v31, no 5 · lawrenceville, nj 08648-2897 poc: jane hackbarth [email protected]...
TRANSCRIPT
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GUARDLIFEVol. 31, NO. 5
Family Assistance Centers (Army and Air)
GUARDLIFE STAFF
EditorsLt. Col. Roberta Niedt
Capt. Yvonne MaysSgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven
Staff Sgt. Beth Pritchard
Assistant Editor-ProductionTech. Sgt. Mark C. Olsen
Staff PhotographerStaff Sgt. Barbara Harbison
Staff WriterSgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson
GUARDLIFE is published bi-monthly us-ing federal funds under provisions of AR360-1 and AFI 35-101 by the PublicAffairs Office of the New Jersey De-partment of Military and Veterans Af-fairs for all members of the New JerseyArmy and Air National Guard. The viewsand opinions expressed herein are notnecessarily those of the Department ofDefense, the Army, the Air Force or theNational Guard Bureau. Letters may besent to: GUARDLIFE, Public Affairs Of-fice, P.O. Box 340, NJDMAVA, Trenton,NJ, 08625-0340. E-mail at: [email protected]
CoverWater, Water EverywhereMaster Sergeants’ Jeff Redrup (left),108th Air Refueling Wing and PedroRodriguez (right), 177th Fighter Wing,prepare donated water for shipment from108th ARW, McGuire Air Force Base toBelle Chasse Naval Air Station New Or-leans. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen,NJDMAVA/PA.
Inside CoverSecurity ArrivesMembers of the 108th Air Refueling WingSecurity Forces arrive at Belle ChasseNaval Air Station New Orleans as part ofNew Jersey's response to HurricaneKatrina. For more on New Jersey's aidto New Orleans turn to page 5. Photo bySgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson,NJDMAVA/PA.
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Jersey City, NJ 07306-2208POC: Sheilah Kelley
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Lawrenceville, NJ 08648-2897POC: Jane Hackbarth
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Morristown, NJ 07960-0499POC: Sgt. Fred Giberson
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For More Information Call Our Toll Free Number 1-888-859-0352
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TAG's MessageIt's The New Jersey Cavalry To The RescueHurricane Katrina Photos108th ARW Command Chief's MessageBrigade Holds Combined AT177th Med Group Deploys To Alpena50th MSB Members Rack Up The MilesNJARNG Says Farewell To UnitsNJNG's Role In Homeland Security108th SF Assist Hurricane Katrina VictimsNews Guard Families Can UseGuardsmen To The RescueFreedom Salutes Around The StateCommunity Based RecruitingShort RoundsArmy And Air Enlisted PromotionsLast Round: School Days
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TAG's Message - The Tradition ContinuesBy Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General - New Jersey
ur National Guard is derived from the Colonial militias of the new world colonies. The first
small units were comprised of Citizen-Soldiers readyand willing to put down their plows, grab their musketsand band together in the common defense of theircommunity. During the War for Independence, these“minutemen” formed an important part of the AmericanArmy and despite adversity, poor supplies, and nopay, time and again, proved themselves in battleagainst much better equipped mercenaries and theprofessional soldiers in the British Army.
Our original purpose was to defend and protectagainst hostile natives, renegades, an occasionalattack from the French (in the days long before theRevolutionary War), and in 1812, an attempt by theBritish to reclaim their lost colony. The threat oftenchanged, but the response was always the same … dowhatever was necessary to protect families andneighbors and, after independence, to preserve thefledgling democracy. Due in no small part to thecontributions of the National Guard, America grewand prospered and soon established itself as a beaconof hope to oppressed peoples around the world.
Unlike the military in many other countries so oftenused to oppress and control civilian populations, ourheritage reflects only the highest ideals of service-
before-self. From WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, DesertStorm to today - we have returned to our traditionalmission of defending the homeland. Today’s focushas been defending against the terrorist threat.
The Minutemen of our National Guard, however,were not content just to save the world from disaster.We responded to local emergencies within the GardenState and as we now are doing in the Gulf Coast region,assisting our fellow citizens devastated by naturaldisasters. We mobilized Soldiers and Airmen to NewOrleans to assist local law enforcement in patrollingthe grief-stricken areas. We collected 3.5 millionbottles of water for the residents of the impacted areas.Our Soldiers operated a Movement Control Cell atNaval Air Station New Orleans – one of the busiesttransportation hubs in the area following the hurricane.And our Civil Engineers from the 108th ARW and 177thFW are providing much needed support in Gulfport.These are New Jersey’s finest citizens!
Here in New Jersey we assist local communities bybringing drinking water to areas where supply may beinterrupted; we transport patients with medicalemergencies to hospitals for dialysis and other life-saving treatment; assist in the rescue and recoveryefforts; install temporary bridges over key roadways;provide emergency generators during power outages;help fight forest fires in the Pinelands; evacuate peoplestranded by floods; open our armories for variouscommunity events; provide our young people withrecreation facilities; support drug education / preventionprograms; work with various law enforcement agenciesin the ongoing war on drugs; helped plan and conductthe Statue of Liberty Centennial Celebrations, WorldCup Soccer, Op Sail, and the Inaugural ceremonies forour Governor every four years.
Like the many unique challenges that faced ourpredecessors, the threat keeps changing. FromHomeland Defense to Homeland Security; fromEmergency Operations to Community Assistance...inthe glorious tradition of our forefathers...we keepresponding. Thank you for your service. Thank youfor your continued sacrifice. Thank you for keepingalive the indomitable spirit of the Citizen-Soldier.
Acting Governor Richard J. Codey (right) and Maj. Gen. GlennK. Rieth address New Jersey National Guard members priorto deployment to New Orleans in support of Hurricane Katrinarelief efforts. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.
