col. judy griego promoted to brigadier...

1-200th Infantry Soldiers to help keep a watchful

eye in EgyptPage 7

111th Soldiers complete mission in Kosovo

Page 6

Col. Judy Griego promoted to brigadier general

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Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 1

Bob UlinPublisher

Justin RitterGraphic Designer

Marie LundstromEditor

Chris Kersbergen &Darrell George

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Published by AQP Publishing, Inc., a private fi rm in no way connected with the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs, or the New Mexico National Guard, under written contract with the New Mexico Department of Mili-tary Affairs. This New Mexico National Guard magazine is an authorized publication for employees and military members of the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs. Contents of this publication are not necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the state of New Mexico, the U.S. Government, Department of Defense or the New Mexico National Guard.

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Spring 2012

Governor Susana Martinez

The Adjutant General Maj. Gen.

Kenny C. Montoya

Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera

Editor Joseph Vigil

Public Affairs Specialist

Contributors 150th Fighter Wing Public

Information Office 2251 Air Guard Rd. SE

KAFB, N.M. 87117

Public Information OfficerCapt. Brian Raphael

200th Public Affairs Detachment 47 Bataan Blvd.

Santa Fe, N.M. 87508

CommanderCapt. Elizabeth Foott

ON THE COVER: CTU training

Photo by:1st Lt. Tabitha Baker

C O N T E N T SNew Mexico National Guard honored at Military & Veterans’ Day at State Legislature

Col. Judy Griego promoted to brigadier general

Aragon takes charge as new RTI command sergeant major

Herrera takes command of 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment

La Montagne is new director of staff at JFHQ

Jaramillo, 150th Maintenance Group commander, pins on eagles

New Mexico Air National Guard What’s so important about Air Force Values?

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Baca replaces Rivera as 111th CSM ▼5

Martinez hands over responsibility of 93rd to Rivera, then retires

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Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners! ▼

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111th Soldiers complete mission in Kosovo ▼61st Battalion, 200th Infantry Soldiers to help keep a watchful eye in Egypt ▼7

CATC: New name, new mission

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Chaplain Farrell promoted to colonel ▼5

Lieutenant Colonel Advisory Council focuses on strategic planning for NMNG

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Sgt. Pernell Herrera takes his final flight

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NMNG flight medic earns national Aviation NCO of the Year for combat excellence ▼9

Multi Force Observers train at Atterbury

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Medina retires with more than 33 years of military service

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20Youth ChalleNGe cadets complete acclimation phase in Santa Fe

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21Warrant officers’ visit lifts Soldiers’ spirits at the Warrior Transition Unit

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Bragg promoted to chief warrant officer

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NMNG photojournalists sweep NGB Media Photo contest

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2388M course drives over 50,000 accident-free miles, earns safety awards

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23NMNG News Briefs

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CTU gives realistic training to counter latest enemy threats

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14Guard Soldiers assist first responders to rescue family

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NMNG, MaxPreps honor Cleveland High School football team

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26Luna served New Mexico well

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27NMNG teams up with Taos Feeds Taos to help those in need

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2 NEW MEXICO Minuteman / Spring 2012

New Mexico National Guardsmen, reservists and veterans were honored at the 2012 Military & Veterans’ Day at the Legislature Feb. 6, 2012, at the State Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe.

Military & Veterans’ Day at the State Legislature is the day during the Legislative session presented by the New Mexico Department of Veterans’ Services and the New Mexico Department of Military Affairs to honor the veterans of every generation and their families. It is an opportunity for all veterans and those still serving, their families, and anyone with an interest in military or veterans’ issues to attend the Legislative session and meet other veterans and mili-tary personnel, and to meet and discuss any of their concerns with their legislators.

Veterans’ Services Secretary Timothy Hale introduced Gov. Susana Martinez as the keynote speaker and said, “She knows what it is to be a mother of a veteran and knows what it is to walk in our shoes.”

“It is a great pleasure to honor those who have served our country,” Martinez said. “It is because of your service that we are a free country, free to make our own laws, and we remain the envy of the world because of this freedom; and we owe it all to our military service members.”

Martinez urged the Legislature to vote on several bills that will assist veterans in New Mexico and to expand the defi nition of a veteran to include National Guard Soldiers who have served a minimum of six years; men and women who have been on call and helped citizens across the state, such as during last winter’s deep freeze and last summer’s wildfi res, plus assisting citizens in other states recover from the aftermath of hurricanes and other disasters.

Martinez recognized senators and representatives who have served in the military and also recognized Brig. Gen. Judy Griego,

By Joseph VigilPublic Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

the fi rst woman in the history of the New Mexico National Guard to be promoted to this rank.

Martinez concluded by thanking military service members for being here for us and keeping us safe at home and abroad. She also thanked the unsung heroes, the families, for their sacrifi ces. “They are the ones that stay behind, and we are grateful for the things they do here at home that allow Soldiers to fi ght for our freedom,” said Martinez.

Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, acknowl-edged what a great team the governor, the Legislature and the New Mexico National Guard are. “Your citizen Soldiers have done some great things over the past ten years, and it is all because it’s a team effort,” said Montoya. “Deployed Soldiers and Airmen have accomplished great things from Afghanistan to Iraq, Guantanamo Bay to Central America. Truck drivers drove millions of miles in Iraq, and they didn’t know if they were going to lose their lives, but they never failed their mission. They also knew that our state Legislature paid for their life insurance.”

Montoya said that when the Air Guard started their new mis-sion, they knew state government was behind them and recently learned that we were the only state that didn’t take a hit in the last round of budget cuts.

“Infantry and MPs from the Las Cruces, Roswell and Hobbs areas deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and fought with special equipment that no one else had because you made sure they had the best. And when they came home, you made sure they had free hunting and fi shing licenses so they could relax and become citizens again,” said Montoya.

“Our medevac unit is saving Marines’ lives every day in Afghan-istan, and they will come home in April when they complete their mission to a new aviation center,” praised Montoya. “Soldiers

deploying to Sinai will come home to new and improved armories in Las Cruces and Farmington.”

Montoya said he could not thank the governor and the State Legislature enough for what they have done and said, “I can’t be any prouder of who I represent.”

New Mexico National Guard honored at Military & Veterans’ Day at State Legislature


History was made when Col. Judy Griego was promoted to brigadier general in front of family, friends, distinguished generals and Air and Army National Guardsmen on Dec. 21 at the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. Griego becomes the fi rst New Mexico National Guard woman to earn the rank of brigadier general; and it was only fi tting that Gov. Susana Martinez, the fi rst woman governor of New Mexico, assist Griego’s husband David and daughter Mariah with pinning the newly promoted general.

“I am humbled and honored to be part of such a great organization, and what a privilege it is to serve with our great Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard,” said Griego of her promotion. “I did not get here alone, and I owe gratitude for all those who in one way or another had an impact or infl uence in my life and my career.”

Griego currently serves as the chief of the Joint Staff for Joint Forces Headquar-ters where she directs, oversees and man-ages a variety of Joint Staff programs that include administration, coordination, plan-ning, development, execution and super-vision of all Joint Staff programs that pre-pare the state for contingency operations in either federal or state emergencies. She also serves as the state’s senior federal National Guard management offi cial and serves as principal executive assistant and advisor to the Adjutant General.

“As the chief of the Joint Staff, I provide oversight to a number of ‘people’ programs such as Family Support, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, State Veterans Transition, Sexual Assault Response Coor-dinator, Military Medical Activity and Drug and Alcohol Abuse,” said Griego. “I have an opportunity to directly help Soldiers and Airmen, and to make a difference.”

Griego, a native New Mexican from the Albuquerque area, attributes her career success to God’s blessing, great mentors, wonderful friends and peers, and a loving and supportive family.

“I was thinking of my mother, who passed away when I was 10 years old, and my father, who is still alive but in a nursing

Col. Judy Griego promoted to brigadier generalBy Joseph VigilPublic Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

home,” said Griego of what she was thinking when being pinned. “He was a WWII Navy veteran and my personal hero. I wish they could have both been here, and I sincerely hope that I made them proud.”

Griego enlisted in the New Mexico Air National Guard in June 1979. She says her husband David played a hand in that. She served her fi rst 12 years in the enlisted ranks, attaining the rank of master sergeant before earning her com-mission on April 14, 1991.

“This is a great accomplishment for her and the women serving in the military,” said retired Chief Master Sgt. David Griego of his wife’s promotion. “She has had a great career, and I am very proud that she came out of the enlisted ranks.”

The newly promoted general says it’s indeed a great time to serve our state and our nation. She believes in three words which she refers to on a daily basis and wants to share them with the Soldiers and Airmen of the NMNG: “Duty, Honor, Coun-try” – They are the words of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and the meaning behind them “builds your basic character...they make

you strong enough to face yourself when you are afraid, and they teach you to be proud and unbending, even in honest fail-ure... Learn to stand up in the storm… and to have compassion.”

Most may think that attaining the rank of brigadier general would be at the top of the list of any service member’s career high-lights; but for Griego personally, taking the oath of offi ce in 1979, getting commis-sioned in 1991, and deploying in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom to Balad Air Base, Iraq, in 2007 top her list, which clearly shows her commitment to serve her coun-try, her state and the Soldiers and Airmen of the New Mexico National Guard.


Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca relinquished his com-mand responsibility for the Regional Training Institute to Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Aragon in a formal ceremony on Jan. 7, 2012. Baca served as the RTI commandant and command sergeant major for about three years.

The ceremony highlighted the accomplishments of the RTI under Baca’s leadership and allowed him to refl ect on his command. “The RTI’s offi cers and enlisted are some of the most professional Soldiers I’ve ever had the privilege to serve with. Through challenging times, we stood together as a team and made a difference in warriors’ lives and the organization as a whole. I thank all the staff and instructors for providing a cohesive and supportive work environment during my tenure as command sergeant major. I wish them the very best and look forward to working together when our paths cross again.”

Aragon is not a newcomer to command or to the RTI. He served as the RTI command sergeant major for about a year from 2006-2007 until he deployed with the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade as the Joint Task Force commandant for Joint Task Force Guantanamo, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Before his latest assign-ment as the G3 sergeant major, he served as the 93d Brigade command sergeant major after returning from deployment.

“This is a huge responsibility, and I feel honored to be given the opportunity to return to the RTI as their command sergeant major and school commandant. I’m excited to work beside, in my opinion, some of the best Soldiers the Guard has to offer. I’m very happy to be back,” Aragon said.

