OFFLINE

ATSH-TBT-D-D                                                                                             01 May 2011

Dear Parent, Relative, or Spouse                                                                              

            On behalf of the Cadre of Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 50th Infantry, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you to the Army family and tell you about the training your Soldier is undergoing to become a member of one of the most respected professions in the world, the Profession of Arms.
            As your Soldier may have already told you, his stay here will be filled with many challenges.  Our nation depends on this unit to develop the world’s finest Infantrymen to serve in its defense.  Keeping this in mind, my Drill Sergeants, First Sergeant, Cadre, and I are completely dedicated to training and assisting every Soldier to reach his full potential.  Those that make it will leave here a United States Army Infantryman who can fight and win, anywhere in the world, on today’s modern battlefield.
            Becoming an Infantryman is hard work.  Your Soldier’s training is extremely challenging physically, mentally, and emotionally. Before he graduates, he will walk over 100 total miles with full combat gear and pack, conduct Physical Training at least six times per week, and employ a full array of weapon systems ranging from his M4 rifle and hand grenades to the M240B machine gun and anti-tank weapons.  He will spend over 40 hours of training in hand-to-hand and close combat fighting techniques, as well as hundreds of hours on other Soldier skills.  His training here will culminate with a 6 day Field Training Exercise where he will combine everything he has learned into one major training event.
            Your emotional support and encouragement will be extremely helpful to your Soldier.  Most Soldiers will experience some difficulty while they are here that will require support from friends and family. Phone calls will be limited because of the busy training schedule but letter writing is encouraged. Please write your Soldier as often as you wish. He needs your support. Keep in mind that mail sent within one week prior to graduation may take some time reaching him, as it will be forwarded to his next duty station.  Please do not mail any contraband items, which include candy, alcohol, tobacco products, pornography, and electrical devices such as cellular phones.  In the event of a family emergency that requires notifying your Soldier, please contact your local chapter of the American Red Cross who will then contact myself, so that we can work together to resolve the situation.
Pending successful completion of all training requirements and no disciplinary action on your Soldier, he will be eligible for a pass from on 9 July 2011 for his 36-hour mid-cycle pass.  You can come to Sand Hill on that day and pick up your Soldier following our drill and ceremony competition at Pomeroy Field.  Your Soldier will be on pass until the following Sunday evening, 10 July 2011, at 2000.  Another pass will be given to your Soldier the day prior to graduation after his Turning Blue ceremony.  During both of these passes, you will be given the opportunity to spend time with your Soldier in the Columbus or Fort Benning area.


Listed below are the events scheduled for your Soldier during this cycle.  Please keep this letter to keep track of important dates, times, and locations, and if any updates are necessary, we will inform you immediately.

Date                      Time                                    Event                                     Location
06 May 2011       1000     Soldier arrives to D/1-50 for training        Delta Company Area
09 July 2011        0800     Trainee Mid-Cycle Pass/D n C Competition    Pomeroy Field
11 August 2011    0800                           Family Brief                      Pomeroy Field
11 August 2011    0830  Turning Blue Ceremony – Followed by a Pass    Pomeroy Field
12 August 2011    0900                           Graduation             National Infantry Museum

Anyone is welcome to attend any or all of these events.  Again, all passes are subject to approval or disapproval by the chain of command, and these passes are normally disapproved for disciplinary action.  Following the Graduation Ceremony, your Soldier will be released to either leave with family or board transportation to his next duty station.
Do not worry about not knowing where each location is if you have not visited Sand Hill before.  Several signs and guides will be positioned throughout Sand Hill to guide you to the location.  All you need to know is that your Soldier is with Delta Company 1st Battalion 50th Infantry Regiment (D Co., 1-50).  Our company is a part of Task Force 2-330 Infantry in Verdun Barracks on Sand Hill (the first main barracks buildings you will see on your right as you come in to Sand Hill).  Company and Battalion T-Shirts, coffee mugs, and other memorabilia will be on sale prior to the mid-cycle and Turning Blue pass.
Enclosed you will find a map of the Sand Hill area of Fort Benning along with directions to the National Infantry Museum for the Graduation Ceremony.  This will assist you in finding Delta Company, 1-50th Infantry.  Please note that Delta Company, 1-50 Infantry is currently organized under 2nd  Battalion, 330th Infantry, so our physical location is with the 2-330 battalion despite our name being 1-50.  The post Guest Housing Office will also help you obtain lodging should you need their assistance.  They can be reached at (706) 689-0067, ext. 4701.
            If you decide to join us for any or all of the events listed above, I am certain you will find your visit interesting and enjoyable.  Also, our company is on Facebook, and you can become a fan of “D Co 1-50 TF 3/330 Family Support Group.”  This page is maintained by our company Family Readiness Group leader, and it will contain updated information and pictures of your Soldier.
Welcome to the Army family, and we look forward to meeting you in the future.



Sincerely,


                                                                        Travis J. Cornwall
                                                                        1LT, IN
                                                                        Commanding

Your Soldier’s Mailing Address:

PVT__________ Roster#_____
D Co., ____ Platoon
198th Infantry Brigade
TF 2-330, BLDG, # 3982
9285 2nd Armor Division Road
Ft. Benning, GA 31905

DIRECTIONS TO THE 198th INFANTRY BRIGADE

Fort Benning, GA is located approximately 100 miles south of Atlanta and immediately south of Columbus, GA.  The Infantry Training Brigade is located in the northwestern portion of Fort Benning, known as SAND HILL.

If you plan on attending your Soldier’s graduation ceremony from Infantry training, please find your way to the intersection of 185 (I-185) and Highway US 27/ GA 280 (this intersection can be found easily on any road map).  From this intersection, which is exit 1A on I-185, travel south on Highway 27/ 280 for approximately eight-tenths (8/10) of a mile to the “North” Custer Road exit, to Sand Hill.  After passing through the checkpoint, make a right turn in to the Sand Hill entrance.  Take the first right onto Custer Road.  It will be the building complex on your right hand side. Take all parking directions from the road guards.  Please ensure you have an updated VEHICLE REGISTRATION AND VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE when you arrive.  It will make getting on and off government property very fluid and easy.

DIRECTIONS TO THE NATIONAL INFANTRY MUSEUM

If you are planning on attending your Soldier’s Graduation Ceremony at the National Infantry Museum, please find your way to exit 1B on 185 (I-185) south. Continue along US 27/GA 280 until you reach Fort Benning blvd. Make a left onto Fort Benning blvd, and continue to follow this road onto Fort Benning. The National Infantry Museum will be located on your right.

If you have questions about the graduation, please call Delta Company at (706) 544-9027 to confirm time or location prior to the event.

We welcome you to Fort Benning and the Infantry Training Brigade.