O
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hile tens of thousands of National Guardsmen are deployed overseas to fight the Global WarOn Terrorism, thousands more Citizen-Soldiers
are responding to the threats to citizens here at home.Once again, it’s the Cavalry to the rescue with equal
support from Field Artillery, Armor and Infantry units and abig assist from the Air National Guard. The New JerseyNational Guard has deployed hundreds of personnel, ve-hicles and equipment in response to the unprecedenteddevastation and destruction left in the aftermath of Hurri-canes Katrina and Rita to assist victims of the two worststorms to hit the United States in the last century.
Following the announcement by LTG H. Steven Blum,Chief, National Guard Bureau on Aug. 31 authorizingrespective state National Guards to provide whatever man-power or equipment support they had to assist in themonumental relief effort, New Jersey Air National Guardcrews and their KC-135E Stratotanker aircraft from the108th Air Refueling Wing were mobilized to deliver desper-ately needed bottled drinking water to the areas affected bythe ravages of Katrina’s 135 mph winds and 20-foot stormsurge.
New Jersey citizens, corporations and private organi-zations donated 3.5 million 16-ounce bottles of water overa five-day period. New Jersey Army National Guardpersonnel from the 250th Forward Support Battalion head-quartered in Sea Girt and other personnel at National Guardarmories throughout the state also were called into serviceto package and provide ground transportation for the do-nated water.
Thirty-five Security Forces Airmen of the 108th AirRefueling Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, spent two
weeks assisting local law enforcement personnel restoreand maintain order. Twenty-five soldiers of the 3rd Battal-ion, 112th Field Artillery spent three days setting up a LifeSupport Area for a Law Enforcement Task Force from NewJersey that sent State Police and other emergency ser-vices personnel to the devastated region (also as part of thestate’s EMAC agreement with Louisiana.)
On Sept. 21, a contingent of 12 New Jersey ArmyNational Guard Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 112th FieldArtillery, 50th Main Support Battalion, and Joint ForceHeadquarters departed from McGuire Air Force Base des-tined for Belle Chasse Naval Air Station New Orleans torelieve their counterparts in the Louisiana National Guardwho have been on duty at the military flight facility sinceHurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast more than threeweeks prior.
The Garden State Guardsmen, who all volunteered toanswer the call to fulfill this latest mission, served as a“movement control cell” directing the hundreds of aircraftand vehicles bringing desperately needed relief supplies tothe storm stricken area. The Jersey troops were tasked forthis special mission as part of the Emergency Manage-ment Assistance Compact (EMAC) that provides authorityfor Guard units from other than their home state to providepersonnel and equipment in the event of an emergency.The troops were stationed at Belle Chasse where theyhelped coordinate arrivals and departures of the numerousdaily flights of military and other relief aircraft that arebringing additional troops, equipment, and supplies to aidin the ongoing national relief and recovery effort.
Lt. Col. Eric Anderson, Joint Force Headquarters-NewJersey, commanded this group of Guardsmen. “As a
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It’s The New Jersey CavaBy retired Warrant Officer Roman M. Martyniuk, NJDMAVA/PA
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Guardsman I’m happy to be able to help our fellow Ameri-cans in the aftermath of this terrible disaster. As a husbandand father, I can only imagine what these families have hadto endure these past weeks.”
The current relief effort differs somewhat from previousemergency assistance missions in the Garden State fol-lowing Hurricanes' Floyd and Andrew and the local floodemergencies in Somerset County a few years back. Theareas of the Gulf Coast have been so severely damaged thatnumerous new challenges have been introduced. Thevirtual absence of communications, electricity, housing,fuel, food, and potable water required rescue personnel notonly to bring relief supplies to assist the victims of theHurricane, but also to be completely self supporting.
Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General of NewJersey, who along with Acting Governor Richard J. Codey,Commander-in-Chief of the New Jersey National Guardaccompanied the troops during their flight to New Orleans,described the Guard’s role in emergencies. “These Guards-men all volunteered. Their willingness to put service to stateand nation before service to self has always been thehallmark of the Citizen-Soldier.”
On Sept. 28, an additional 300 troops from the NewJersey National Guard began their 30-day mission ofproviding security, bringing supplies, equipment and addi-tional personnel to support Task Force Santa Fe. TheSoldiers were drawn from a variety of units to include the 1stBattalion, 114th Infantry; the 2nd Battalion 102nd Armor;the 2nd Battalion, 113th Infantry: a beefed-up Transporta-tion Platoon from the 250th Forward Support Battalion: the50th Main Support Battalion; the 253rd TransportationCompany; members of the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field
Artillery; 110th Engineer Detachment; 50th PersonnelServices Batallion; Joint Force Headquarters - New Jerseyand a command and control element from Joint Training andTraining Development Center. Medics, mechanics, drivers,and fuel handlers formed the 53-vehicle convoy, whichincluded HUMMV’s, tractor-trailers, pallet loading sys-tems, HMMT cargo, wreckers, and tankers, and an ambu-lance for the three-day motor march to Louisiana while thebulk of the infantry troops traveled by commercial bus.
"My intent was to provide a professional military unit tothe city of New Orleans, that was able to assist withsecurity and stabilization operations," said Col. JamesGrant, Commander, Task Force Garden State. "Prepared-ness, perception and professionalism have been the focusof this command since day one. I can report today that myintent was met and expectations exceeded. I am proud ofeach and every Soldiers’ performance on this mission."
Katrina support didn't stop there. In addition to thenumerous Soldiers and Airmen mentioned earlier, 20 mem-bers of the 177th Medical Group deployed to both NewOrleans and Gulfport, Miss., for anywhere from two to fourweeks to provide aid. On Oct. 14, 43 civil engineers andother support personnel for the 108th ARW and the 177thFW deployed to Gulfport to help maintain and improve a lifesupport area for volunteers.