Baca will move on to his next assignment as the 111th Combat Support Brigade command sergeant major, backfi lling the vacancy created by Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera, who moved on to become the 93d Brigade command sergeant major.

By Lt. Col. Jamison HerreraState Public Affairs Offi cer

By Capt. Elizabeth FoottCommander, 200th Public Affairs Detachment

Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera took command of the 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment, replacing Lt. Col. Leo Griego on Feb. 11, 2012, at the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. He takes the reins of the school-house from Griego, who moves on to become the executive offi cer of the 111th Manuever Brigade in Rio Rancho.

Griego, who had been in command for the last two years, said that this was “one of the best jobs I’ve had.” In recognizing several key staff members with various awards, he asked that the staff be treated with respect as they had risen above the standard in their performance.

Herrera responded, “I am in awe of what you do daily and will continue to expect greatness from all of you as individuals, and most importantly, as the team you all have shown you can be. You all do such important work here, and I will support you to ensure your continued success.”

Col. Eric Judkins, commander of the 515th RTI, thanked Griego for his “phenom-enal leadership” and presented Griego with a Meritorious Service Medal for his accom-plishments during his command. The 2nd Battalion staff also presented an award of appreciation to the outgoing commander for his dedication to his profession.

Judkins challenged Herrera to continue with the high standards and raise the bar. ”You can count on the 2nd Battalion to push the limits of our abilities and make the RTI the best training institution around,” said Herrera about accepting the challenge. “I will do all I can to assist the larger mission here and go Beyond the Standard!”

The 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment, has a proud tradition of training Soldiers to standard. The Offi cer Candidate School and Motor Transport Operators Course provide training, administrative support, and detailed instruction in accordance with

respective course management, plans and training doctrine regulations.

“There are great things to be done and we will work together to move forward,” Herrera said. He is married to the former Ellen Estuar Reyes and has two children, Jason, 12, and Nick, 9.

Aragon takes charge as new RTI command sergeant major

Herrera takes command of 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment


By Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

Chaplain William Farrell was promoted to colonel in front of family, friends and other Guard members on Dec. 2, 2011 at the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. Farrell serves as the New Mexico National Guard state chaplain, and his promotion gives him a new level of responsibility.

Farrell was pinned by his wife Susan, daughters Ruth and Bethany, and son Caleb who is assigned to the 5th Special Forces as a special forces medic.

“It is special to get here to witness his promotion and to see what he has accomplished,” said Caleb, who was deployed to Iraq but was able to get back a couple of days early for this event. “It is a joy to watch him do his thing. His work ethic motivates me. He is why I joined the Army in 2000.”

Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff, recognized Farrell for the many great things he has accomplished at National Guard Bureau and here at the New Mexico National Guard.

“When I fi rst met you at National Guard Bureau, I was confi dent that you would be a great fi t for the New Mexico National Guard,” said Baca. “There are 13 colonel slots around the state and to place you in one of those slots is recognition of your accomplish-ments, your hard work and your potential.”

“He is known as a Soldier’s chaplain,” said fellow chaplain, Ricardo Russo. “He integrates leadership, honor and duty to his profession and sets the example for others to emulate. Other chaplains and Soldiers from around the state look up to him.”

Farrell has a passion to recruit other chaplains into the NMNG. He

has brought fi ve new chaplains onboard this past year. He plans to train the newly assembled team of eight chaplains, recruit the future team to replace eventual retirements, recruit more Roman Catholic priests, and provide care for returning warriors and their families.

He also has a chaplain school planned for this spring and will assist with leading the chaplain annual sustainment training for the southwest region in May.

“Ministry is hard work, but I really enjoy serving as a chaplain for Soldiers,” Farrell said.

In his 20-plus years of military service, Farrell never thought that he would make it this far. Maybe major, Farrell said, but doors kept opening up.

“It states in the scriptures that promotion comes from the Lord,” said Farrell. “God has opened these doors.”

Farrell also paid special tribute to Father Russo for the incred-ible work he has done on a daily basis for Soldiers and families of the New Mexico National Guard over the past ten years.

By Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, New Mexico National Guard

Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Baca replaced Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera as the top noncommissioned offi cer of the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade during a change of responsibility ceremony Feb. 12 at the Rio Rancho Armory. Baca came to the 111th from the Regional Training Institute in Santa Fe. Rivera is now the 93rd Brigade command sergeant major in Santa Fe.

During the ceremony, Baca thanked his father, former National Guard Bureau Chief, retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca, and his mother, Rita, for their support through-out his career. Baca also paid tribute to his brother, Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff of the New Mexico Army National Guard, and his sister, Master Sgt. Karen Nielsen of the New Mexico Air National Guard, and recognized his wife, Tricia, and their children: Kaitlin, Jake, Cole, Nicholas, and Jason.

To the Soldiers of the 111th, Baca said, “I pledge you my heart and soul.”

Rivera’s 37-year military career began with service in the U.S. Navy during Opera-tion Frequent Wind as the Vietnam War ended with the fall of Saigon in April 1975. He thanked his fi ancée, Debra Morse, for travel-ing from San Diego to attend the ceremony and thanked the members of the brigade for their efforts during his tenure. Rivera has one son, Jared, and one grandson, Xavier.

Col. Thomas Bump, commander of the 111th, hosted the ceremony and presided over the offi cial transition. Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, attended the ceremony along with numerous other senior offi cers and senior noncommissioned offi cers of the New Mexico National Guard.

Baca replaces Rivera as 111th CSM

Chaplain Farrell promoted to colonel



National Guard families received an early holiday gift when Soldiers of the 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade completed their mission and returned home from their deployment in Kosovo in time to spend the holidays with their loved ones.

The Soldiers arrived in New Mexico early on Dec. 19, 2011, after completing a one-year deployment. Family, friends and well-wishers greeted Soldiers with hugs, kisses and hand-shakes at the welcome home ceremony on Dec. 20, 2011, at the Santa Ana Star Center, Rio Rancho, with a similar ceremony being held in Las Cruces.

The 111th, which consisted of Soldiers from Albuquerque, Rio Rancho, Las Cruces, Roswell and Santa Fe, served in Kosovo for a peacekeeping mission that began after the late 1990s war that tore apart much of the former Yugoslavia with sectarian violence between ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

Leaders from the international community were surprised about the violence that took place there during the summer. That violence included a serious confl ict in September when 111th Soldiers pre-vented a Serbian mob from breaking through a border crossing and potentially killing a group of German soldiers on the NATO team.

“Our Soldiers’ handling of the Kosovo confl ict drew praise from U.S. military leaders based around the world,” said Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, Adjutant General of the NMNG. “The troops potentially stopped a new Kosovo war by managing confl ict situations without lethal force.”

“More destruction and killings were stopped because of the maturity and professionalism of the Soldiers in front of you today,” added Montoya.

Unit offi cials said Kosovo had last experienced serious violence in 2004.

Sen. Tom Udall welcomed home the troops as well and thanked them for their service to our nation. “You are our heroes, and New Mexico will be forever grateful,” he said.

Both Montoya and Col. Michael Schwartz, KFOR 14 Task Force commander thanked both the Soldiers and families for their sacrifi ces during this deployment and apologized for their yearlong absence.

“I wish we could give you back the time we took away from your families—the birth of a newborn, babies’ fi rst steps, your

teens’ fi rst proms, games and graduations,” said Montoya. “You answered the call and did it better than anyone else. Thank you.”

“You had a void in your life and you made sacrifi ces,” Schwartz said. “We will never forget what you have done for us. I am proud of you for exceeding all expectations.”

Sgt. 1st Class Ronette Martinez was welcomed back by her husband Eugene, their fi ve children, and her father and grandfa-ther, both veterans. “Working as a police offi cer and taking care of our children was challenging,” said Eugene. “It is unbelievable to see her again, and it will be good to hear the word ‘Mom’ again in our house.”

Schwartz and Command Sgt. Major Abel Villesca removed the ceremonial yellow ribbon from the tree. Montoya declared, “Your mission is now complete. Welcome home.”

111th Soldiers complete mission

in Kosovo

111111 Soldiers Soldiers 111111 Soldiers Soldiers


Family, friends and well wishers attended Yellow Ribbon ceremonies hosted by the New Mexico National Guard Jan. 27-28, 2012, in Farmington, Albuquerque and Las Cruces to bid farewell to more than 400 Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Divi-sion, who deployed to Sinai, Egypt, in support of the Multi-Force Observer mission.

Soldiers will conduct checkpoints, reconnaissance patrols, and observation posts along the international boundaries to observe and verify compliance with the Treaty of Peace. The deployment is scheduled to be a peacekeeping mission for one year and will encompass fi ve units from various locations around New Mexico.

The MFO mission was established on Aug. 3, 1981, with the signing of the Protocol to the 1979 Treaty of Peace between Egypt and Israel. Its mission is to ensure that the treaty is being enforced and that Egypt and Israel are adhering to the agreed-on protocol. Under the treaty, the MFO must employ its best efforts to prevent any viola-tion of the security measures set forth in the treaty.

The 1-200th Infantry Battalion mission will be to observe and verify compliance with, and to report any violations of the limitations on military personnel and equip-ment that are set out in the Treaty of Peace, and to ensure freedom of navigation throughout Sinai, Egypt, using their best efforts to prevent treaty violations, to prevent diffi culties and to resolve problems. The mission has been in existence since the 1981 inception and is not in the immediate area of the region that has seen recent events take place in Egypt; nor is it in response to these events.

“I am grateful to you,” said Lt. Col. Miguel Aguilar, commander of the deploying battalion, while addressing the families in the audience. “We know our families bear the burden and this deployment would not be possible without your sacrifi ce and hard work. We would not go without knowing that you have our back.”

Aguilar said it is with great pride and a privilege to add this deployment to the battalion’s proud tradition of service. He assured the governor and Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, that his Soldiers are ready to serve honorably and take care of this very important mission. The battalion is answering the nation’s call once again—their third deployment in recent years.

Gov. Susana Martinez honored the Soldiers and told them she was proud of them for serving. Martinez also told the troops that New Mexico is extremely grateful for their service. “We love you, value you and want to see you back in New Mexico when your tour is over,” said Martinez. “I am praying for your safety and your speedy return.”

