Fort Bliss Monitor

Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma

Guntersville, Ala., native Capt. James Walker, commander of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, currently attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, makes sure the newly-placed rank doesn’t fall off Denver native Spc. Carlos Bustos’ chest with a punch during a promotion ceremony at Camp Liberty in western Baghdad Aug. 1. Bustos, a tanker, and his platoon conducted a morning patrol through the streets of northwestern Baghdad earlier that day.

Young Cav Soldier learning, maturing in combat

Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma
1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs

CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Denver native Spc. Carlos Bustos with 2nd “Dirty Deuce” platoon, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, reflected on his experiences thus far in the Iraqi capital as his new rank was playfully punched onto his chest there Aug. 1.

Bustos signed up to be a Soldier at 17 and set foot on Iraqi soil at 18. He said this early experience has benefited him.

“It makes you grow into a better Soldier, a better person,” he said. “You become a man because you’re dealing with things young people like myself wouldn’t be dealing with outside of the military.”

The young tanker explained that if he was in the civilian world he would be worrying about college and what his next homework assignment was.

This world is a little different.

“I’m worrying about the safety of my guys while we’re out on patrol; IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and firefights,” Bustos said. “The things we see here really mature you as a person in many different ways.”

Back in March, the 18-year-old trooper was pulling guard duty atop a high concrete tower facing Alpha Road on the easternmost side of southern Ghazaliya’s Joint Security Station Thrasher when one of those moments happened.

“I heard a real big bang down the road, saw a big cloud of smoke,” he recalled.

Bustos didn’t find out until later that evening that Soldiers with his unit were responding to troops in contact when their sand-colored humvee hit a deep-buried IED. Four “Thunderhorse” heroes had fallen.

“It’s one of the first incidences that really tested my emotions as a person, dealing with that loss,” he said. Loss isn’t unfamiliar to the youngest Soldier in this platoon. He lost friends before he joined the Army, Bustos said, but losing a friend in combat is something completely different.

“It takes a while to set in. It makes you think about how serious this place really is because sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re in a conflict or a war and then things like that happen and it really takes you back down,” Bustos said. “It reminds you where you’re at.”
About a month later, as his patrol was rolling through northern Ghazaliya, an explosively-formed penetrator detonated near his vehicle, injuring Bustos and his tank commander.
“It was like slow motion for a second. I felt the blast, but I couldn’t see anything and I didn’t hear anything,” said Bustos, the gunner at the time. “All I felt was the pressure on my body.

“I was out,” he said. “The cab was suffocated with a thick smoke.”

Once he started coming to, all he could hear were the muffled sounds of the engine knocking and the flat tires struggling to run on the ground, he said.
Although the 5-foot-11-inch Soldier couldn’t really see anyone because he was still feeling the effects of the blast, thoughts were racing through his mind like bolts of lightning, he said.

“Ah, man, this is pretty bad,” he recalled thinking. “What just happened?”

The machine gun mounted on his vehicle blew off and hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious. After receiving medical care he was returned to duty.

Although preparation prior to the deployment was extensive, nothing really trains you for that, Bustos said.

“There is no real way to prepare yourself for what you’re going to see out here, things you’re going to do, things you’re going to experience. It’s definitely going to test your emotions. It’s going to test you physically,” he said. “All you can do is prepare yourself mentally, be prepared for anything and just make sure you have a strong mind.”

The young Soldier said his advice to other troopers coming into the service is that, no matter how hard something might affect you, always try to do your best to keep your head in the game.

“Try not to lose the spark that you have inside that keeps you moving,” Bustos said.
Many of the noncommissioned officers above him have been here before, he said, and are a real inspiration to the younger Soldiers.

“They keep us moving during times when we feel real down. They always have a real positive attitude,” said Bustos.

For example, the newly-promoted specialist said, his exhausted platoon might be rolling through the gates, back from a six-hour firefight, and someone might crack a funny joke to release some of the stress. He said a positive attitude is a key element in making it through each long day in this stressful environment.

Learning from the day’s events also helps him.

“As a Soldier, you make a lot of mistakes, but what develops you as a person is the way you utilize those mistakes and Bustos is really good about trying not to do the wrong thing twice,” said Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Sanchez. “He is smart. He is street smart and he has common sense.”

Sanchez, Bustos’ platoon sergeant, said he has been lucky enough to have quality leaders for the “Joes” to learn from, the 14-year veteran said.

“I’ll take a few of the lessons that they’ve taught me and when the day comes when I get a Soldier underneath me, I’ll definitely be there for him and try to guide him like my NCOs have guided me out here,” Bustos said.

“He went from being a Soldier that we all made fun of, because he was so young, to being one of the most mature Soldiers in the platoon,” said Sanchez, a native of Odessa, Texas. “He looks like he is going to be an excellent NCO.”

“Now that I am a specialist, they are going to be noticing me more,” Bustos said after his promotion. “Once again, I am going to have to step up my game and try to get ready for that next level.”