“The Guard is family," said General Rieth. "Whateverresources we have...whatever resources we can musternow will be directed to assisting our extended NationalGuard family and other storm victims in the Gulf Coastregion.”
avalry To The RescuePhoto by Sgt. 1st Class David Moore, JFHQ-NJ/PA
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NJNG's Response ToHurricane Katrina InPictures
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108th ARW Command Chief: TeamworkBy Command Chief Master Sgt. Joe Ortu
I n any organization, effectiveTeamwork allows goals and ob-
jectives to be accomplished suc-cessfully. In the Profession of Arms,these goals and objectives equateto mission accomplishment.
As the National Guard evolves,our military relationships have ex-panded and Teamwork crosses unitand service lines more frequentlythan ever before.
Hurricanes Katrina and Rita im-pacted Americans in several states.The New Jersey National Guard'sresponse to these disasters hasbeen exceptional, unselfish and agreat example of Teamwork. Soonafter Katrina, it was determined thatour mission would be to bring emer-gency shipments of water to theNew Orleans area. Basically, the planwas to accept donations of bottledwater from businesses and privatecitizens throughout the state. We wouldthen transport that water, utilizing air-lift to the New Orleans area. Thepositive Teamwork that was displayedby citizens, commercial establish-ments and, most of all, the membersof the New Jersey National Guard inthe days that followed was exem-plary.
The Joint Operations Center inLawrenceville coordinated the activi-ties of both Army and Air compo-nents. The plan moved forward rapidlyand encompassed many areas. Ittook teamwork to execute the planand make things happen. While thebasic plan sounds simple, it was notan easy task. Teamwork was re-quired to execute each phase of theplan. Labor Day weekend proved notto be an obstacle as volunteers sacri-ficed their personal and family time tomeet the needs of the mission. Forthis mission, like all others, the Guardstepped up to the challenge. Volun-teers from the 177th Fighter Wing in
Atlantic City joined the team at the108th, while Soldiers were busy man-ning the collection sites.
Local radio stations advertisedthe initiative and the water startedflowing in. The Army National Guardutilized its community-based armor-ies to accept donated bottled water.The armories are easily accessible tothe general public and our generouscitizens brought thousands of casesto these armories. Soldiers collectedwater, palletized it and loaded it intotrucks for delivery to a cargo stagingarea at McGuire AFB. Commercialestablishments delivered tractor-trailerloads of water directly to the 108th. Imet a passenger in a tractor-trailerloaded with water and as I thankedhim for his delivery, he thanked us forour efforts. He was the president ofthe company supplying the water andjust wanted to do his part to help hisfellow Americans.
At the marshalling area, the waterwas downloaded from the trucks andpalletized. The aircraft pallets mustbe “built” according to the aircraft theywill be loaded on.
The first aircraft departing McGuiretransported members of the 108thSecurity Forces Squadron. As al-ways, they were prepared to dowhatever was required, althoughunsure of their final destination orassignment.
The Naval Air Station New Or-leans ramp was packed with AirGuard aircraft from the 108th, Kan-sas, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire,California, Utah and Wisconsin. Allhad the same mission objective andshared the sense of urgency. Get inwith the cargo, get it downloadedsafely and get off the ground as soonas possible.
Over the course of the 10-dayoperation at the 108th, the morale,esprit de corps and Teamwork was
fantastic. During the entire time,Guardsmen could be seen pitching into help the Team in any way possible.Recurring comments included: “Gladto help out”, “Happy to pitch in” “WishI could do more to help”, and “It's theleast we can do”.
Rest assured, that teamwork willcontinue, as it always has. Whilewriting this article, Army and Air unitswere deploying to the Gulf region tofurther assist in operations. The 108thand 177th Civil Engineers have de-ployed to Gulfport, Miss., where theywill work restoring base facilities.
Whatever your role in this taskmay have been, you made a valuablecontribution. Vehicle operators, me-chanics, logisticians, aircrew and su-pervisors all worked as one Team.
New Jersey Guardsmen can andshould be proud of their accomplish-ments in response to Katrina. OurTeamwork enabled us to deliver mil-lions of bottles of water where it wasneeded and we know once again theNew Jersey National Guard has madea difference. Great job!
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Asmaller but much more experienced group of citizen Soldiers successfully
completed Annual Training (AT) at FortIndiantown Gap, Pa.
This year’s AT was the first time in recentmemory where members of the 1st Battalion,113th Infantry; 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry;2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor; 3rd Battalion,112th Field Artillery and the 5th Squadron,117th Cavalry had the opportunity to train witheach other simultaneously.
Many of these units’ members recentlyreturned from active duty tours in the Sinai,Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and Iraq, where someobtained valuable combat experience and othersnew skills and training techniques that theywere able to share with each other.
Even though Soldiers returning from recentdeployments were not required to attend thisyear’s AT, Brigade Commander, Col. FrankCaruso, said that the ones who did come hadthe opportunity to do combined training with soldiers ofother units.
“All of our ranges and some of the exercises were opento more than one battalion. So for instance, if one battalionwas running a range, that range was open and everybodyparticipated, they just had the responsibility to run it. Someof the lanes we interchanged, too,” explained Caruso.
Of those who benefited from the combined training were13 Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery who
Brigade Holds Combined Annual TrainingBy Spc. Marimer Navarrete, 444 MPAD
Pfc. Jeffrey Avetria, 1st Battalion, 113th Infantry, descends from the repellingtower. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.
were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.“We’ve never really experienced being associated with
the Infantry firing mortars,” said the battalion’s CommandSgt. Mayor Tom Slowenski. “We sent some guys to therappel tower who would never have had the opportunity todo that and the Infantry had it laid on and invited us to comeout and train with them. We haven’t fired cannons in two anda half years, so just to get out here and do somethingdifferent was real good experience.”