Martinez also reminded everyone not to forget the unsung heroes who stay behind…the spouses, children and other loved ones.

By Joseph Vigil, Public Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Soldiersto help keep a watchful eye in Egypt

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The Army Aviation Association of Amer-ica has named Sgt. Clifford Aughe as the recipient of the Rodney J. T. Yano Army Aviation Noncommissioned Offi cer of the Year for 2011 award. Aughe currently serves as a fl ight medic with the Santa Fe-based unit, Charlie Company, 1st Bat-talion, 171st Aviation Regiment. That unit has been conducting combat air medical evacuation missions in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, since June 2011. Aughe is slated to receive his award on April 2, 2012, at the National AAAA convention in Nashville, Tenn.

Each year the AAAA honors a noncom-missioned officer in the rank of sergeant (E-5) or above who has made an out-standing individual contribution to Army aviation during the year. The award is named in honor of Sgt. 1st Class Rodney J. T. Yano, a helicopter crew chief killed in action in Vietnam in 1969. Yano post-humously received the Medal of Honor for saving the lives of the other members of his helicopter crew after being mor-tally wounded.

The AAAA selected Aughe for this honor on the basis of his technical skill and his dedication to the medevac mission. The AAAA selection committee also recog-nized that Aughe has invariably gone the extra mile to train, mentor and lead junior Soldiers in his unit.

Since June 2011, Aughe’s unit has been conducting medevac operations in support of U.S. Marines in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Helmand Province has seen signifi cant kinetic activity, and during one 90-day period, Aughe took part in more than 150 combat medevac missions. The patients included U.S. Marines, Afghan National Army soldiers, local Afghan citizens, and Taliban fi ght-ers. On every mission, Aughe gave 100% and brought his 20-plus years of emer-gency medicine experience to bear for the patients under his care. The result was that in each case the patient received the best medical care possible from the

By Maj. Christopher A. HollandCommander, Charlie Co., 1st Bn., 171st Aviation Regiment

NMNG fl ight medic earns national Aviation NCO of the Year for combat excellence

pickup site to the dropoff point at the medical treatment facility. Dozens of U.S. Marines, allied Soldiers and civilians are alive today because of Aughe’s skill and uncompromising excellence.

Many of Aughe’s medevac missions have involved severe life-threatening inju-ries. Helmand Province is riddled with improvised explosive devices, and about 40 percent of Aughe’s medevac missions resulted from IED blasts. Aughe treated more than 20 Marines with amputations and many with double or triple amputa-tions. Dozens more suffered from gunshot wounds. The severity of these wounds speaks to the challenges that Aughe faced each day during months of sustained combat. On each occasion he rose to the challenge, calmly administering the best medical care possible under diffi cult combat circumstances.

One mission serves as an example of the trying conditions that Aughe faced on a daily basis. On that mission the helicop-ter crew landed their aircraft at a point-of-injury to evacuate a U.S. Marine who had lost a leg in an IED explosion. Due to the conditions of the landing area, the heli-copter crew was unable to land next to the wounded Marine; instead they landed about 100 meters away. The landing site was muddy, and upon touchdown, the aircraft sank a foot into the mud. Without hesitation, Aughe jumped from the aircraft and slogged through the muddy minefi eld to the wounded Marine. With the help of the injured Marine’s comrades, Aughe

dragged the dismembered patient 100 meters through the knee-deep mud to the waiting helicopter. Covered in mud, Aughe hauled the Marine on board the helicopter and calmly began medical treatment. He stabilized and comforted the patient during the 20-minute fl ight to the medical treat-ment facility.

Aughe has served in the New Mexico Army National Guard since 2009; his cur-rent tour in Afghanistan is his third cam-paign. He fi rst joined the Army in 1981 and served with the 82nd Airborne Division. He participated in the invasion of Grenada – Operation Urgent Fury – in 1982 and left the Army two years later. In civilian life, he studied emergency medicine and became a paramedic and later a registered nurse. He rejoined the military in 2006, fi rst with the Colorado Army National Guard and then with the New Mexico Army National Guard. Between 2007 and 2008 he served as a combat medic in Iraq with a Special Forces unit. He lives with his family in Ala-mosa, Colo., where he continues his work in the fi eld of emergency medicine as a helicopter fl ight nurse.

The other members of Charlie Com-pany are very proud that one of their own is receiving national recognition from the AAAA. “Sgt. Cliff Aughe is as humble and selfl ess as he is quick and relentless to provide care for those who can no longer take care of themselves on the battlefi eld,” said Staff Sgt. Christian Pool, a fl ight oper-ations NCO with Charlie Co. “His nature and values epitomize everything that the medevac mission and the NCO corps stand for.”

Sgt. Heath Petty—who nominated Aughe for AAAA’s top NCO award—said he did so because Aughe personifi es the principles of the NCO Creed. “The NCO Creed stresses that the role of the NCO is to ensure the accomplishment of the mis-sion and the welfare of the Soldiers under that NCO’s command. Sgt. Aughe lives by those principles 24 hours a day, each and every day.”


Lt. Col. Michele La Montagne has been selected to serve as the new director of staff, Joint Force Headquarters. La Mon-tagne previously served for two years as 150th Fighter Wing inspector general.

She said she is looking forward to the new challenge and a change in career. Being selected for this new position gives her the opportunity for new challenges, growth, and learning, and she says she is eager to make contributions to the staff and the Guard as a whole.

With this position comes a new set of duties and responsibilities for La Mon-tagne. She will serve as an advisor to the Adjutant General, the assistant adjutant general-Air, chief of staff and the 150th Wing commander; and will provide coun-sel for developing and coordinating all programs, policies, and plans to ensure the wartime and local response readiness of the New Mexico National Guard.

One of the challenges she will face will be to effectively perform her job duties and provide the appropriate level of support to

the command while serving as a drill status Guardsman. The former director of staff was a full-time employee and has transi-tioned to another full-time position within the NMNG. This is a challenge for any of our “traditional” Guardsmen since they have to meet all the military requirements [i.e. ancillary training] while striving to be profi cient in their job duties.

La Montagne’s drive and self-determi-nation keeps her stepping up, preparing for new challenges, and prevents complacency from ever settling in, she acknowledged.

“I have loved every job that I have held in the Wing, and I don’t anticipate this will be any different,” said La Montagne. “Every job has its ups and downs, but what counts is turning your obstacles into opportunities. How could you not love a job with countless opportunities?”

It is this kind of perseverance that has made her career a success militarily as well as in the private sector. She received her commission via the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1992 and was on active duty for eight

and a half years. She left active duty in 2000 with the hope of becoming a member of the NMANG. Her dream came true, and she became a member of the 150th in 2001.

In the 150th, she was an aircraft main-tenance offi cer for several years before serving as the IG. As for her ‘real’ life, she works for The Bell Group/Rio Grande as a business coach and is also very active in sports and fi tness pursuits.

By Master Sgt. Paula Aragon150th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Offi ce

La Montagne is newdirector of staff at JFHQ

Jaramillo, 150th Maintenance Groupcommander, pins on eaglesBy Master Sgt. Paula Aragon150th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

Lt. Col. Daniel Jaramillo was promoted to colonel on Dec. 4, 2012, at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque. With humbled refl ection and enthusiastic forward vision, Jaramillo pinned on the eagles.

The 150th Maintenance Group commander’s promotion was resonant with self-expressed gratitude and appreciation. His gratitude and humility stem from the broad confi dence held by his fellow Guardsmen. The enthusiasm of his forward vision was clearly communicated from his commitment to duty, clarity of pur-pose, and signature selfl ess nature. Jaramillo’s promotion, as well as his entire career, is all about service—to the mission and his fellow comrades in arms.

When asked about what this promotion means to him, the future, and what mutual expectations he and his Airmen should have for each other, Jaramillo provided simple, yet profound answers.

“What this promotion means to me,” said Jaramillo “is that people trust me to serve them, meet the mission, and make them successful.” He added, “this is simply an honor—the faith

my superiors have entrusted in me and the confi dence my people have of me.”

In looking toward the future, he offered a passionate pledge and a rousing challenge. “We have the fi nest people and most com-petent professionals to meet this mission,” said Jaramillo. “This is our future! We have to be the masters in our AFSCs (occupations), duties, and the mission put in front of us, and our performance will set the tone for the future of the 150th. I promise to provide a chal-lenging professional environment to our Airmen, and I expect them to let me know when I am not.”

As promising and challenging as the future may be, Jaramillo proudly proclaims that this promotion couldn’t have come to be without all the excellent people who have supported him through-out his military service. And to all the men and women of the 150th Maintenance Group, he adds, “It is my honor and privilege to lead and serve you!”

Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 11Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 11

New Mexico Air National GuardWhat’s so important about Air Force Values?

By Chief Master Sgt. Richard Mandeville

For want of a nail…the battle was lost!I have often asked folks in various set-

tings to consider the saying “Practice makes perfect”, and watched with amuse-ment when I told them it was a lie! It is, at best, not accurate…If you practice a mis-take, what do you learn? So then, “Perfect practice makes perfect”—everything else just makes a mess.

The importance of the Air National Guard and Air Force missions to our state and nation requires us to adhere to a higher standard than normally found in civilian life. Every person must remain accountable for his or her own actions, both in the perfor-mance of duties and in personal conduct. Our Air Force Core Values must always be taken into account and refl ected in every-thing we do:

Consider the job site—do you want to fl y on the aircraft of the maintainer whose atti-tude is “…that’s good enough…”? Do you want to eat food prepared by someone who doesn’t consider their skill “professional” in the kitchen? Do you want that uncaring, disgruntled person keeping track of your records or calculating your retirement? Would you like to be in the fi eld operating from intelligence developed by someone who would rather be playing video games?

On occasion I have been privileged to glimpse into troubled organizations, both military and civilian. What I have observed there, as they struggled for a modicum of success in fulfi lling their mission, marks the huge difference between an organization that recognizes the importance of every team member and those that don’t. Let me

be clear about what I am saying here: Air Force Core Values are more than words to be memorized in case a question is asked about them during the next board. Rather, they are thought out, universal maxims for successful human interaction. So, then, these core values that we identify as our most closely held convictions, our moral high ground, must become more than words to be regurgitated by us at some appropriate moment.

