- On Thursday, 1-508 PIR promoted two officers to Captain - Derek Lyons (our lead planner) and Mark Atangan (our S3 Air).

THIS WEEK:

1-508 PIR conducted recovery operations from company live fire exercises at NTC (maintenance, railhead/container/vehicle operations). C Co remains at NTC as OPFOR under 1-11 ACR. CPT Elgin and his company truly represented 3BCT and the division, destroying over 15 Strykers and over two-plus companies of dismounted infantrymen in their first battle from the west side of Tiefort Mountain. In true LGOP fashion, BLUEFOR feedback the next day was they thought they were being attacked by a battalion of OPFOR. During the second battle as the Rear Guard, C Co destroyed four Strykers with Javelins. The third night, C Co seized "Brigade Hill" and destroyed six more Strykers, including the BLUEFOR Recon battalion commander. The 1-11 ACR command team awarded C Co the "Order of Hamby" for their decisive role as OPFOR. Overall great training for C Co, who will be able to bring back valuable lessons for the battalion to employ at JRTC.

My BN S4, future BN S4 and I attended the D-90 Conference at JRTC 9-11 May. We will incorporate the information we received from all our visits, briefs, and recons into future planning for a no-doubt successfully deployment, exercise, and redeployment.

Additionally, this week we have Paratroopers in CPOF, JCR, and Master Raven training. On Saturday, 1-508 PIR will execute an airborne operation on Sicily DZ with a total of 7 x C130 and 280 chutes.

NEXT WEEK:

1-508 PIR will have a DONSA on Monday (from Camp Lejeune), then return for Clean Sweep and preparations for All American Week and the BCT Change of Command. D Co will execute a change of command on Wednesday, with CPT Dave Quantock passing the guidon to CPT Paul Kearney.

- AIRBORNE OPERATIONS:

1-508 PIR exited 32 Paratroopers on Wednesday's Federal Eagle jump, with all Paratroopers earning their German Parachutist Badges. On Saturday, our battalion will run the 7 x C130 line with 280 Paratroopers from 1-508, 5/73 CAV, and HHBN on Sicily Drop Zone.

- LEADER DEVELOPMENT:

1-508 PIR has two Paratroopers in Ranger School (Darby Phase), with five recent PRC grads attending the next Ranger School class. We have three Paratroopers who will test the Big 4 on the next PRC Course. Additionally, we have five future Jumpmasters are on the "Needs PWAC" roster and another six in the current Jumpmaster Course.

"BUILD READY AND RESILIENT PARATROOPERS AND FAMILIES":

- HHC conducted their monthly FRG meeting on Tuesday at the Pope FRG center. Next month's FRG meeting will be at Dragon Bowling Lanes on 14 June.

- A heavy focus this week has been coordination with our Gold Star Families attending AAW this year. We currently have five families attending and have assigned sponsors to each in preparation for their arrival.

ATW,