Besides the live mortar fire exercises, the Brigadetrained with various weapons, such as the M-9 pistol,M-16A4/A2 rifle, M249-SAW, M250, threw handgrenades, and fired anti-tank AT-4 rockets.
They also had the opportunity to conduct Infantrymaneuver lanes, mounted route reconnaissanceacross several wooded miles of FIG terrain, andconducted counter insurgency weapons training.
Reflecting on all their accomplishments, Carusosaid that this AT helped the Brigade to grow strongeras redeployed Soldiers brought their real-lifeexperiences to the training.
“As these units deployed to different locationsthey brought a little piece of that (knowledge) backwith them. They’ve used that knowledge to make theunits stronger. We are looking forward to building agreat force and I think this was the first step tobuilding a solid, energetic, trained force.”
Pvt. Daniel Botero, Pfc. John Law, and Spc. Phillip Purnell (L-R), ofHeadquarters and Headquarters Company, 50th Brigade, operatecommunication equipment. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven,444 MPAD.
F rom August 1 through 5, Airmen from the 177th Medical Group along with 177th Services Flightcombined forces with 110th, 115th, 161st and the
162nd Medical Groups for annual training at the CombatReadiness Training Center at Alpena, Mich.
The training was geared toward deployment under barebase conditions anywhere in the world. The Guardsmen,who spent their entire deployment in a tent city at CampCollins, represented a complete cross-section of medicalskills present during the deployment. Everyone fromphysicians and flight surgeons to optometrists, nurses andmedical service corps officers joined forces with adminis-trative, medical equipment repair and public health person-
177th Med Group Deploys To AlpenaStory by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177FW/PA; photo by Tech. Sgt. Kelly Deitloff, 161ARW/CF
Lt. Col. Albert Assad (right) and 1st Lt. Jason Winterbottom (left)operate on a patient.
nel for training in a variety of combat and emergencyscenarios.
The Airmen received specialized training in the opera-tion of Expeditionary Medical Support (EMEDS) – the AirForce’s new medical and dental field hospital - whichreplaces air transportable clinics. EMEDS includes anemergency and operating rooms, x-ray capability and a 25-bed ward. The Airmen trained in disease prevention,combat stress, self aid and buddy care/wound manage-ment, litter loading for ambulance and C-130 Herculesaircraft. They also trained with a human patient simulator- a training device that looks like and responds in the sameway a person does when a doctor and staff works on it.
The training scenarios included emergency and oper-ating rooms, a mass casualty exercise, and a “bug out” -a term many will recognize from the TV series MASH -which means to pull up stakes and relocate operations.The 177th Services Flight Airmen received special recogni-tion in the final report. “The Food Services personnel wereconsidered outstanding by everyone," stated Col. PatrickD. Aiello, Commander, 161st Medical Group, 161st AirRefueling Wing, Phoenix, Ariz. “They were on time everyday, had outstanding attitudes and served great food.”
“We truly didn't have a weak link,” summarized Lt. Col.Gerald Iuliucci, 177th Medical Services Corps. “The patientretrieval team members’ response was highly focused. TheER team accomplished the most rapid and efficient through-put of patients. The OR team did more procedures than everbefore for this type of exercise. All personnel consistentlyshowed high levels of enthusiasm and professionalism.”
Air ShowHighlights WingAnd Air GuardChief Master Sgt. Donald Martenz,177th Fighter Wing MaintenanceOperations Flight, coordinates main-tenance support during the 2005Atlantic City Air Show Aug. 30. The177th provided everything fromflightline maintenance and fuel, toramp space and traffic control. Plan-ning for next year's has alreadybegun. Photo by Tech. Sgt. MarkOlsen, 177FW/PA.
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50th MSB Members Rack Up The MilesPhoto and story by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA
W hen the National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division was tasked with commanding Task Force Lib-erty by replacing the 1st Infantry Division in Iraq,
the Department of Defense was well aware that history wasin the making.
When the Rainbow Division replaced the Big Red One,it was the first National Guard division to command ActiveDuty troops in Iraq. Two Active Duty brigades from the 3rdInfantry Division would be part of the more than 18,000active and reserve component Soldiers commanded by the42nd in an Area of Operation that stretched from Baghdadin the south to Kirkûk in the north.
Keeping those units combat-ready is the primarymission of the Rainbow Division’s 50th Main SupportBattalion, New Jersey National Guard, and their com-mander, Lt. Col. Roch Switlik.
“Being the primary logistics unit for the division, weprovide all aspects of multi-functional logistics support,ranging from supply and services, maintenance, medicaland transportation,” says Switlik. “We handle all classesof supply, from food and fuel, water and ammunition, majorend items, new vehicles, supplies of all aspects, all the waythrough to repair parts for tanks and major equipment.”
All these items come through the MSB. The unitreceives, inventories, stores and distributes them to theircustomers, and they have a very large clientele, accordingto Switlik.
“We support about 240 units on roughly 25 differentForward Operating Bases (FOB’s), and we deliver to 10 ofthose FOB’s. The Main Support Battalion to date [as ofJune 2005] has produced and distributed approximatelyfour million gallons of water, we’ve delivered roughly one anda half million gallons of fuel, completed 3,800 maintenancework orders and treated more than 7,900 patients — not allcombat related, so it’s been a very, very busy 110 days.”
It’s been a long-held belief that for every “combat”Soldier on the front lines, there are several Soldiers in therear providing support, but for some members of the 50thMSB, providing support in this asymmetrical war of noboundaries means leaving the relative safety of FOB Speicherin order to deliver supplies to customers.