For instance, I ask the people who work directly for me this question: “Tell me why you can’t be a chief?” Assuming that a per-son’s motive force will provide for essen-tial technical understanding that exceeds mediocrity, there is only one answer that truly will prevent a person from achieving that high success, i.e. “becoming that

chief.” If a person’s answer resembles “it’s all about me,” whatever the sub-ject matter being considered, then that person cannot

be, will not be successful. At the risk of overstating the case, but in the interest of clarity—you cannot know success until your people have been assisted in achieving it fi rst, so then, their success is your own. That applies whether you are at work, in or out of uniform, at home, at school…pick the setting. Personal suc-cess is predicated upon the personal success of those who are performing the process.

In the interest of provoking thought, here are the Air Force Core Values and some thoughts on each transcribed from the Professional Development Guide (AFP 36-2241):

Integrity – Being faithful to one’s convic-tions is part of integrity. Following principles, acting with honor, maintaining independent

judgment, and performing duties with impartiality help to maintain integrity and avoid confl icts of interest and hypocrisy.

Service Before Self – Truthful straight-forwardness is required. Fidelity, allegiance and devotion combine to form loyalty, the bond that holds the nation and federal government together and the balm against dissension and confl ict. Accountability, fairness, caring, respect, and promise-keeping all have their place and role to play when considering this core value.

Excellence in All We Do – In public ser-vice, competence is only the starting point. Every Airman is expected to be all they can be and to strive beyond mediocrity.

• Integrity• Service Before Self• Excellence In All We Do

http://www.riteintherain.com

http://www.riteintherain.com


The New Mexico National Guard Lieu-tenant Colonel Advisory Council was char-tered by Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General in late 2009. Montoya designated Col. Isidoro Hernandez as the fi rst facilitator of this motley group of offi -cers. The Advisory Council spent their ini-tial months developing and documenting their mission, vision, charter statement and business processes. Once that initial work was done, they began working on projects deemed high priority for the state of New Mexico.

The Advisory Council is the “strategic planning” arm of the NMNG. Their focus is to proactively plan, coordinate and imple-ment ideas and policies that will improve the NMNG.

In order to carry out this responsibility, they serve as a strategic thinking council continually looking out for the future of NMNG. While they may think strategically, they also realize that they may need to infl uence tactical actions that strengthen our foundation for strategic events. The council holds themselves accountable to our warriors’ future of the NMNG.


By Lt. Col. Ken NavaDeputy Commanding Offi cer, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

Several of the lieutenant colonels have been trained as green belts or black belts in a process called continuous improvement process. This Department of Defense-man-dated process has been implemented sev-eral times in New Mexico with very good results. For example, the CIP process was used in reducing unliquidated funds in the G3, improving retention rates in the G1, improving offi cer performance report sub-missions in the Air Guard, improving sortie generation in the Air Guard, and most recently, improving the government travel card delinquency rate in the Army Guard.

The Advisory Council has, at present, three subcommittees: the strategic plans subcommittee, chaired by Lt. Col. Ted Chavez; the leadership development sub-committee, chaired by Lt. Col. Augustine Nakamoto; and the accountability sub-committee, chaired by Lt. Col. Nick Aranda.

The advisory council is how the state is trying to implement the guidance of senior leadership through practical and effi cient means. They are working toward our state vision recently adopted at the off-site con-ference last spring: “15 by 15.” The aim

of this vision is to establish objective and quantitative measures of our success in critical areas. The goal is to be in the top 15 in the nation by 2015 in all areas evalu-ated by National Guard Bureau.

The Advisory Council is a valuable tool for the leadership of the NMNG. Recently the deputy adjutant general, Brig. Gen. Paul Pena, tasked the group to work with the USPFO internal audit team to look at the Facility Management Offi ce.

All lieutenant colonels in both Army and Air Guard are welcome to attend and get involved. The diversity in the group ensures that we capitalize on all talent pools avail-able to the state. Colonels Severo Martinez, Donnie Quintana, Carla Romero, Danny Jaramillo and Isidoro Hernandez all served on the council and have been promoted and moved off the council.

The council has solidifi ed the corps of lieutenant colonels by working hand in hand on teams looking at both Army and Air Guard improvement. The New Mexico National Guard is continuously improving and is well on the way to becoming “15 by 15.”

Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners!The 150th Fighter Wing commander, Col. Joe A. Martinez, is pleased to announce the results of our 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the

Year for the New Mexico Air National Guard.Many top-notch Airmen were nominated for this most prestigious award to represent our state for 2012 in each of the respective

categories. Although only one was selected per category, it a signifi cant accomplishment and honor to receive a nomination.

Congratulations to ALL of the nominees for their out-standing performance and continued dedication to the mission. These Airmen are the embodiment of the Air Force Core Values.

The 2012 award recipi-ents are to be commended for receiving this esteemed honor in representing the New Mexico Air National Guard as they go on to compete in the national program.

Airman of the Year:Senior Airman Scott Pope,

150th Security Forces

NCO of the Year:Sgt. Evan Jones,

150th Security Forces

Senior NCO of the Year:Senior Master Sgt. Miguel Perez Jr.,

150th Fighter Wing/Maintenance Squadron

First Sergeant of the Year:Master Sergeant/1st Sgt. Michael Cupp,

150th Medical Group

Your 2012 Outstanding Airmen of the Year are as follows:


Surrounded by his family, friends and fellow Guardsmen, Command Sgt. Maj. James C. Martinez relinquished respon-sibility of the 93rd Brigade to incoming Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Rivera Dec. 3, 2011. The ceremony also coincided with Martinez’ retirement from the National Guard after 24 years of service.

Accolades honoring Martinez’ service made special mention of his instrumental efforts to create the 126th Military Police Company, the fi rst MP company in the state. He served as the company fi rst ser-geant during the unit’s deployment in sup-port of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

By Spc. Charles Martinez200th Public Affairs Detachment

Martinez hands over responsibility of 93rd to Rivera, then retires

He also served as command sergeant major of the 615th Transportation Battalion and as operations sergeant major of the 515th Regiment in Santa Fe. During this time, he assisted in the accreditation of the Warrior Leadership Course, the Offi cer Candidate School, and the 88M course.

His fi nal assignment as command ser-geant major and senior enlisted advisor of the 93rd Brigade placed the welfare of more than 1,625 Soldiers under his care. On top of this, he oversaw the brigade during several state missions, includ-ing fi res in Raton, Los Alamos, and the Wallow fi re; as well as Operation “Deep Freeze” during the natural gas outage in the Española and Taos areas.

Martinez was presented with the New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal and received letters of commendation and appreciation from Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Mon-toya, the Adjutant General, Gov. Susana Martinez, and the National Guard Bureau.

Additional tokens of appreciation were presented to Martinez at a dinner for him at Quarters in Albuquerque. He accepted them with dignity and thanked all who helped him along during his career.

Incoming Command Sgt. Maj. James M. Rivera wants to “continue to train as ‘Warfi ghters’ and be prepared for any mis-sion we are called to perform.” He praised all Soldiers who supported missions last year and wants to maintain that readiness. This includes APFT, Soldier tasks, Soldier care and maintaining focus on resiliency training. “I want all NCOs to make sure this is one of our training priorities as we continue to move forward. This is one area I will not take lightly and expect NCOs to pay attention to and continue to utilize the buddy system.”

Once again, the Soldiers of the 93rd Bri-gade will continue to have the professional experience and leadership of the best NCOs in the New Mexico National Guard.

Sgt. Pernell J. Herrera, the recently deceased New Mexico Army National Guardsman, was honored Jan. 12, 2012, by family, friends and fellow Guardsmen in his hometown of Espanola, then laid to rest at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Herrera, 33, a signal support systems specialist with C Company, 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment, out of Santa Fe, was pronounced dead on Dec. 31, 2011, after he suffered cardiac arrest after per-forming physical fi tness training in Helmand Province, Afghanistan.

His family and fellow Guardsmen gath-ered to welcome home his remains which were fl own to the Santa Fe Airport earlier on Jan. 10. Following a short memorial service on the tarmac, Herrera then took his fi nal fl ight on a Black Hawk helicopter to his hometown of Espanola.

Herrera deployed to Afghanistan with C company and performed a vital role in medevac operations as a “battlefi eld 9-1-1 dispatcher.” He was responsible for launching hundreds of missions to help bring in wounded Marines and Soldiers from the battlefi eld.

“Sgt. Herrera was truly an American hero for what he did,” said Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General. “Southern Afghanistan is a varied place that has Marines in four different forward operating bases. His communication kept helicopters in the air, kept Marines alive.”

His fellow Soldiers said that everybody loved him, his positive attitude and that it was a pleasure to have served with him.

“He usually had a smile on his face and was quick to offer kind words to everyone. He was a friend to every soldier in Charlie

Company,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kelly Duran, a lifelong friend and fellow Soldier.

Herrera enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard on May 18, 2006, and served honorably over the last fi ve and a half years. According to his family, he joined the New Mexico National Guard because he wanted to better himself and ensure opportunities for his children.

“We knew why he wanted to be there—he did it for his family, for his country, for his kids,“ said Denise Velarde, Herrera’s cousin. “He loved his kids very much. His whole world revolved around them, and he would do anything for them.”

Herrera is survived by his mother Doris Quintana, his brother Arthur Herrera, son Julian, 13, and daughter Alicia, 9.


Sgt. Pernell HerreraSgt. Pernell Herrera takes his final flight



By Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Williams and Staff Sgt. George GregoryCombat Training Unit (CTU), 2-515th RTI,New Mexico National Guard

Individual and collective training focus is shifting throughout the New Mexico National Guard. Rapid growth of force and focus on technology over the past decade demands profi ciency in the technical aspects of combat. Because of the high operations tempo and the need to learn new developments in technology, Soldiers have had to sacrifi ce ground combat basics in order to adapt to the equipment.

Maj. Gen. Kenny C. Montoya, the Adjutant General, has ordered a priority shift in training—to get back to the basics. His driving concern is for the safety of New Mexico National Guard Soldiers and Airmen. With Guard mobilizations decreasing, Montoya has made it clear that during this reset period, Soldiers and Airmen will focus on realistic and relevant training to ensure that we are pre-pared to serve the local communities as well as locations through-out the world.

