173rd IBCT ABN, Unit Ministry Teams

"I'm stronger than I thought I was. My favorite phrase has been, 'This too shall pass.' I now understand it really well." —Robin Roberts

UNITED FOR THE FIGHT!

Today, we celebrate the 248th birthday of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps!

When America calls on our nation to fight, our Army Chaplains are there to provide guidance, nurture the living, care for the wounded and honor the fallen.

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Sky Soldiers 🪂 bid farewell to Col. Kloepper as he passed the colors to the new Bayonet 6, Col. Gaspard during a Change of Command ceremony this past Thursday!

COL Kloepper thank you for your dedication and service to the paratroopers and Unit Ministry Teams of the brigade! Good luck in all your future endeavors!

Welcome back home to COL Gaspard. Team Gaspard are no strangers to the Brigade! 🪂

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From the Italian Alps 🏔️ to Larissa, Greece 🇬🇷, we bring spiritual readiness everywhere we go 🪂

On behalf of the 173d Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne) Brigade Commander, Colonel Michael F. Kloepper and the Brigade Command Sergeant Major,
Command Sergeant Major Matthew D. Carlson, you are cordially invited to attend the 173d Memorial Day Remembrance Ceremony Thursday, 25 May 2023 on
Caserma Del Din in front of the Building 173 (Brigade Headquarters Building) at 1000.

We will take this time to honor the ultimate sacrifices from our fallen comrades with pride and distinction.

In the case that the venue is changed due to inclement weather, the ceremony will be held in the Sigholtz Center on Caserma Del Din!

Participants: Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) with jump boots

Attendees (Military Personnel) assigned to the 173d: Army Green Service Uniform (AGSU) with jump boots or Army Service Uniform (ASU) with jump boots

Attendees (Military Personnel) outside the 173d: Duty Uniform

Attendees (Civilian): Business Casual

It's Good Friday, which is the day on which Christians commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and His death at Calvary. May you celebrate one of the most auspicious occasions of the year with deep gratitude and love in your heart.

Bayonet 7, signing on!

Earlier today, CSM Matthew D. Carlson returned to the and assumed responsibility of the brigade!

He is no stranger to the brigade as he has held key leadership positions in 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment and 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" in his previous time with us.

We take this time to welcome him back and wish him the very best during his tenure here!

The Dagger UMT conducted a 2-Day Snow Shoeing leader Tough In Spirit event up in the Dolomites! Creating that that even our leaders strive to be better every single day. Good job SGT Hale and CH Snyder for investing in our paratroopers!



173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | U.S. Army Europe and Africa | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | AFN Vicenza | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | GoArmy

We take this time and wish all our Religious Affairs Specialists a Happy 113th Anniversary!

On 28 December 1909, the official Military Occupation Specialty (MOS) of Chaplain Assistant was established, as cited in General Order No. 253, War Department, Washington, D.C., paragraph 1, which read, “One enlisted man will be detailed on special duty, by the commanding officer of any organization to which a chaplain is assigned for duty, for the purpose of assisting the chaplain in the performance of his official duties.”

On 1 October 2001, the Chaplain Assistant MOS changed from 71M to 56M. Chaplain Assistants now serve in a “stand-alone” Career Management Field. They teamed up with chaplains around the world to religious support to Soldiers and families in support of Unified Land Operations.

On 20 March 2005, the Chief of Chaplains approved the naming convention of the 56M MOS from Chaplain Assistant to Religious Affairs Specialist. This change recognized the increase of a Religious Affairs Specialist’s capabilities operating in a complex and religiously influenced world. The official name change took place on 1 October 2017.



173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | U.S. Army Europe and Africa | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | AFN Vicenza | GoArmy

“What Child Is This?” Sung by all military service members around the world to include our own Brigade Religious Affairs NCOIC, SGT(P) Guillen. He was selected to perform and was featured in a second video that PBS News Hour puts together every year!

From all the Brigade Unit Ministry Teams, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!



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173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | U.S. Army Europe and Africa | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | AFN Vicenza | GoArmy

U.S. service members sing classic Christmas carol ‘What Child is This?' We bring you a classic Christmas carol, "What Child is This?" sung by U.S. military service personnel from around the world. It was produced by a little-known unit at the Defense Department called the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service.

Our very own Brigade Religious Affairs NCOIC, SGT(P) Guillen, was selected to perform and was featured in this video that PBS News Hour puts together every year!

From all the Brigade Unit Ministry Teams, Happy Hanukkah!



U.S. Army Europe and Africa | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | AFN Europe | AFN Vicenza

U.S. armed forces members band together to celebrate Hanukkah through song Over the past few years the NewsHour has asked a little known Defense Department unit called the Defense Visual Information Distribution Service, or DVIDS, to produce a holiday song in which service personnel from around the world sing. This year they have produced a Hanukkah song to mark the beginn...