“Being a logistical unit, you’re not typically expected tobe put in harm’s way,” says the 50th MSB’s executiveofficer, Maj. Michael Lyons. “But this being an insurgency,and not a doctrinal battlefield, we find ourselves more of atarget than the brigade combat teams, when we’re outthere, we do our own security for our own convoys, whichwe call Combat Logistics Patrols here, to emphasize to theSoldiers that every time you step out the gate you have to
have your game face on, and you’ve got to be ready.”“We run 10-15 [CLP’s] a week, and so far we have
logged over 600,000 miles in theater in the last 110 days orso," notes Switlik. That’s more than half a million miles inthree and a half months. And while those miles were notall accident-free, there were no combat injuries or fatalitiesto members of the 50th MSB.
A major reason why the unit has been so successful isdue to the dedication of the battalion S2 and S3, who haveworked to make sure that when the Soldiers leave the FOB,they have the best information and training available.
“We have a very good Intel and Operations section,”says Lyons. “They do a good job of keeping the Soldiersaware of what’s going on in the AO, because this provinceis very hot – a lot of action in this area – but I think theSoldiers when they leave the gate, are prepared for themission, they have the latest Intel and they know the AO.”
“It boils down to the deliberate planning and the disci-pline of the Soldiers," notes Switlik. “We have a verymethodical process that the Soldiers go through every dayprior to leaving the FOB, and I think the training and thediscipline of the Soldiers is what led to no significantaccidents and no loss of life due to enemy contact.”
The commander proffers another reason why his Guards-men have been so successful outside the wire. “From adecision-making perspective, the leadership in the Guardtends to be a little bit older, with a little more maturity andlife experiences, and I think that is what makes them equalto, or in some cases, better than active duty Soldiers,”notes Switlik. “I would put this National Guard unit upagainst any of them.”
Maj. Michael Lyons (L) and Lt. Col. Roch Switlik (R), brief Maj.Gen. Glenn K. Rieth during his vist to Iraq in May, 2005.
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NJARNG Says Farewell To UnitsStory by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA
arewell Ceremonies were held in Flemington onAug. 27 for the 250th Finance Detachment and in
Vineland for Company D, 250th Brigade SupportBattalion on Sept. 28 and C Troop, 117th Reconnais-sance, Surveilance, Targeting, Acquisition (RSTA) onOct. 13.
Each of the ceremonies were attended by families,friends and legislators who wished the Soldiers safetyand success as they prepared to deploy in support ofOperation Iraqi Freedom.
F
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The NJNG's Role In Homeland Security
By Maj. Jeff Brownlee, Homeland Security Center of Excellence
Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA
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I
The NJNG's Role In Homeland Security
By Maj. Jeff Brownlee, Homeland Security Center of Excellence
Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA
Specialists Ryan Dillon (left) and Dan Tinkler, HSCOE Membersmonitor the Guard's response.
t’s Jan. 11, 2006 and, National Weather Service haspredicted a Nor’Easter to hit the State of New Jersey.
The storm will produce blizzard conditions across theentire state starting on the 13th of January.
The storm is expected to cause power outages, astorm surge along the southern coast, close roads and shutthe state down for a few days.
If this had been a real event, the following would takeplace: having been apprised of the above information, theNew Jersey National Guard Command Group would reachout to the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management(NJOEM) which is run by the New Jersey State Police, tocoordinate any possible involvement of Guard resources.Because the New Jersey National Guard is not the leadagency in Emergency Management, it is the responsibilityof the State Police and NJOEM to determine if any NationalGuard assets will be needed during the upcoming emer-gency. In the event that they are needed, the CommandGroup prepares a proposed Course of Action.
Once the plans are finalized, they are integrated into aWarning Order which is given to the Guard Force Com-manders and their staff. The Guard Force Commandersthen develop their Operations Orders and activate theirTask Forces to support potential missions based on thestorm. One of the first to be called into action would bemembers of the Quick Reaction Force (QRF), which is acontingent of traditional drilling National Guard Soldierswho are on standby status throughout the state and areavailable to muster and report for duty in the event of anemergency. While this is occurring, the State and CountyOffices of Emergency Management are being activated, theNew Jersey National Guard Joint Operations Center (JOC)is being activated, the Liaison Officers (LNO) of the NewJersey National Guard Joint Force Headquarters report to
the NJOEM and potentially County LNO’s are reporting toCounty OEM’s.
As mentioned earlier, the National Guard receives all ofits Military Support to Civil Authorities (MSCA) missionsfrom the NJOEM. Missions originate at the local level andare fed to the County OEMs. If the county can support themission it ends there. If they cannot support the missionit is elevated to the state OEM. The state OEM is staffedby every state agency to include the National Guard. If themission requires Guard assets the LNO contacts the JOC.Once the JOC receives a mission from the OEM it is thentasked to a Guard Force to action the mission. Thisprocess is repeated throughout the duration of the event.This process is the same for both Natural Disasters andMan-Made disasters. Recent events in New Orleans andMississippi illustrate how important the National Guard roleis when faced with a massive natural disaster. The keycomponent to the success of any MSCA mission is theindividual Soldiers and Airmen dedicated to the New JerseyNational Guard.
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S ecurity Forces personnel deployed to LouisianaSept. 2-16 to support law enforcement after thedevastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Lt. Col. Ronald Turk headed up the flight of 35 securityforces personnel that took a KC-135E Stratotanker down toBelle Chasse Naval Air Station New Orleans, La., to helpsecure some of the hardest hit areas of the state.
“The first two nights we were there, we stayed in ahangar on the air station,” said Master Sgt. Dave Beun, thestandardizations and evaluations non-commissioned officerin charge for the SFS.