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	Aug. 9, 2007

	Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma Guntersville, Ala., native Capt. James Walker, commander of A Company, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, currently attached to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, makes sure the newly-placed rank doesn’t fall off Denver native Spc. Carlos Bustos’ chest with a punch during a promotion ceremony at Camp Liberty in western Baghdad Aug. 1. Bustos, a tanker, and his platoon conducted a morning patrol through the streets of northwestern Baghdad earlier that day. Young Cav Soldier learning, maturing in combat Spc. Jeffrey Ledesma 1st Cavalry Division Public Affairs CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq – Denver native Spc. Carlos Bustos with 2nd “Dirty Deuce” platoon, 2nd Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division, out of Fort Bliss, Texas, reflected on his experiences thus far in the Iraqi capital as his new rank was playfully punched onto his chest there Aug. 1. Bustos signed up to be a Soldier at 17 and set foot on Iraqi soil at 18. He said this early experience has benefited him. “It makes you grow into a better Soldier, a better person,” he said. “You become a man because you’re dealing with things young people like myself wouldn’t be dealing with outside of the military.” The young tanker explained that if he was in the civilian world he would be worrying about college and what his next homework assignment was. This world is a little different. “I’m worrying about the safety of my guys while we’re out on patrol; IEDs (improvised explosive devices) and firefights,” Bustos said. “The things we see here really mature you as a person in many different ways.” Back in March, the 18-year-old trooper was pulling guard duty atop a high concrete tower facing Alpha Road on the easternmost side of southern Ghazaliya’s Joint Security Station Thrasher when one of those moments happened. “I heard a real big bang down the road, saw a big cloud of smoke,” he recalled. Bustos didn’t find out until later that evening that Soldiers with his unit were responding to troops in contact when their sand-colored humvee hit a deep-buried IED. Four “Thunderhorse” heroes had fallen. “It’s one of the first incidences that really tested my emotions as a person, dealing with that loss,” he said. Loss isn’t unfamiliar to the youngest Soldier in this platoon. He lost friends before he joined the Army, Bustos said, but losing a friend in combat is something completely different. “It takes a while to set in. It makes you think about how serious this place really is because sometimes it doesn’t feel like you’re in a conflict or a war and then things like that happen and it really takes you back down,” Bustos said. “It reminds you where you’re at.” About a month later, as his patrol was rolling through northern Ghazaliya, an explosively-formed penetrator detonated near his vehicle, injuring Bustos and his tank commander. “It was like slow motion for a second. I felt the blast, but I couldn’t see anything and I didn’t hear anything,” said Bustos, the gunner at the time. “All I felt was the pressure on my body. “I was out,” he said. “The cab was suffocated with a thick smoke.” Once he started coming to, all he could hear were the muffled sounds of the engine knocking and the flat tires struggling to run on the ground, he said. Although the 5-foot-11-inch Soldier couldn’t really see anyone because he was still feeling the effects of the blast, thoughts were racing through his mind like bolts of lightning, he said. “Ah, man, this is pretty bad,” he recalled thinking. “What just happened?” The machine gun mounted on his vehicle blew off and hit him in the head, knocking him unconscious. After receiving medical care he was returned to duty. Although preparation prior to the deployment was extensive, nothing really trains you for that, Bustos said. “There is no real way to prepare yourself for what you’re going to see out here, things you’re going to do, things you’re going to experience. It’s definitely going to test your emotions. It’s going to test you physically,” he said. “All you can do is prepare yourself mentally, be prepared for anything and just make sure you have a strong mind.” The young Soldier said his advice to other troopers coming into the service is that, no matter how hard something might affect you, always try to do your best to keep your head in the game. “Try not to lose the spark that you have inside that keeps you moving,” Bustos said. Many of the noncommissioned officers above him have been here before, he said, and are a real inspiration to the younger Soldiers. “They keep us moving during times when we feel real down. They always have a real positive attitude,” said Bustos. For example, the newly-promoted specialist said, his exhausted platoon might be rolling through the gates, back from a six-hour firefight, and someone might crack a funny joke to release some of the stress. He said a positive attitude is a key element in making it through each long day in this stressful environment. Learning from the day’s events also helps him. “As a Soldier, you make a lot of mistakes, but what develops you as a person is the way you utilize those mistakes and Bustos is really good about trying not to do the wrong thing twice,” said Sgt. 1st Class Miguel Sanchez. “He is smart. He is street smart and he has common sense.” Sanchez, Bustos’ platoon sergeant, said he has been lucky enough to have quality leaders for the “Joes” to learn from, the 14-year veteran said. “I’ll take a few of the lessons that they’ve taught me and when the day comes when I get a Soldier underneath me, I’ll definitely be there for him and try to guide him like my NCOs have guided me out here,” Bustos said. “He went from being a Soldier that we all made fun of, because he was so young, to being one of the most mature Soldiers in the platoon,” said Sanchez, a native of Odessa, Texas. “He looks like he is going to be an excellent NCO.” “Now that I am a specialist, they are going to be noticing me more,” Bustos said after his promotion. “Once again, I am going to have to step up my game and try to get ready for that next level.”