Chanukah Sameach! The Jewish eight-day "festival of lights" begins this evening at nightfall and ends in the evening of Monday, Dec. 26.



173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association

(Photo Courtesy: SGT(P) Luis Guillen, Brigade Religious Affairs NCOIC)

Today, we reflect and recognize the courage and sacrifices of one of the 173rd IBCT (A) Paratroopers who received our nation’s highest military honor for valor. Chaplain (Major) Charles Joseph Watters is 1 of 8 U.S. Army Chaplain Corps Medal of Honor recipients to ever be bestowed such honor!

On Nov. 19, 1967, Chaplain (Major) Charles J. Watters was serving with Company A, 173rd Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, during an assault on Hill 875 near Dak To, Kontum Province, Republic of Vietnam.

An intense firefight broke out with an enemy battalion. Without thinking of his own safety, Watters began to rush out on the battlefield to help collect the dying and wounded and bring them to safety. Completely exposed, Chaplain Watters administered the Sacrament of Last Rites to his dying men. Every time his unit began to charge the front line, Watters was ahead picking up the wounded and administering the sacraments to those who had fallen. He also helped carry others to safety, including a paratrooper who was in shock and unable to move from his exposed position.

After hours of intense fighting and with the perimeter of the battlefield in a state of constant confusion, Chaplain Watters continued to maintain his composure in a time of severe crisis. For hours after the initial fighting, he kept venturing out between friendly and enemy lines picking up the wounded, providing the exhausted Soldiers with food and water, administering the sacraments, and helping the medics give aid to the wounded. There were even efforts to try to restrain Chaplain Watters from his heroic and courageous deeds because of his vulnerability to enemy and friendly fire. Sadly, Watters himself became a victim of the battle raging on Hill 875 and did not survive the day. He now rests in Section 2, on Chaplains Hill, in Arlington National Cemetery.



173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | U.S. Army Europe and Africa | U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | AFN Europe | AFN Vicenza

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” - Martin Luther King Jr.

Great things happening in ! Promotions boards going on during E3B and one of our battalion 56Ms showed up and represented today! Congratulations to SGT Jacob Harrison from 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, on receiving his promotable status today!



173rd Airborne Brigade | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | USAG Italy Religious Support Office

This week SGT Guillén, our Brigade Religious Affairs NCOIC, recognized three students from Vicenza Middle School with coins and certificates who have exemplified the Six Pillars of Character; Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring, and Citizenship.

The Six Pillars of Character are the core ethical values of CHARACTER COUNTS! Each of the Six Pillars of Character help instill a positive school climate and a culture of kindness, making schools a safe environment for students to learn.

Great job pumas!



173rd Airborne Brigade | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership | Vicenza Elementary School | Vicenza Middle School | Vicenza High School | AFN Europe | AFN Vicenza

The results are in!

Day 4 of 4 complete! Here are today’s final standings for the Inaugural Best 56M Competition and Academy!

Congratulations to SGT KYLE JOHNSON - 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" for being named the Best 173rd 56M!

Congratulations to all the 56Ms!

This week’s events were:

ACFT
8 Mile Ruck
ESB Medical Lane
ESB Weapon Lane
RIGEX
JM Nomenclature Test
Final Written Exam
Board Appearance

The purpose of this competition was to demonstrate that an individual has mastered common tasks and to compete in bringing pride and prestige to the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, their unit and themselves. This competition is also to identify 56Ms with winning spirits who can represent their Battalion at higher levels competitions.

Looking forward to our next competition!



173rd Airborne Brigade | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne

Day 3 of 4 complete! Here are today’s standings for the Inaugural Best 56M Competition and Academy!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s final standings!



173rd Airborne Brigade | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

Day 2 of 4 complete! Here are today’s standings for the Inaugural Best 56M Competition and Academy!

Stay tuned for tomorrow’s standings!



173rd Airborne Brigade | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion

Day 1 of 4 complete! Here are today’s standings for the Inaugural Best 56M Competition and Academy!

We'll keep you posted! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s standings!

Congratulations!



173rd Airborne Brigade | 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" | 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment | 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

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Making history! For the first time in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, the Brigade Unit Ministry Team, CH (MAJ) Jonathan McPherson and SGT Luis Guillén, will be hosting the Inaugural Best 56M Competition & Academy where our Battalion Religious Affairs Specialist/NCOs will be competing in and will receive more knowledge in their MOS as they are experts to their field and become better ambassadors to a stronger Army!

