Dear Family and Friends of Soldiers in 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment (3-34 Infantry Regiment),

Your Soldier has arrived safely at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and is assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 34th Infantry Regiment (3-34 IN) for Basic Combat Training. 3-34 Infantry Regiment has a long, distinguished history of service dating back to 1916, and it currently enjoys the reputation as one of the best battalions at Fort Jackson. My purpose for writing is to advise you on the transformation your Soldier will undergo, inform you of the basic emergency notification procedures and provide you some important dates and events in the training cycle.

As you know, Basic Combat Training is not easy. It is a challenging experience that transforms volunteers into trained, disciplined, physically fit and motivated soldiers who espouse the seven Army Values, understand the importance of teamwork and who are determined to complete their initial enlistment. For many soldiers, the ten weeks with 3-34 IN will be the toughest thing they have ever done in their lives. I assure you that our drill sergeants and officers, who form an absolutely first-rate team of professional Soldiers, will do their best to assist in this transformation. We’re honored to be your soldier’s first unit in the Army.

In the event that an emergency arises involving an immediate family member that requires your Soldier’s presence, contact the American Red Cross at 1-877-272-7337. The Red Cross will contact the battalion and assist the soldier in returning home on leave. Please make sure you keep this Red Cross number so you have it readily available should the need arise. We cannot help you in any way without Red Cross verification.

During Basic Training, we curtail certain privileges, such as the use of phones, receiving food items in the mail and visitation. While in our care, we will provide your soldier quality meals in our award-winning dining facilities. Because of this and for health reasons, we do not permit Soldiers to possess or store food. Therefore, please do not send food of any type.

If you wish to visit your Soldier, you may do so at Fort Jackson only on Family Day and on Graduation Day. Because of the visitation restrictions, I hope you will take advantage of these two important events in your Soldier’s Basic Training calendar. For more information on Family Day and Graduation, I encourage you to visit the pages that specify what you can expect during those days. We have many exciting activities scheduled for these significant days and we invite you to participate to the greatest extent possible. Occasionally, however, a Soldier is delayed in graduating due to injury, sickness, or other reasons.

It is critical that you verify these dates with your Soldier before making travel arrangements. Expect a letter from me, detailiing your Soldier's graduation shortly. Please review the attached information sheet that includes your Soldier’s correct mailing address and information on contacting your Soldier’s chain of command. Please remember that your Soldier has transitioned from 120th AG Reception Battalion and it will take approximately two weeks for mail to be redirected from 120th AG Reception Battalion to 3-34 Infantry Regiment. Once again I want to tell you how proud we are to have your Soldier in our battalion.

Sincerely,

Kevin M. Brill

Lieutenant Colonel, Infantry

Commanding Officer

Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Brill entered the Reserve Officer Training Corps at the University of Central Missouri where he was commissioned as a Distinguished Military Graduate in May 1993.   Upon completion of basic infantry service schools, LTC Brill's initial assignment was in 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division (Mech) at Fort Stewart, GA. LTC Brill served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Scout Platoon Leader. LTC Brill then served as the Assistant Operations Officer for 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment (Air Assault) at Camp Casey, Korea.   After completing the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course, LTC Brill served in the Operations section at Division and Brigade level within the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. LTC Brill then commanded D Company, 2nd Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment . He was then selected for a second command with HHC, 4th Ranger Training Battalion, Fort Benning, GA.
  Upon completion of the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, KS, LTC Brill served with the 25th Infantry Division, Schofield Barracks, HI. He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a Special Police Transition Team Chief working with 750 Iraqi Police Commando's in Baghdad, Iraq. He then volunteered for a second tour to serve as the Operations Officer for 2nd Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment “Wolfhounds!” with continued support of OIF near Kirkuk, Iraq.   LTC Brill then served as the Battalion Executive Officer for 6th Ranger Training Battalion (Florida Phase), before being selected as the Ranger Training Brigade Operations Officer.

His last assignment was serving as the DCO for the 192d Infantry Brigade, Fort Benning, GA responsible for the training and reception of BCT, Infantry and Armor OSUT Soldiers.

LTC Brill is married and has a stepson.

His awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal (1OLC), the Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (5OLC), Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge, Expert and Combat Infantryman's Badge, Canadian, Brazilian, Australian, and Venezuelan Parachutist Badges and other decorations.

CSM Edward G. Ellis Kelsey was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and entered the U.S. Army on 1 August 1989. He completed basic combat training at Fort Knox, Kentucky and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas as a Patient Administrative Specialist and then volunteered to cross train as a 91B and was awarded the Combat Medical Specialist MOS. He later attended the 91C School and became a Practical Nurse.

His duty positions over the past 23 years include: Patient Administrative Specialist; Battery Aidman; Emergency Treatment NCO; NCOIC Outpatient Records Section; Squad Leader; NCOIC Pediatric Clinic; Small Group Leader/Instructor for the Primary Leadership Development Course; Chief Wardmaster & Treatment Platoon Sergeant; Wardmaster, Pediatric Ward; Chief Clinical NCO, Maternal Child Health Nursing Section; Platoon Drill Sergeant; Senior Drill Sergeant; First Sergeant; Operations Sergeant Major, 32D Medical Brigade and last assignment as the Command Sergeant Major of the 6th Medical Logistics Management Center (6th MLMC).

CSM Ellis Kelsey’s combat tours include Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, as well as Operation Joint Guardian. In last assignment he made multiple trips supporting OIF/OEF/OND. His overseas tours and assignments include: 214th Field Artillery BDE, HHC 47th Field Hospital, Ft Sill, OK, Alpha/Student Company, BAMC, Fort Sam Houston, Texas; Darnell Army Community Hospital, Fort Hood, Texas; III Corps NCO Academy, Fort Hood, Texas; C Company, 501st Forward Support Battalion, Friedberg, Germany; Womack Army Medical Center, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, B/D Company, 232nd Medical Battalion; HHC 32D Medical Brigade.

Command Sergeant Major Kelsey’s military and civilian education include the Primary Leadership Development Course (Commandants List), Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (Leadership Award, Commandants List), Instructor Trainers Course, Master Fitness Trainer Course, Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course (Commandants List), Advanced Noncommissioned Officers Course (Commandants List), Drill Sergeants Course (Commandants List). He is a graduate from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy Class 58 and has earned a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Healthcare Management from Touro University, Masters of Science Degree in Health Care Management (Emergency Disaster Management) and MBA from Touro University.

His awards and decorations include: Meritorious Service Medal (3 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (1 SLC, 1 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (5 OLC), Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal (1 BS), SWA Service Medal (2 BS), Kosovo Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, NCO Professional Development Ribbon (Numeral #4), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, and NATO Medal (Kosovo), both Kuwait Liberation Medals and Meritorious Unit Commendation . He has earned the Expert Field Medical Badge, Drivers Badge (Track vehicle), German Armed Forces Proficiency Gold Badge, and Drill Sergeant Badge. He is also member of the prestigious Medical Order of Military Merit, SGT Audie Murphy and SGT Morales Clubs.

He is married to his high school sweetheart the former Martha Dejesus recipient of the Dr. Mary E. Walker Award and they have four children: Edward III (22), Christina (21), Melissa (19) and Gabriella (11).