United States Military Academy at West Point.
place better able to cope with the immense David Dupree, Sta Writer/Photographer Second Lt. Robert Cone graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1979 with a
challenge of sustained combat operations. (760) 380-8917 Bachelor of Science and entered the US Army as an Armor O cer. Following the completion of
Our Army’s consistent success at the Casey Slusser, Sta Writer/Photographer the Armor O cer Basic Course, he reported to the 2nd Armored Division at Fort Hood, Texas,
tactical and operational level rst in Kuwait, (760) 380-3076 where he served as a Platoon Leader and Troop Executive O cer in the 2nd Squadron, 1st Cavalry
then in Bosnia, then Afghanistan and Iraq PVT James Newsome, Contributor Regiment. In October of 1981, 1st Lt. Cone was selected to serve as the Aide-de-Camp to the 2nd
were directly related to our decision here at Aerotech News Armored Division’s Assistant Division Commander. He then served as the Battalion Maintenance
the NTC 41 years ago to create the most Emma Uribe, Graphic Designer O cer, Combat Service Support Company Commander, and Tank Company Commander for
realistic combat training environment that Company D, 1st Battalion, 67th Armored Regiment.
the world has ever seen. Capt. Robert Cone left Fort Hood in 1985 to attend the Infantry Advanced Course at Fort
Even today, as our hearts break to watch HIGH DESERT WARRIOR Benning, Georgia and then traveled to Austin, Texas to obtain a Master of Arts degree from the
Afghan mothers handing their babies over High Desert Warrior, a civilian enterprise newspaper, is an University of Texas. On July 6, 1985, while studying for his graduate degree, he married Jill Cone.
the fence to American soldiers in Kabul, we authorized publication for members of the United States e Cone Family moved to the United States Military Academy at West Point, where CPT Cone
Army and Fort Irwin community. Contents of this newspaper
can take hope. It is the enormous con dence are not necessarily o cial view of, or endorsed by, the U.S. served as an Instructor and Assistant Professor in the Department of Behavioral Sciences and
and trust that the world has in the American Government, Department of Defense, Department of the Leadership. CPT Robert Cone was selected for promotion to Major and attended the United
Army or Fort Irwin and the National Training Center. High
Soldier to bring order to chaos in the world’s Desert Warrior is prepared weekly by the Public A airs O ce, States Army Command and General Sta College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, where he entered
darkest corners that rea rms our place as the National Training Center and Fort Irwin, P.O. Box 105067, the Field Grade ranks in October of 1990.
Fort Irwin, CA, 92310-5067. Telephone: 380-4511 or DSN
nest Army in the world. 470-4511. FAX: 380-3075. Maj. Robert Cone reported to the 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment (Blackhorse) at Fulda,
at con dence is borne out of tough, High Desert Warrior is a digital publication, distributed monthly Germany in June of 1991 to serve as the Operations O cer for the 2nd Squadron. Here, he
realistic training that starts right here at the on Facebook, www.facebook.com/HighDesertWarrior/ as would deploy to Kuwait in support of Operation Desert Storm. Later that year, he transitioned to
well as emailed to base personnel It is produced at Aerotech
National Training Center. News and Review, (661) 945-5634. serve at the Regimental level, rst as the Operations O cer and then as the Regimental Executive
As the character of warfare has evolved Aerotech News and Review is a private rm in no way O cer. He left the Blackhorse Regiment in the spring of 1994 and traveled to Fort Bliss, Texas.
connected with the Department of the Army and is
over the last 41 years so has the NTC. One responsible for the commercial advertising found in this MAJ Robert Cone served as the Regimental Executive O cer for 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
of those critical phases of our evolution was publication. Everything advertised in this publication will (Brave Ri es) through the fall of 1994, during this assignment he was selected for promotion to
be made available for purchase, use or patronage without
in 2004 as a conventional ght in Iraq rapidly regard to race, color, religion, sex, national orientation, age, Lieutenant Colonel.
metastasized into a full- edged insurgency. marital status, physical handicap or political a liation of Lt. Col. Robert Cone assumed command of the 1st Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment
the purchaser, user or patron. A con rmed violation of this
Fortunately that same year, the Army policy of equal opportunity by an advertiser will result in in October 1994. He commanded the 1st Squadron for over two years before transitioning to serve
selected Gen. Bob Cone to be the 15th Com- refusal to print advertising from that source. The appearance as the Special Assistant to the Commanding General of Fort Carson, Colorado. Following this
of advertisements in this publication does not constitute an
manding General of the National Training endorsement by the Department of the Army of the products broadening assignment, he reported to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in 1997.
Center. or services advertised. Lt. Col. Robert Cone returned to Fort Hood, Texas, to serve as the Division Operations Of-
Printed by Aerotech News and Review, Inc. (877) 247-9288,
General Cone had just served as the Di- ultimately broke the back of the insurgency. Rodney, Cisco, Todd and Cindy who have www.aerotechnews.com. cer for the 4th Infantry Division (Mechanized). He was selected to assume command of the
rector of the Joint Lessons Learned Collec- It is tting that we dedicate this heritage worked for months to put this together. 2nd Brigade in 1998, approximately 12 months prior to his promotion to Colonel. Col. Robert
tion Team. ere, his mission was to identify center to General Cone and his legacy which I’d also like to thank the soldiers from NEWSPAPER AWARDS Cone deployed his brigade to South Korea to participate in Exercise Foal Eagle in 1999 and then
lessons learned at the tactical and operational has been so intertwined with the history of 916th, Operations Group, and 11th ACR 2nd Place, 2017 U.S. Army IMCOM in support of the Army’s Division Capstone Exercise in 2001. Virginia. It was at Fort Monroe, where Maj. Gen. Cone was promoted to Lieutenant General.