The SP’s supplemented the Saint John The BaptistParish Sheriff’s department, where they helped process thedisplaced citizens to be transported out of the dangerousareas, such as the eastern part of New Orleans. They alsoperformed residential patrols. Throughout the first few daysin Louisiana, there was non-stop traffic of citizens, headded. The SFS split into two teams that worked 12-hourshifts the entire time they were there.
They worked with the New Orleans Special Weaponsand Tactics personnel as they investigated a homicide,enforced the midnight curfew, and arrested looters in thearea. The SFS also re-supplied the SWAT team, who washoused up in a makeshift location inside a school, wheneverthey needed supplies. This school also operated as atemporary armory.
The SFS and local police never ran into problems asthey worked together.
“We got along great,” Beun said.
108th SF Help Katrina VictimsBy Senior Airman Robbie Finley, 108 ARW/PA
Eagles HighVincent Sabato, son of Master Sgt. Steve Sabato, 108th AirRefueling Wing, gives Hank Fraley, center for the PhiladelphiaEagles, a “high five” during an autograph session held at theCherry Hill armory on Oct. 15. Sponsored by the New JerseyJewish War Veterans, Fraley, Eagles tackle Jon Runyan,former Eagle and current Philadelphia sportscaster, GarryCobb, and Jill Horner, CN8 Newsmakers, autographed pic-tures, shirts, helmets, hats, posed for photos and spoke to themany New Jersey Guard Eagle fans and their family memberswho lined up to for this special event. Photo by Staff Sgt.Barbara Harbison, NJDMAVA/PA.
Members of the 108th Air Refueling Wing Security Forcesgather up their gear on the tarmac at Belle Chasse Naval AirStation New Orleans. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class RobertStephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.
NGB Chief Presents VisionDuring Visit To Air Wings
Tech. Sgt. Patrick Applegate (left) greets Chief Master Sgt.Richard A. Smith (right), the ninth Command Chief MasterSergeant of the Air National Guard, during the Chief's visit to the108th. The Chief visited both wing's on Aug. 29-31 and met withthe chiefs to discuss his the vision for the Air National Guard andthe enlisted challenges facing the Guard. Photo by SeniorAirman Robbie Finley, 108 ARW/PA.
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News Guard Families Can UseCompiled by the Guardlife Staff
Gala Nets More than 29KJon Runyan (left), Eagles Tackle and Hank Fraley (secondfrom left), center for the Philadelphia Eagles, pose with Maj.Gen. Glenn K. Rieth (right) - The Adjutant General of NewJersey and his wife Linda Rieth (second from right) during acheck presentation Oct. 15. The presentation was held duirngthe 4th Annual Gala Dinner Dance at the Cherry Hill Armory.The 4th Annual Gala Dinner Dance Committee presented acheck for $5,000 to the New Jersey World War II Memorial Fundand $24,018 to the New Jersey State Family ReadinessCouncil. Photo courtesy of Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth.
Commissary, Fisher HouseOffer ScholarshipsBy Gerry J. Gilmore, American Forces Press Service
he Defense Commissary Agency and the Fisher House Foundation have teamed up again to offereducational scholarships to children of military families
and retirees.The Scholarships for Military Children Program is
marking its sixth year, DeCA spokesman Kevin Robinsonsaid. The goal, he said, is to provide at least one $1,500scholarship for each of DeCA’s 268 commissaries world-wide. “It’s important for us to give back to the militarycommunity that we serve,” Robinson said. “This is one ofthe ways we do that, in addition to providing a commissarybenefit to our customers.” He added, “Helping the childrenof military families get an education” is a very worthy cause.
Authorized applicants include unmarried children un-der age 21 of active duty, Guard or Reserve, or militaryretiree families, Robinson said. Applicants may also rangeup to 23 years in age if they are enrolled in school. Theapplication period for this year’s DeCA-Fisher House schol-arship program starts Nov. 1 and closes Feb. 22, Robinsonsaid. Application forms for the program will become avail-able in November for pick-up at commissaries worldwideand for download via the Internet at www.commissaries.comor at www.militaryscholar.org.
Robinson said applicants are required to write andsubmit an essay on why they admire a great past or presentmilitary leader. More than one scholarship per commissarymay be awarded, Robinson said. In 2004-05, he said, 500scholarships were awarded. The Fisher House Foundationadministers the scholarship program, which is funded bymanufacturers and suppliers of groceries and services inthe commissary system, Robinson said. Last year, theDeCA-Fisher House program awarded around $750,000 inscholarships, said David Coker, the Fisher HouseFoundation’s executive director. More than $3.2 million inscholarships have been awarded since the program began,Coker said. An outside review panel selects scholarshiprecipients, he noted. The annual DeCA-Fisher House schol-arship program is conducted “to honor those that serve,”Coker said.
Fisher House also builds and runs living quarters on thegrounds of major military installations and Veterans Affairsmedical centers so family members can be close tohospitalized loved ones.
FRC Offers GrantsThe State Family Readiness Council has estab-
lished a Grant Program that will provide both Family andBusiness Grants to deserving New Jersey National Guardfamilies impacted by deployment.
Business grants are up to $5,000 and family grants$2,500. Those interested should contact Family Assis-tance through the hotline at 1-888-859-0352. More infor-mation is available at the Council’s website [email protected] or through FACs or FRGs.
Energy Saving TipsWith cold weather and winter winds just around the
corner, everyone’s home heating bill will start to climb.With the recent hurricanes, the costs of heating fuels aresure to hit the bank balance this winter. Energy savingideas can be found at www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/
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G U A R D L I F E17
Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth, The Adjutant General ofNew Jersey, took time out from the Officer’s Call onSept. 10 to swear in members of OCS Class Number
48 at the Trenton War Memorial. Photo by Sgt. 1stClass Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.