The purpose of this competition is to demonstrate
that an individual has mastered common tasks and to compete in bringing pride and prestige to the
U.S. Army, U.S. Army Chaplain Corps, their unit and themselves. This competition is also to identity
56Ms with winning spirits who can represent their Battalion at higher levels competitions!

Good luck to all our competitors!

SGT Johnson - 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock"

SGT Harrison - 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment

SGT Hale - 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne

SGT Conner - 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment

SGT Gonzalez - 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

PFC Herrera - 173rd Brigade Support Battalion

****Stay tuned for our winner!****

On 1 December 2021, 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment Unit Ministry Team, executed Operation Toy Drop GAC and Deliver.

Even though the Airborne operation was scratched, they still massed Paratroopers on the drop zone to hand off over 400 gifts to 41st Field Artillery Brigade for the foot march. All present heard a message about building individual and shared spiritual readiness through generosity (CH Kayle) and community (CH Soussan).

The USO, ACS, and Religious Support Office all contributed to making this a great event for Soldiers and Families. The RSO provided sandwiches, drinks, and hand warmers, while the USO provided coffee, hot chocolate, and goodies.

Our sponsor, Service Credit Union, donated 200 shirts for participants. Gifts went to support families in our partner town of Kirchenthumbach and a network of local children’s homes, Haus Elisabeth.






173rd Airborne Brigade | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment | U.S. Army Europe and Africa | Chapter173 | 173rd Airborne Brigade Association | U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) | U.S. Army Garrison Italy | Us Army Garrison Grafenwöhr

Eagle UMT put their Paratroops through a tough workout this morning to honor a Sky Soldier Chaplain who sacrificed his life to save those he served. How will you honor CH (MAJ) Charles Watters today?

SGT Conner plays taps on the bugle to honor those Veterans who paid the ultimate sacrifice

Saber UMT (1-91 CAV) participates in the Veterans Day Ceremony at Grafenwwohr, Germany.

and swapping field stories prior to Repel Convoy STX Ops.

173rd Airborne Brigade | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion

CH (CPT) Pitor Koziolkiewicz, 589th BSB, celebrated Mass with 173rd BSB Sky Soldiers during BR22.

173rd Airborne Brigade | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | 173rd Brigade Support Battalion | 41st Field Artillery Brigade | 589th Brigade Support Battalion

CH (CPT) Mike Kayle, King Shepherd, conducts Moral Leadership Training with his Paratroopers during BR22.

173rd Airborne Brigade | USAG Italy Religious Support Office | U.S. Army Chaplain Corps | 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment

CH (CPT) Bert Snyder, 54th BEB Battalion Chaplain, conducts a religious service for his Paratroopers who are training in Germany.

CH (CPT) Mike Kayle, 4-319 AFAR Battalion Chaplain, leads Sunday Protestant Services for his Paratroopers

CH (CPT) Jack Powell, 173rd BSB Chaplain, provides services during his units field rotation in Hohenfels, Germany.

The 173rd IBCT(A) Unit Ministry Teams unite as one in the month of October as it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. WE STAND TOGETHER to continue to , , and !

~ UNITED FOR THE FIGHT ~

~ OVERCOMING WEAKNESS WITH STRENGTH…DOUBT WITH BELIEF…FEAR WITH COURAGE ~

~ READY TO FIGHT…DETERMINED TO WIN ~







173rd Airborne Brigade I 1st Squadron (Airborne), 91st Cavalry Regiment I 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment I 173rd Brigade Support Battalion I 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne I 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock" I 4th Battalion, 319th Airborne Field Artillery Regiment I USAG Italy Religious Support Office I U.S. Army Chaplain Center and School I U.S. Army Chaplain Corps I 173rd Airborne Brigade Association I Chapter173 I U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) I U.S. Army Garrison Italy I U.S. Army Europe and Africa

(Photo Courtesy: SGT Luis Guillén, 54TH Brigade Engineer Battalion Religious Affairs NCO)

Today is Military Spouse Appreciation Day and We take this time to recognize the profound importance of military spouses in keeping our military strong.

To our spouses in the 173rd! Thank you all for what you do every day for our servicemen and women!

A Proclamation on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, 2021 | The White House As the members of our Armed Forces safeguard our Nation at home and around the world, they depend on the people they love for strength, comfort, joy, and

Sky Soldiers, see list of Easter Worship Services this weekend for VMC

“He is not here; For He has Risen” - Matthew 28:6

Come celebrate Easter at our Christian Worship Service on Thursday at 1730 in the Sigholtz Center on Caserma Del Din! All are welcome!





U.S. Army Garrison Italy, 173rd Airborne Brigade, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 54th Brigade Engineer Battalion - Airborne, 2-503rd Airborne Infantry Regiment "The Rock", 1st Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 509th Signal Battalion