The Combat Training Unit—formerly Combat Arms Training Company—has been tasked with turning the state’s training focus back to the training on which the CATC was formed to pro-vide to our deploying forces. The CTU has begun internal profi -ciency training to polish and improve skill sets to better train New Mexico National Guard units. Emphasis on advanced weapons training, urban operations, combatives, tactical casualty care and survival are paramount to the success of our Soldiers and Airmen

on the asymmetric battlefi eld, as well as within our communities and state missions.

Instructors for the CTU are required to maintain profi ciency in all of these tasks and are expected to continue independent research in order to be fl exible and adaptive to their students’ needs. CTU instructors will convey information in a multi-level format to better develop Soldiers’ and Airmen’s skills in both indi-vidual and collective tasks.

Montoya has directed the major subordinate commands to work closely with the CTU to develop realistic, relevant and quality training for all units and activities. It is through this partnership with New Mexico’s commanders and the CTU that profi ciency of our Soldiers and Airmen will go “beyond the standard.”

Over the past year the Combat Arms Training Company, now the Combat Training Unit, has supported our deploying NMNG Soldiers by providing them with realistic and relevant training in preparation for worst-case scenarios against an enemy with a global reach.

The CTU Soldiers pride themselves on training Soldiers for the best and worst mission sets to get the unit through required training tasks prior to mobilization. Many instructors spend hours of personal time doing independent research on the latest trends and projected threats worldwide. With what they learn, they develop instructional situations that force Guardsmen to think fast and make good decisions. State and unit leadership and the staff at Ranges strongly support such experience-based training.

In this past year, CATC trained 478 soldiers on critical tasks needed for their deployment to Multinational Force Observers,

CATC: New name, new mission

By Sgt. 1st Class Patrick WilliamsCombat Training Unit Operations NCO


Sinai, Egypt. Although these tasks were taught in a classroom, CATC instructors combined like tasks into a culminating practical exercise. Soldiers and leaders learned from one another and what was expected of them in a combat simulated environment. Nothing beats scenario-based training involving everyone.This proved true for units who rotated through the Pre-mobilization Training Assistance Element cycle with CATC. The leaders and Soldiers worked out “bugs” instead of having to figure things out in real combat.

Instructional changes are under way in several directions. We currently have two Level IV Modern Army Combatives Program certified instructors making changes to the

Levels I and II MACP courses because of lessons learned from Soldiers who

adapted or fell short in real-world close conflict. The instructors

are taking the program to the next level by incorporating restraint, detainment and using teamwork to finish the fight when in full kit within confined or open spaces.

What was once compartmentalized training has become combined training, which works to instill confidence, aggres-siveness, control and professionalism. Urban Operations is combining with mobil-ity to have Soldiers and Airmen capable of operating in peacekeeping operations and state emergency response as well as combat. Soldiers and Airmen must understand the constraints needed in a peacekeeping operation, but they need to be prepared for any escalation to a deadly encounter.

Leadership development will be CTU’s priority focus so that platoon leaders can take back to their units training plans that

closely reflect what every other unit in the state is doing. Then, when units come together on a mission, they’ll integrate easily.

Finally, the plan is to integrate a unit’s Mission Essential Task List /Civil Support Task List into training cycles to fulfill annual training requirements. Units can easily make the connection between mission and training.

Realistic training is a lifelong journey. Troops must continually prepare for a changing environment and learn from those who got it right and those who didn’t. CTU can help that ongoing education.

Contact G-3 to secure your block on the yearly training calendar for drill and annual training.



http://goarmy.com/rotc/q651



Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 17Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 17 Spring 2012 / NEW MEXICO National Guard 17

New Mexico National Guard, New Mexico State Police, New Mexico Depart-ment of Transportation, Curry County Sher-iff’s Offi ce, and rescue teams conducted a successful consolidated effort on Dec. 20, 2011, to save the lives of a family stranded in an 8-to-10-foot snow drift along U.S. 56 near Springer during a powerful snow-storm that blanketed the area.

David and Yvonne Higgins and their 5-year-old daughter Hannah were stranded in their vehicle for more than 36 hours. They had a supply of clothing, food and water which helped to sustain them.

Soldiers from the 615th Transportation Battalion and the 720th Transportation Company were called upon to respond, along with state police, search and rescue teams in 4-wheel-drive vehicles and NMDOT trucks with plows used to plow through the heavy snow and 8-to-10-foot drifts as Guardsmen and search and rescue teams probed the snow looking for the vehicle.

A search and rescue team member struck the hood of the vehicle with a probe and had to dig through four feet of ice and snow to get to the family of three, who were clinging to each other, though lethar-gic, when found.

The mission began with three separate missions leaving the armory and Warrant Offi cer 1 Andrew Martinez, FMS 4A super-visor in Springer, serving as the offi cer in charge of the fi rst mission to leave. They encountered demanding winter driving conditions through which Martinez’ team navigated 42 miles before hitting near whi-teout conditions and winds in excess of 60 miles per hour.

Martinez slowed his mission to near crawl speeds until it was no longer feasible to move forward. He implemented a rest plan for Soldiers on the mission. The Sol-diers had adequate provisions and equip-ment to overnight if necessary and enough extra fuel on the movement to ensure that vehicles could idle throughout the night.

Martinez also developed a plan to send Soldiers affected by the long hours back to the armory for rest in conjunction with the recovery of a light medium tactical vehicle which had both windows broken out because of the extreme cold weather.

“I was contemplating switching crews, but I was worried about losing the initia-tive since the movement also involved coordination with DOT scrapers and loaders,” said Maj. Nathan Lara, adminis-trative offi cer for the 615th. “If I removed Martinez’ crew and replaced them with the Las Vegas crew, it might have been necessary to re-dig to get to the same point. Martinez’ rest plan, his identifi cation of service members too tired to continue, and his plan to push them to the rear told me he was monitoring this—still making sound and informed decisions despite being awake for close to 24 hours.”

“Being the convoy commander of a mission of this capacity would never have crossed my mind,” said Martinez. “My entire military career, having been part of the maintenance and recovery sections, has meant to be in the rear of convoys,

repairing and recovering vehicles. This mission would not have been a success without the leadership, courage, and loy-alty displayed by the Soldiers of the 615th Transportation Battalion and 720th Trans-portation Company.”

The actions of all involved in the rescue mission were well noted by Gov. Susana Martinez. “The bravery and dedication demonstrated by members and employ-ees of the New Mexico National Guard, the New Mexico State Police, and the Depart-ment of Transportation was truly heroic,” said Martinez. “Thanks to their actions, a family was saved from a life-threatening emergency, and a father, mother, and child are now recovering from their injuries. We are all grateful for the continued com-mitment of the men and women who are charged with keeping New Mexicans safe, especially during the recent string of winter storms and unpredictable weather.”

The New Mexico National Guard responded to approximately 32 other stranded vehicles carrying 63 people. Martinez’ mission helped recover more than 20 of the 32 vehicles.

Guard Soldiers assist first responders to rescue family Compiled from contributions by Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall, Joint Forces Headquarters property book offi cer; Maj. Nathan Lara, 615th Transportation Battalion administrative offi cer; and Lt. Robert McDonald, N.M. State Police public information offi cer


EDINBURGH, Ind. – Thousands of service members and civilians train at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center every year to deploy in support of missions around the globe, typically to Afghanistan, Kosovo or the Horn of Africa. More than 400 New Mexico Guardsmen are here preparing for a different mission, a mission that was set in place more than 30 years ago by a president, in offi ce before many of these Soldiers were born, to help ensure peace between the coun-tries of Egypt and Israel.

These Guardsmen are training to deploy in support of the Multinational Force & Observers, a force independent from the United Nations or NATO, comprising twelve contingents including Australia, Colombia, Canada, the Czech Republic, the Republic of the Fiji Islands, France, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Norway, the United States and Uruguay. Their mission is to monitor the implementation of the Egypt-Israel Peace Treaty and assist in ensuring that all best efforts are employed to prevent viola-tions of that treaty.

The MFO dates back to President Jimmy Carter. When Egypt and Israel origi-nally signed their peace treaty, enforce-ment of it was watched over by a United Nations force. On March 26, 1979, the day the treaty was signed, Carter wrote identi-cal letters to both Egypt and Israel, promis-ing various commitments to the region that would help maintain a multinational force, should the U.N. fail to resume the respon-sibility past their mandate of July 1979.

In July 1979, the U.N. withdrew from the area. The MFO has been upholding Carter’s promise ever since, helping the two countries maintain peace in a turbu-lent part of the world.

Lt. Col. Miguel Aguilar, Albuquerque native and commander of the 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry, said, as they deploy in sup-port of MFO 56, “This mission is unique in that our Soldiers aren’t really asked to do anything other than observe and report. We aren’t necessarily tasked with enforc-ing the treaty, per se, so much as simply reporting any violations so that they can be handled accordingly.”

By Staff Sgt. Matt Scotten, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs

Aguilar said that the goal is to maintain a successful treaty that has helped main-tain peace for over 30 years, and Camp Atterbury has done an exemplary job of preparing him and his Soldiers for a suc-cessful deployment.

“Camp Atterbury is a fantastic place,” said Aguilar. “The training has been great; we felt very welcomed, and the training staff from the 205th Infantry Brigade has been very good about working with the unit that is currently in Egypt and ensuring that the training is specifi cally tailored to our unique mission.”

Lt. Col. Aaron West, commander, 1st Battalion, 290th Regiment, 205th Infantry Brigade, responsible for the MFOs’ mobi-lization training, likened the unit’s training at Atterbury to a sports team’s preseason games, saying that it enables them to practice skills they need on their deploy-ment by actually performing those skills in a realistic, scenario-driven environment.

“We can’t duplicate what they will expe-rience in Egypt, but we can most certainly replicate it,” said West. “We have access to all the necessary training facilities, simu-lators and subject matter experts to allow them to prepare for the kinds of operations that are happening in that part of the world

right now.”The Soldiers training for deployment

come from diverse backgrounds, rang-ing from seasoned veterans with multiple deployments to others who have never deployed before. Sgt. 1st Class Richard George, a Farmington, N.M., native and pla-toon sergeant with the 919th Military Police Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry, said that many of his Soldiers have never deployed before, and he thinks that makes this mission particularly ideal for them.

“Because it is an observational mission, this gives my younger Soldiers a chance to experience a deployment, but they don’t have to worry so much about getting shot at or blown up on their fi rst tour overseas,” said George.