Guardsmen To The RescueBy the Guardlife Staff, photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn Westhoven, 444 MPAD
N
The eight members of the 50th Main Support Battalion con-sisted of Staff Sgt. Joseph Quiles, Spc. Tyehimba Ames, Spc.Keiry Martinez and Sgt. Herminio Snachez in the front row, withPvt. Chukwuemaka Chiazor, Spc. Trevor Crovitz, 2nd Lt.James Verrengia and Spc. Nick Du Mortier.
ine members of the 50th Main Support Battalion, Rear Detachment, had a day of kayaking turn
into a rescue of two New Jerseyans from theManasquan River Reservoir in Howell Township.
The Soldiers were spending the day celebrating a firstplace win in a volleyball tournament they participated induring training with the 250th Forward Support Battalion atSea Girt.
While kayaking on the river, Maj. John N. Tumino andhis volleyball teammates, 2nd Lt. James Verrengia, StaffSgt. Joseph F. Quiles, Sgt. Herminio Sanchez, and Spe-cialists Tyehimba Ames, Trever Crovitz, Nick Dumortier,Keiry Martiniz and Pvt. Chukwuemaka Chiazor saw trouble.
Michael Griffith and his father William, were out fishingfor the day when their boat overturned off a dock on the river.Although both wore lifejackets, neither can swim well.William was also trapped under the overturned boat.
The nine Soldiers were able to pull both of the Griffithsto safety from the water.
“It was totally a natural reaction of the Citizen-Soldier,”said Tumino. “When Soldiers see someone in danger,whether from natural disaster, war or like this-physicaldanger, they are going to help.”
“I want to thank those guys any way I can,” MichaelGriffith stated. “Thanking those guys is important to me.” Remember To Donate
Blood.
G U A R D L I F E18
Freedom Salutes Around The StatePhotos by the 444th MPAD
Four Freedom Salutes were held at armories around the statein September. The campaign is designed to recognize aSoldier's services, as well as the support of family members,friends, veterans and employers. Photos, clockwise startingabove: Spc. William Clavell, C Company, 1st Battalion, 114thInfantry, Burlington, pins his wife, Luz, with the Freedom Salutepin that recognizes his wife's support when the unit was deployedto the Sinai. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class David Moore. Next, StaffSgt. James Curran, a squad leader in Alpha Company, 1stBattalion, 114 Infantry, and his wife, Agatha, participate in thelapel pinning ceremony at the Mt. Holly armory on Sept. 17.Photo by Maj. Carl Palmer. Bottom right, Spc. Edward Molina,Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 5th Squadron, 117thCavalry, Vineland, pins his wife, Lisa with the spouse FreedomSalute pin on August 26. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class KrynWesthoven. Lt. Col. James Rosenberg, left back, 5th Troop,117th Cavalry commander watches as Spec. Ruffin Kairo pinshis son Zarie during at Freedom Salute ceremony at the WestOrange armory. Photo by Spc. Nick Young.
n Oct. 1, Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth announced the State's initiative to increase the strength of allunits in the New Jersey Army National Guard. The
Adjutant General’s Events-Based Recruiting Program es-tablishes an unprecedented partnership between unit andrecruiting personnel.
Unit personnel from across the state are attendingcommunity based events such as parades, fairs, carshows, airshows, high school football games, collegefootball games, concerts, and numerous other venues tofind citizens who want to be part of their unit. Unit membersexplain what they do in the National Guard and where theydrill in the community, in an effort to generate leads for therecruiters. Sgt. Maj. Albert Zarro, of the Recruiting Com-mand, stated that the best leads we get are from Soldierswho are happy with their unit and are able to speak first handwith potential members. Recruiters strive to put new mem-bers in units close to their home. The best spokespersonfor the Guard is a unit member.
The Recruiting Command Operations Section, under
Events-Based RecruitingFrom the Recruiting And Retention Command
O the leadership of Maj. William Heineman, gathers informa-tion from unit personnel, Recruiting personnel, newspa-pers, websites and the New Jersey Department of Tourism.Maj. Heineman stated, “I look for events with the most bangfor the buck. Having unit personnel attend events allowsus to expand our coverage across the state. The morepeople we talk to about the Guard the more recruits we get.It's that simple."
Lt. Col. Dennis Devery, the Commander of the Recruit-ing and Retention force stated,” The Adjutant General’sEvents based Recruiting program is increasing leads acrossthe state and has directly contributed to the success wehave seen in Recruiting in the past few months.”
"Unit members can sell the Guard better than myRecruiters because they live and operate in that unit on aday-to-day basis. I am confident that this partnershipbetween the great units and my great Recruiters is going toallow us to increase strength in every unit of the New JerseyArmy National Guard this year!"
G U A R D L I F E19
gt. 1st Class Arthur J.Valenzuela-Bradley IIIreceived both the Chief’s
54 and the Recruiting Rookie ofthe Year Awards, Recruiting andRetention Command’s (RRC) twotop awards, during a ceremony atthe Joint Training and TrainingDevelopment Center at Fort Dixon Oct. 12.
The Chief’s 54 Award recog-nizes the Recruiting and Reten-tion NCO (RRNCO) whosestrength maintenance skills,knowledge, abilities and soldier-ing have resulted in being se-lected as the top RRNCO for heror his State/Territory/District. Theaward consists of a Chief’s 54 ring and a plaque or trophypresented at the Chief’s Strength Maintenance AwardCeremony, which will be held in Washington, D.C. thismonth. Valenzuela recruits in South Jersey on the RowanUniversity Campus, and led the New Jersey Army NationalGuard recruiting force in enlistments this year.
Valenzuela-Bradley Wins Recruiting’s Top AwardsBy Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA; Photo by Maj. Jerry Minchin, RRC
S
Sgt. 1st Class Arthur J. Valenzuela-Bradley III (center) stands with left to right, Lt.Col. Dennis Devery, Commander, RRC; Sgt. Maj. Frank Sippel, Brig. Gen. Maria Falca-Dodson, the Deputy Adjutant General and Sgt. Maj. Albert Zarro after receiving his awards.