level in both Iraq and Afghanistan. the NTC. who invested so much into building quality Newspaper Competition — Feature Photograph Col. Robert Cone moved to Alexandria, Virginia in July of 2001 to assume responsibility as Lt. Gen. Robert Cone assumed command of III Corps at Fort Hood, Texas in September
With this experience, he led a transforma- We are fortunate to have Jill Cone with displays to record their history. Honorable Mention, 2009 U.S. Army IMCOM-West the Director of the Joint Advanced War ghting Program, Institute for Defense Analysis, where of 2009. He deployed the III Corps Headquarters to Iraq in March of 2010, where he assumed
tion across his 33-month tenure as Lead 06 us; she has been the consummate Army Finally, I’d like to thank Jill again for Newspaper Competition — Tabloid category he developed joint force concepts and experiments. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi the role as the Deputy Commanding General for Operations of United States Forces – Iraq
from a focus on large-scale combat opera- spouse and better half of Team Cone for allowing us to take a U-haul’s worth of your 3rd Place, 2008 Dept. of the Army Freedom in 2003 as the Director of the United States Joint Forces Command (JFCOM) Joint (USFI). As the DCG-O for USFI he synchronized operations across the Iraqi theater, including
tions to counter-insurgency. more than 30 years. husband’s history from your home and pre- Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Lessons Learned Collection Team. His work led to the establishment of the Joint Center for the transition from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn. During this transition,
- He deployed Observers into theater Jill — there are many here on this post serve it here in this great facility. Newspaper Competition — Tabloid Category Operation Analysis at JFCOM at Su olk, Virginia where he would later serve as the Director in he oversaw the largest single movement of military personnel and equipment since World War
to capture lessons learned so they could be with fond memories of you and your hus- e NTC continues to adapt with the SEND US FEEDBACK the rank of Brigadier General. II. He redeployed III Corps to Fort Hood in April of 2011; when he became the United States
adapted to our scenarios. band because of your love for and dedication changing character of warfare. Send your questions, suggestions, or problems to: Brig. Gen. Robert Cone assumed command of the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Army’s 201st Four-Star General.
- He accelerated construction on 14 ur- to this community. Our focus today is on large scale combat 1. Your chain of command Irwin, California in September of 2004. He commanded the National Training Center and Fort Gen. Robert Cone assumed command of TRADOC in April of 2011, and four months later
ban sites across the box which now number is Heritage Center has been signi cant with near-peer adversaries in the most com- 2. ICE (Interactive Customer Evaluation) Irwin for 33-months, at the time, making him the longest serving commanding general since the was diagnosed with cancer. Gen. Robert Cone commanded with dignity and honor until 2014,
3. CG’s Hotline: 380-5463
over 1,200 separate buildings to replicate investment for many of the folks here and I plex environments imaginable. NTC’s inception in 1979. Brig. Gen. Cone pioneered the establishment of the Joint Center of
complex, urban terrain. want to take a minute to thank just a few of We are adapting to a world where cyber SOCIAL MEDIA Operational Excellence to train the defeat of improvised explosive devices, resulting in countless when he retired from the United States Army to spend the remainder of his days with his loving
- He hired role players to provide both a those who made this possible. reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and lethal Instagram: @ntcfortirwin lives saved. He left the NTC in June of 2007 to assume command of the Combined Security wife, Jill.
language barrier and a complex social and First, I’d like to thank retired Col. Bill drones are an ever present threat. Facebook (NTC/Ft Irwin): @ntcFortIrwin Transition Command – Afghanistan (CSTC-A); in August of 2007 BG Robert Cone was pro- Gen. Robert Cone and Jill retired to Shawano, Wisconsin, where they continued to travel to
political dynamic to each combat scenario. Wilson our rst OPFOR commander from Our goal now is now di erent than it was Facebook (Public A airs): @FtIrwin moted to Major General. spend time with family and friends. Robert W. Cone succumbed to his illness on Sept. 19, 2016,
- Most importantly, he educated our back in 1986. on that rst rotation back in 1981— to build Twitter: @NTC_Update Maj. Gen. Robert Cone commanded the CSTC-A for 18-months and focused his e orts on and was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery on Dec. 9, 2016. His grave is marked by a tra-
trainers and our Army on the best practices of Bill has done more than probably anyone the discipline and habits that will allow our developing the Afghan National Army (ANA) and Police (ANP); expanding the ANA’s strength ditional tombstone, with four-stars, a cross, and his original philosophy, “Leadership is a privilege.”
counter-insurgency e orts across the world. I know to record and preserve the history of soldiers to win the rst ght of the next war. from 50,000 to 80,000 troops. Maj. Gen. Cone also took aim at the ANP, implementing policy “…leading America’s sons and daughters in combat is a privilege, the highest privilege we can
- It was here, at the NTC, where the this great training center. As we prepare for the future, it is impor- reforms to address corruption and improve the police force’s readiness and competence. He rede- bestow in our profession. I think if you treat every day like your job is a privilege – like leading people,
conditions were set and the foundation Second is our Curator, Mr. Ken Drylie tant for us to remember our past and this ployed from Afghanistan to brie y serve as the Special Assistant to Chief of Sta of the Army in late like dealing with their problems is a privilege, as opposed to some kind of a burden – you are going to
laid for what we now know today as the along with all of the folks at G3 Training Heritage Center will enable us to do just that. 2008. In 2009, MG Robert Cone was selected to serve as the Special Assistant to the Commanding have a great career.”
Sunni awakening and the surge in Iraq that Support Je Loper, Kevin Teal, Trish, Robert, Lead-Train- Win! General of the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, – General Robert W. Cone.

For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin For more information go to home.army.mil/irwin