Trainers from the 205th have done everything they can to make sure that the training is as thorough as possible. Soldiers from the unit currently in theater on the MFO mission have fl own to Camp Atterbury to brief Soldiers personally on what to expect when they get there. Cpl. Chad Zollo, Albuquerque native and fi re team leader, 1st Platoon, 2nd Squad, “B” Company, 1st Battalion, 200th Infantry Regiment, said his training at Camp Atter-bury has been excellent thus far.

By Staff Sgt. Matt Scotten, Camp Atterbury Public Affairs


By Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall

Brig. Gen. Juan Griego, land component commander, pro-moted Chief Warrant Offi cer 4 Donald Bragg to chief warrant offi -cer 5 in a ceremony on Feb. 12, 2012. Bragg was accompanied by his wife Sherri, whom he has been married to for 35 years. Also present for the ceremony were his son, Sgt. Jeffrey Bragg, his wife Julie and children Hunter and Tylon, and daughter Sunny and her children, Casey and Alex.

Bragg’s father-in-law, retired Guardsman Chief WarrantOffi cer 4 Willard Lamb and his wife Joan did the honor of pinning the new rank on.

“My wife has been supportive of me my entire career,” said the newly promoted Bragg. “She grew up in a Guard family with her dad Willard, so she understands the time we have to be away and all of the challenges that we encounter in the military. I attribute my success to my wife’s never ending support.”

Bragg’s maintenance career includes 11 years in Air Defense, 10 years in Field Artillery, and the last seven years at Joint Forces Headquarters G4 as MAIT team member and state readiness offi -cer. Bragg will be assigned as the state command chief warrant

offi cer, inactive duty training, and will remain as FMS2 shop chief in Las Cruces.

When asked what his new job will entail, he responded “to take care of the junior warrant offi cers and their career fi elds.”

Bragg is the only warrant offi cer left in the New Mexico National Guard who graduated in 1991 from the only NMARNG Warrant Offi ce Basic Course run in our state.

Bragg promoted to chief warrant offi cer 5

“My squad is currently tasked with being the North Camp response team when we get there,” said Zollo, “so our training has been a little more rigorous and in-depth than some of the other squads have been doing.”

Zollo’s squad has trained extensively in skills such as vehicle recognition, espe-cially as it pertains to identifying armored vehicles, since they are prevalent in the area, particularly the Gaza Strip. They have also been trained to recognize potential improvised explosive devices and unex-ploded ordnance, not only because of Al Qaida’s known presence in the region, but also because of the large number of land mines in the area.

“The wind will shift and suddenly expose mines,” said Zollo, “so we have been doing a lot of battle drills to help pre-pare ourselves.”

Zollo said he felt extremely prepared by his training, but the opportunity to train with Soldiers from the unit currently in the-ater was possibly the most valuable part of his time at Atterbury.

“We have gone through all the slide shows and all the classes over and over, trying to prepare ourselves,” said Zollo, “but to actually talk to subject matter experts from MFO 55, with not only real-

world experience, but recent real-world experience, standing there telling us what has changed and what to expect when we get there was extremely educational.”

Although in partnership with 11 other countries, the United States provides the largest contingent of the MFO, even as two-thirds of the force is fi nanced by Egypt and Israel, as they are the parties most directly interested in the program’s suc-cess. According to Zollo, the long-standing success of the mission is one of the things that make the MFO mission unique.

“It’s one of the longest effective peace-keeping operations,” said Zollo. “There are a lot of other countries that come together to form the MFO, and it is effective.”

For Spc. Jessica Griego, Albuquerque, native and mail clerk and human resources specialist with the 1-200, this is her fi rst deployment. She said she feels not only nervous, but excited as well.

“This is a whole new experience. It’s a little nerve-wracking,” said Griego. “I feel like we’ve been well prepared, though. They have given us all sorts of training, and they have made sure to take the time to fi eld all of our questions and make us all feel as prepared as possible. I feel like fi rst-timers like me have a lot of really great people here in our unit that we can rely on.

A lot of our leaders are experienced, and they work to make sure that younger Sol-diers know what to expect.”

The Soldiers of MFO 56 will continue to train at Camp Atterbury into early March as they prepare for their deployment. Soldiers like Zollo and Griego deploy with a sense of pride at the opportunity to take part in a successful and long-standing peacekeep-ing operation.

This multinational force of a dozen different nations from all over the world stands watch over a lasting peace in a part of the world that has been torn by war for centuries.

Because of Soldiers like those from the 1-200th, as well as their peers from 11 other countries, President Carter’s words on March 26, 1979, continue to ring true. “Obviously time and understanding will be necessary for people, hitherto enemies, to become neighbors in the best sense of the word. Just because a paper is signed, all the problems will not automatically go away. Future days will require the best of us all to give reality to these lofty aspira-tions. Let those who would shatter peace, who would callously spill blood, be aware that we three and all others who may join us will vigorously wage peace.”


Chief Warrant Offi cer 4 Delfi n Medina closed out a distinguished military career of more than 33 years, leaving the ranks of the New Mexico Army National Guard in December 2011. Medina’s career started in 1973 when he attended basic training at Fort Ord, Calif. Leaving his home in north-ern New Mexico at age 18, he embarked on a career which would eventually lead him back to New Mexico and to the National Guard to become one of the most respected warrant offi cers among his peers.

Pfc. Medina reported to his fi rst active duty assignment in Fort Bragg, N. C., and was immediately assigned as the UH1 helicopter crew chief. After four years, he had moved to the position of the 18th Air-borne Corps commander’s VIP crew chief. An assignment followed to Panama, where his sweetheart Yolanda joined him to get

married in 1976. He left military service in 1980 as a staff sergeant and returned to his New Mexico home.

Sgt. 1st Class Jerry Smith, a very persistentNew Mexico Army National Guard recruiter, succeeded in getting Medina to join the Guard in 1984. His fi rst assignment was in the Duster unit in Springer, N. M. Eventually he was reas-signed as a mechanic to the 717th Aviation Medical Det. in Santa Fe, and he became a full-time technician in 1985.

Medina attended Warrant Offi cer Can-didate School in 1998, where he became a 151A, aviation maintenance technician. He remained at the Army Aviation Support Facility from 1985 to 2004, holding various

positions ranging from mechanic, mainte-nance supervisor, and production control offi cer. Medina served as the Joint Forces Headquarters state safety manager in his fi nal position in the Guard. He ascended through the ranks retiring as a chief war-rant offi cer 4 after more than 33 years in service.

”The main reason I joined was to advance in life, and receive an education,” Medina said when asked about why he joined the military. “As time progressed, I realized that serving in the military was an honor, which is what made me decide to remain in the military.”

His son, Mario Medina, is also a warrant offi cer in the National Guard. “I am proud that he became a warrant offi cer and even prouder that he became an aviator. That was something I always wanted to do, and that was my life dream. However, due to my color blindness, I could not accomplish that dream,” said Medina.

Chief has a few words of advice for the young Guardsmen of today. “You can accomplish anything you want in the Guard; it just takes hard work. You are not going to have anything given to you. Work ethic is what will get you places and the respect of the community in which you serve. Respect is something earned, not given. “

Medina was instrumental in the success of many of the Warrant Offi cer Advisory Council events, especially the huge and successful visit to Fort Stanton last summer. Medina’s expertise and knowledge will be greatly missed. He looks forward to enjoy-ing time with the family, his wife Yolanda, daughter Priscilla and son Mario.

Medina retires with more than33 years of military serviceBy Chief Warrant Offi cer 2 Anna Hall Property Book Offi cer, Joint Forces Headquarters

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Thirty-six cadets from the New Mexico Youth ChalleNGe Academy recently com-pleted the Pre-ChalleNGe phase of their training at the Oñate Training Complex in Santa Fe. This phase marked the second week of their acclimation into the program. The youth offi cially transitioned from can-didates to cadets and unfurled their class guidon during a ceremony at the Regional Training Institute Jan. 27, 2012.

The cadets spent an entire week in Santa Fe, staying at the Regional Train-ing Institute and training at different loca-tions on the complex. Their normal cadre was supplemented by volunteers from the New Mexico Army and Air National Guard. Guard members split responsibility into 26-hour blocks, rotated among mem-bers of the 93rd Brigade, 111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 150th Fighter Wing, and Joint Forces Headquarters.

In addition to multiple physical training sessions led by the cadre, cadets received survival training and navigated the complex obstacle course and rappel tower under the watchful eyes of instructors from the Combined Arms Training Company. The survival training included how to collect water and food in the wilderness and con-struct shelters. The instruction culminated with killing, fi eld dressing, and cooking of a chicken and rabbit.

“The training is not hard—just mentally challenging,” said Cadet Cody Chandler from Albuquerque. “It is helping to build my self-confi dence.”

During the transition ceremony, Cadets Taylor Carrasco and Priscilla Villa received challenge coins from Brig. Gen. Paul Peña, deputy adjutant general, for exemplary performance. Peña was joined by NMYCA co-directors Maj. Alric Pugh, retired Brig. Gen. Jack Fox and JFHQ Chief of Staff Col. Brian Baca to congratulate the cadets as they received their certifi cates.

“Overall, this is a motivated group,” 1st Lt. Sam Beene, NMYCA shift supervisor, said of the cadets. “We’re hoping to see

them all here on graduation day.”The Youth ChalleNGe program assists

high school dropouts in completing their education by fostering discipline and confi -dence in a quasi-military environment. The eight core components of the program are life skills, academic excellence, job skills, responsible citizenship, physical fi tness, health and hygiene, leadership and follow-ership, and service to the community.

“These are not bad kids,” said Pugh. “They just – for whatever reason – do not like going to school.” During the 22.5-week resident course, cadets can earn a General Equivalency Diploma and 15 to 18 hours of college credit from Eastern New Mexico University in Roswell. Cadets attend GED classes during the day and college classes in automotive technology, welding tech-nology, and the certifi ed nursing assistant program in the evening.

According to Capt. Christopher Lara, NMYCA commandant, more than half of the cadets in each cycle leave with their GEDs in hand, and some take home their qualifi cations as CNAs as well. The NMYCA conducts two training cycles a year. Each cadet is required to have a mentor for a

yearlong follow-up after graduation. Pro-spective cadets and mentors can visit http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/nm/ for further information.

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary, HHC, 111th MEB, NMNGPhotos by Joseph Vigil, NMNG Public Affairs Specialist

Youth ChalleNGe cadets complete acclimation phase in Santa Fe

http://www.ngycp.org/site/state/nm/


In keeping with the fi nest traditions of the Warrant Offi cer Corps and the New Mexico National Guard, a group of war-rant offi cers made a special holiday visit with recovering Soldiers at the Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Bliss, Texas, on Dec. 7, 2011. Chief Warrant Offi cers 5 Vicente Fernandez and Juan Espinosa, Chief Warrant Offi cers Arthur Buhl, Manny Frias, Delfi n Medina, Jesse Espinosa, Lawrence Jiron, Donald Bragg, NathanTrujillo, Karl Trujillo, Erwin Baca, Leticia Lopez and Joseph Sanchez, along with Command Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas and Sgt. 1st Class Martin Gallegos had the pleasure of touring the beautiful WTU facility, meet-ing with assigned Soldiers and interacting with WTU staff.

Frias talked with a young Soldier who said he was “extremely excited to be recently evaluated as ‘fi t for duty’ and could not wait to get back out to the fi eld.” The Soldiers assigned to the WTU were

in high spirits and were happy to see the team of NMNG warrant offi cers there to support their recovery.

To provide the best support possible and maximize their short visit, the team of warrant offi cers split into two groups following the tour, wrapped 130 gifts and decorated the WTU main lobby. Wrapping the gifts was not only fun for the team,

but a learning experience for Fernandez since he had not had much practice in wrapping gifts. Buhl also sang Christmas carols to the team for entertainment. The WTU staff was enthusiastic and grateful to the teams for decorating the Christmas tree, lobby and donating money for the WTU Christmas party.

Lori M. Boruff, human resources admin-istrative assistant, commended the war-rant offi cers and the New Mexico National Guard by saying she was “so grateful and truly appreciated our effort and support of the Warrior Transition Unit.”

The warrant offi cers’ visit continued their annual tradition of supporting those who are less fortunate during the holi-day season. The visit not only continues to build the already strong camaraderie among the warrant offi cer rank; it shows the true compassion and professionalism of the warrant offi cers and the New Mexico National Guard.

Warrant offi cers’ visit lifts Soldiers’ spirits at the Warrior Transition UnitBy Chief Warrant Offi cer 3 Thomas Nathan Trujillo, Joint Forces Headquarters Property Book Offi cer

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The Regional Training Institute recently awarded eight Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment, safety awards for the outstanding safety training within the regi-ment. The 88M course Soldiers drove more than 50,000 miles over the past two years without any incidents or accidents. This accomplishment was achieved with instructors driving during the course with inexperienced student drivers on and off road. The mileage milestone also included state missions tasked from the G-3 in support of other programs and activities statewide. Per-sonnel were awarded Army Achievement Awards and a trophy for their accomplishments. Those awarded were: Col. Eric Judkins presents awards to 2nd Battalion staff instructors for safety award recognition.

Master Sgt. Reyes MarquezMaster Sgt. Kimberly TurnerSgt. 1st Class Wael AlyasiSgt. 1st Class Jonathan Miera

Staff Sgt. Joaquin CasiasStaff Sgt. Juan MontoyaStaff Sgt. Gabriel LovatoStaff Sgt. Cesar Urrutia

88M Battalion Operations NCO88M course manager

senior instructorsenior instructor

primary instructorprimary instructorprimary instructorprimary instructor

By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State Public Affairs Offi cer

88M course drives over 50,000accident-free miles, earns safety awards

Cover photo for Guardian East Magazine, July 2011 by Spc. Evan Lane

The 2011 National Guard Bureau Media Contest results are in, and two members from the recently redeployed 200th Public Affairs Detachment were winners in the Deployed photo contest. Staff Sgt. Anna Doo took fi rst place with her “Ready to Respond” photo. Spc. Evan Lane earned second place with a photo featured on the cover of Guardian East Magazine, July

2011. More than 800 entries from 44 states and one territory were judged.

Top Army National Guard entries are forwarded to the Army’s Maj. Gen. Keith L. Ware Public Affairs competition. His-torically, the National Guard as a whole performs extremely well at these higher level competitions.

Cover photo for Cover photo for NMNG photojournalists sweep NGB Media Photo contest NMNG photojournalists sweep NMNG photojournalists sweep

Ready to Respondby Staff Sgt. Anna Doo

By Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State Public Affairs Offi cer


NEWS BRIEFS

Staff Sgt. Michael Romero served as the master of ceremonies. Distinguished guests included Brig. Gen. Paul Peña, deputy adjutant general; Col. Brian Baca, chief of staff; Col. Donnie Quintana, con-struction and facilities management offi -cer; Lt. Col. Anthony Leal, commander of the 515th Combat Sustainment Sup-port Battalion; Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, state public affairs offi cer; 93rd Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. James Rivera; Sgt. Maj. Melanie Suazo, Joint Forces Head-quarters personnel sergeant major; and 1st Sgt. Eric Giles of the RTI.

New Mexico’s transportation compa-nies are normally assigned to the 615th, but are presently under the 515th, as members of the 615th will deploy to the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt later this year.

ESGR fosters goodworking relationships between employers and service membersBy Capt. Eizabeth FoottCommander, 200th Public Affi ars Detachment

When service members return from deployment, many issues and con-cerns may weigh on their minds: tran-sition from active back to inactive duty training status, navigating the huge paperwork jungle, and returning to or fi nding employment.

A critical employment piece of the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve program is advocating with employers. This program initiative was strongly emphasized on Military and Veterans Day at the New Mexico Legis-lature on Feb. 6.

During the legislative session, a proclamation which recognizes the importance of having citizen Soldiers holding and acquiring meaningful jobs was read aloud by Senator Carroll Leavell (R-Jal) to legislative members. The proclamation was written and provided by ESGR with the intent of underlining the necessity of support-ing our service members. In addition, a statement of support which highlights a framework of relations in various areas

between the employer and employee was provided to and signed by mem-bers of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

ESGR was instituted to assist service members with employment issues such as returning to work from deployment and performing regular inactive duty and annual training activi-ties. However, ESGR has now evolved into an organization that also encom-passes employer support and recogni-tion. Further, ESGR seeks to promote and encourage employers to support and value their employees that are in the military.

Other ESGR programs include employer recognition, ombudsmen resources regarding the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemploy-ment Act, and the Employer Initiative Program.

New Mexico State Guard volunteers serve proudlyBy Lt. Col. John BowersChief of Staff, New Mexico State Guard

The New Mexico State Guard’s pri-

mary mission is to support the New Mexico Army National Guard and communities throughout the “Land of Enchantment.” Members of the NMSG operate under the sole authority of the state government and are partially reg-ulated by the National Guard Bureau, but are not a part of the Army National Guard of the United States. All mem-bers serve as volunteers and are not paid for the professional services they bring to us. Many are retired military members who continue to serve, but others serve because of their strong commitment to our communities and state. The NMSG is a force multiplier for the National Guard that enables us to respond quickly and effi ciently to all missions.

The volunteers who make up the

Eleven graduate from motor transport courseBy Sgt. 1st Class Douglas MallaryHHC, 111th MEB

Command Sgt. Maj. Andy Maestas of the 615th Transportation Battalion delivered the commencement address as 11 Soldiers graduated from the Motor Transport Operator Reclassifi cation Course at the Regional Training Insti-tute in Santa Fe on Feb. 3, 2012. The graduates of Class 002-12 have now met all requirements to be awarded the military occupational specialty of 88M.

Maestas, a 38-year veteran, congratu-lated the graduates for being able to com-plete in four weeks what normally takes seven weeks of training. He pointed out that the Soldiers trained on a wide variety of “some of the world’s most complex and advanced equipment.” Maestas reminded the newly qualifi ed operators of the importance of safely driving and maintaining their vehicles while remain-ing accountable for their equipment and cargo both on and off the road.

“Transportation personnel must have the highest discipline,” Maestas told the Soldiers. “You were chosen to be here for a reason,” he added. To illustrate his point, Maestas stressed that the transportation of Soldiers and cargo is critical to the success of ongo-ing real-world missions.

Spc. Scott Dickson from New York was selected as the honor graduate for the class. Cpl. Johnny Stone of Texas served as class leader. The other gradu-ates and their home states were Sgt. 1st Class Wilton Acker, New Mexico (RTI); Spc. John Arredondo, Texas; Spc. Jeffrey Bates, Tennessee; Spc. Michael Baze, Texas; Spc. Justin Grantham, Texas; Spc. Korey Thompson, Wyoming; Spc. Ernie Saiz, New Mexico (1116th Trans. Co.); Staff Sgt. Cecil Shuman, Georgia; and Staff Sgt. Docklure Stephanus, New Mexico (RTI).

The offi cial party consisted of Mae-stas, RTI Command Sgt. Maj. Matt Aragon and Master Sgt. Reyes Marquez, operations noncommissioned offi cer for 2nd Battalion, 515th Regiment (RTI).


NEWS BRIEFSto noon and at Bicentennial Park from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To answer questions and assist with the registration, each major command in the state has designated points of contact for their respective members.

• The POCs for the 93rd Brigade are1st Sgt. Rudolph Checkley at [email protected] or (505) 474-1721 and Sgt. 1st Class Maurice Gomez at [email protected] or (505) 474-1726.

• The POC for members of the 111th Maneu-ver Enhancement Brigade is Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Mallary at [email protected] or (505) 474-1852.

• Sgt. 1st Class Leonard Fechter is the POC for Regional Training Institute personnel at [email protected] or (505) 474-1912.

• Senior Master Sgt. Miguel Perez is the POC for New Mexico Air National Guard mem-bers and he may be contacted at [email protected] or (505) 846-8201.

• Sgt. 1st Class Mark Weingates is the POC for Joint Forces Headquarters personnel. He can be reached at [email protected] or (505) 474-1895.

NMSG are authorized by AR 670-1, NGR 10-4, and The Adjutant General to wear a modifi ed version of the Army combat uniform. The modifi cations include (a) a full-color New Mexico state fl ag in lieu of the full-color U.S. fl ag on the right shoul-der, (b) a subdued NMSG shoulder sleeve insignia on the left shoulder, and (c) a NEW MEXICO tape in lieu of the U.S. ARMY tape above the left pocket. These three items provide for distinct visual identifi cation of NMSG personnel.

Additionally, a special subdued “search and rescue” tab is authorized for those members of the NMSG who are certifi ed by the New Mexico State Police for SAR missions. All other Army combat uniform items and insignia are similar to the standard uniforms and insignia worn by the NMARNG.

Enlisted Association state conference slated for April 20–21

The Enlisted Association of the New Mexico National Guard 2012 state conference will be held April 20-21 at the Mountain View Club on Kirtland Air Force Base. The New Mexico Army National Guard’s 93rd Brigade, head-quartered in Santa Fe, will be the host-ing unit for this year’s conference.

The weekend is scheduled to begin on Friday, April 20, at 8 a.m. with a soft-ball tournament at the base Bicenten-nial Park. This will include a barbecue/social from 2-7 p.m. with ongoing vol-leyball games and horseshoes. Music with a DJ is also being planned.

To raise money for the conference, association members will be selling raffl e tickets for a Kimber Pro Carry pistol, a Kindle e-reader, a weekend getaway package, a spa package, and a disco cooking grill. Tickets are $5 each. There will also be 50-50 raffl es during the conference, which awards winners half of the money raised during a specifi ed time.

Discounted early registration will continue through April 1. Late registra-tion will be available on Friday, April 20, at the Mountain View Club from 8 a.m.

Guardswomen sing National Anthem to open Senate session

State Sen. Carroll Leavell (R-Jal) congratulates two New Mexico National Guardswomen who were invited to sing the national anthem to open the Senate session on Military Day and Veterans Day at the Legislature. Leavell is shaking hands with Chief Warrant Offi cer Anna Christina Hall, property book offi cer at Joint Forces Headquarters, New Mexico National Guard in Santa Fe. Looking on is a former captain in the New Mexico National Guard, Victoria M. McCormack, who co-founded the ACCORDS, a vocal ensemble of the band.

NMNG helps KOATS for Kids deliver jackets to children statewideBy Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, State Public Affairs Offi cer

The New Mexico National Guard partnered with KOAT TV, the Public Education Department and many other agencies to ensure that all chil-dren needing a jacket received one. The KOATS for Kids program, in its 23rd year, was an exceptional success again. “We encountered new chal-lenges this year because of the com-munication between the many different school districts, but overall the program was able to assist a greater population statewide than ever before,” said Lt. Col. Jamison Herrera, NMNG public affairs offi cer. The National Guard was instrumental in picking up jackets from donation sites statewide, but more

importantly they were part of the deliv-ery of the approximately 9,000 jackets. A resounding thank you is in order for all the Soldiers and Airmen who assisted throughout this campaign. The citizen Soldiers and Airmen are commended for their service and demonstrating the reason we serve to assist the citizens of New Mexico within our local communi-ties and statewide.








For the fi rst time in history, the MaxPreps Football Tour of Champions, presented by the Army National Guard, visited the state of New Mexico to honor the V. Sue Cleveland High School football team at a trophy pre-sentation Jan. 20 during an assembly in the packed gymnasium. Though in existence for only two years, the Storm won their fi rst-ever state championship after fi nishing the season 13-0. Coach Kirk Potter and the Storm fi nished the season ranked #112 in the MaxPreps Freeman Rankings poll.

MaxPreps’ Leland Gordon spoke about what an amazing feat it was

for Cleveland to be so highly ranked after opening their doors only two years ago. Gordon then turned the microphone over to New Mexico Army National Guard Lt. Col. John D. Sedillo for the trophy pre-sentation. Sedillo spoke about when you are on a football team, you rely on the support of your teammates, coaches and community, and how being in the

Army National Guard, you rely on that same support system. Sedillo then presented the coveted Army National Guard national ranking trophy to Potter and his players.

NMNG, MaxPreps honorCleveland High School football team

NEWS BRIEFS

Bataan Museum hosts milestone celebrations

The New Mexico State Univer-sity Santa Fe Alumni Chapter and NMSU President Barbara Couture hosted a reception to celebrate the state of New Mexico Centen-nial, the Morrill Act sesquicenten-nial, the Bataan Death March 70th Anniversary and Coach Lou Hen-son’s 80th birthday Jan. 27, 2012, at the Bataan Memorial Museum in Santa Fe.

“It was a great event for NMSU, the Bataan Museum and the New Mexico National Guard,” said retired Brig. Gen. Jack Fox. “Over 200 people attended the event, which provided great exposure for the museum.”

Fox gave a brief history of our Bataan heroes and said, “There were 55 Aggies on the Bataan Death March, many of them New Mexico National Guard members, and some that deployed from this armory, which is now the Bataan Memorial Museum.”


Maximiliano Luna was born in Los Lunas, N.M., June 16, 1870. He was edu-cated at Las Vegas College in Las Vegas, N.M., (which was later moved to Denver, Colo., and named Regis University), and at Georgetown College, District of Columbia. Upon completing his course at George-town, Luna received an appointment to the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. Just as he was ready to begin his studies at Annapolis, his mother died, and his plans changed. He made a tour to Cuba, after which, in December 1889, he returned to his home in New Mexico.

He was married around 1890 to Beren-ice Mary Keyes, granddaughter of Lucien B. Maxwell, one of the largest landowners in the Territory. Her younger brother Max-well had several things in common with his brother-in-law Maximiliano Luna. They both served as Rough Riders in Troop F (Keyes provided testimony in support of Theodore Roosevelt’s Medal of Honor). They both served in the Philippines; both died there (Keyes died six days after Luna); and both are buried in the same cemetery.

On the April 15, 1945, Maj. Gen. Keyes visited the 804th Tank Destroyer Battalion (New Mexico National Guard) along with Lt. Gen. John C. H. Lee (Deputy Commander of U.S. Forces in the European Theater of Operations). The 804th was in fi ring posi-tion in the Po Valley. With Lee acting as artillery loader on one of B Company’s (from Raton, N.M.) guns, Keyes fi red the Battal-ion’s 200,000th round at the Germans.

Berenice’s youngest brother Geof-frey was commanding general of the 3rd Armored Division, 9th Armored Division, I Armored Corps, II Corps, Seventh United States Army during World War II, and the Third United States Army immediately afterward. He retired as a lieutenant gen-eral and is also buried in the same cem-etery as his brother and brother-in-law.

In 1890 Luna was appointed interpreter of the Second Judicial Court of the Ter-ritory; in 1891 he was chief clerk of the Twenty-ninth Assembly of New Mexico, and in 1892 he was elected probate clerk,

recorder and ex offi cio county clerk of Valencia County until 1894, when he was elected sheriff of the county. He served as delegate to several territorial Republican conventions; in 1890 he was the organizer of the Republican League of the county, and in 1892 he was a delegate to the National Republican League.

He served as Captain for Troop “F” of the First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry, popularly known as “Rough Riders.” In 1899 he served as speaker of the House of Repre-sentatives for the Territory of New Mexico. He joined the 34th U.S. Volunteer Infantry and was sent to the Philippines as a fi rst lieutenant. It was there that he died on duty on Nov. 18, 1899. He was buried in Arling-ton National Cemetery, one of the fi rst New Mexicans so honored.

Luna served New Mexico wellBy Spc. Charles Martinez200th Public Affairs Detachment

• A bust of Luna has been placed in the state Capitol.

• In 1929, the training site for the New Mexico National Guard outside of Las Vegas, N.M., was named Camp Maximiliano Luna in his honor. In 1967 the state Legislature authorized a vocational training facility to be built in the area, and the site chosen was Camp Luna. In 1969 the school was

established under the name of the Luna Vocational Technical Institute.

• A memorial to him at the Luna Vocational Technical Institute was rededicated in June 1987 and stands in front of the Technologies Building. It faces the school campus and former training grounds of the National Guard.

• The current name of the campus, Luna Community College, was adopted on Dec. 18, 2000.

Among the honors bestowed on his memory by the state of New Mexico are the following:

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It is a community at its best—coming together to give to those in need. In Taos, the community has generously supported the Taos Feeds Taos program for 26 years, providing food boxes during the holiday season for the less fortunate. The Taos Feeds Taos program has grown to be the largest it has ever been, and that growth could not be any more timely, considering the current economic climate.

“These times are more diffi cult,” said retired 1st Sgt. Francis Cordova. “There are more people in need because they are unemployed and are trying to make ends meet, and we don’t turn anyone away.”

The nonprofi t program, which began in 1986, has grown in many different aspects, from the number of people and families in need who benefi t from the program, the amount of groceries in each box, the number of volunteers who participate and the number of participating community sponsors.

A record 1,200 boxes of groceries were distributed this year in comparison to 55 boxes distributed in the program’s inau-gural year. The previous few years have averaged about 1,050 boxes. Each box contained $120 worth of groceries such as hams, yams, fruits, vegetables and other holiday foods. More than 500 volunteers worked the program in many different capacities to make this year’s program another huge success.

“We feel pretty good about how the pro-gram has grown, but this event would not be possible without the hard work of our volunteers,” Cordova said.

Many National Guard Soldiers, retirees and veterans join together with members of the business and local communities to volunteer to help with the program. The bulk of the work begins in the two weeks prior to donation, when collections begin at schools and local grocery stores.

The New Mexico National Guard is a proud program partner and has been involved with the Taos Feeds Taos program

since the inception of the program, thanks to retired Lt. Gen. Edward Baca. Soldiers from throughout the state volunteer annu-ally to fi ll and distribute boxes, assist people with taking the food boxes to their vehicles and transport boxes to surround-ing communities that also participate in the program.

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Griego from New Mexico National Guard Recruiting and Retention serves as the coordinator between the NMNG and the Taos Feeds Taos program. He coordinates food supply pickup and truck transportation and makes sure things get to the right place. Griego, born and raised in Taos, has been help-ing with the program since 1993, when he returned home from serving in the Army.

“It is a very gratifying experience to be able to help the less fortunate,” Griego said.

This year’s event also focused on get-ting younger people involved to assure the program’s success for years to come, according to Cordova, whose grandsons,

Antonio, 17, and Jonathan, 15, worked in the program this year along with Christo-pher Griego Jr., 12, who also volunteered to help after school.

“This is a great event for the whole community,” said Leroy de Baca, an Army veteran from 1966 who is planning to vol-unteer to help next year.

The event is another great example of how the New Mexico National Guard remains a strong part of a community.

NMNG teams up with Taos Feeds Taosto help those in needBy Joseph VigilPublic Affairs Specialist, New Mexico National Guard

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col. judy griego promoted to brigadier...

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