The Recruiting Rookie of the Year Award recognizesthe RRNCO who gains the most enlistments in his or herfirst full year of recruiting for the NJARNG. This awardmarks the first time in New Jersey Army National Guardhistory that the top Rookie also led all recruiting NCOs inenlistment production.
Short Rounds: New CSM, Katrina SRP, NewTank Commander And Award Recipients
Vander Clute New CSMCommand Sgt. Maj. Richard Vander Clute, left, and his wifeDebbie share a light moment following his promotion at FortDix. Vander Clute was with the 63rd Army Band for 20 years,before he accepted the challenge to serve as the CSM for the50th Personnel Services Battalion. Photo by Sgt. 1st ClassKryn P. Westhoven, 444 MPAD.
SRP Processes Katrina BoundOn Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, medical personnel from the New JerseyNational Guard Medical Command, Sea Girt, screened morethan 350 Soldiers for a 300-member Task Force deployed toNew Orleans in support of Hurricane Katrina relief. Photo byTech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.
G U A R D L I F E20
2nd Tank Gets New LeaderOutgoing commander of the 2nd Battalion, 102nd Armor, Lt.Col. John M. Manfre, left, shows the mounted unit flag given tohim by the Soldiers to incoming commander, Lt. Col. KennethS. Schechter, right,during the change of command ceremonyat the West Orange armory on Oct. 23. Photo by Sgt. 1st ClassKryn P. Westhoven, 444 MPAD.
Award Recipients AnnouncedOn Oct. 8, the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of New
Jersey announced its 2005 award winners at their 32nd AnnualConference held in .
The Command Sgt. Maj. Wilford Z. Lea Outstanding First SergeantAward was presented to Master Sgt. Michael Edmiston, 108th AirRefueling Wing and 1st Sgt. George L. Thomas, 150th General SupportAviation Battalion. Receiving the Sgt. Maj. Harry Arbeitman OutstandingCEO Award were Senior Master Sgt. Michael R. Francis, 177th FighterWing and Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Alexander, B Company, 2nd Battalion,113th Infantry.
The Sgt. 1st Class Robert Vuinovich Jr. Outstanding SoldierAward – Army was awarded to Spc. Albert C. Araujo, 150th GeneralSupport Aviation Battalion, while the Master Sgt. John E. BodineOutstanding Airman Award – Air was given to Senior Airman GordanA. Hill, 177th FW.
The Command Sgt. Maj. Vincent Baldassari Memorial Scholarshipswere awarded to Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Vander Clute, JessicaT. Enloe, daughter of Tech. Sgt. Steven S. Enloe; Kevin S. Hughes,son of Command Sgt. Maj. (Ret) Michael Hughes; Amanda J. Wachter,daughter of Senior Master Sgt. Michael Wachter; and Thomas P.Kripinski, Jr., son of Capt. Thomas P. Kripinski, Sr.
The USAA Scholarship was presented to Pv2. Stephen J. Love,while the Nicholas A. Caruso Memorial Scholarship went to Camille C.Carlucci, daughter of Col. Anthony and Master Sgt. Cynthia Carlucci.
The Association announced that its office located at theDepartment of Military and Veterans Affairs has been named “TheSteinman Room” in honor of retired Master Sgt. Lynn H. Steinman inrecognition of his 30 years of dedicated service to the Association.
G U A R D L I F E21
Short Rounds: Stand Downs Help HomelessVets And Army 10-Miler
Stand Downs 05Above: Master Sgt. James McCloskey (right), 177th FighterWing Medical Group takes a veteran's blood pressure duringStand Down 2005. On Sept. 23, the New Jersey Departmentof Military and Veterans Affairs (DMAVA) and Stand Down ofSouth Jersey, Inc., hosted Stand Down 2005 at the NationalGuard Armory in Cherry Hill. Photo by Staff Sgt. BarbaraHarbison, NJDMAVA/PA. Right, Spc. Marco Carrillo, Head-quarters, 250th Signal Battalion sorts through raincoats duringthe North Jersey Stand Down, held Sept. 17 at Essex CountyCommunity College in Newark. The New Jersey NationalGuard worked with volunteers to hand out clothing and conductmedical screenings for hundreds of veterans who attended theone-day event. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn P. Westhoven,444th MPAD. DMAVA, along with many volunteer organiza-tions conducted both Stand Downs to provide homeless veter-
ans with access to healthcare, mental health screening, sub-stance abuse counseling, social services availability, reli-gious counseling, a hot meal, a haircut and winter clothing.Stand Down’s goal is to show the disenfranchised veterans thatsomeone still cares for them and assist them in bringing theirhomelessness to a close.
New Jersey National Guardsmen and their family mem-bers gather in Washington , D.C., the night before theArmy 10-Miler. The race, which was held on Oct. 2,became the Army 11-Plus-Mile Fun Run, due to asuscipious package left on the course forcing race offi-cials and police to change the course. The package wasfound to be harmless. This year's team included Col. EdSlavin, Lt. Col. Matthew Mulqueen, Lt. Col. Dennis Devery,Maj. Jemal Beale, Master Sgt. Alex Estrada, Sgt. 1st ClassDon Brandinelli, Sgt. 1st Class Luis Gonzalez, Sgt. 1stClass Josephine Grey, Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Prieto, StaffSgt. Michael Hutchinson, Staff Sgt. Sean Chapman, StaffSgt. Barb Harbison, Sgt. Tony Christy, retired ChiefWarrant Officer 4 Chris Perron and retired Sgt. 1st ClassYvonne McGuire. Photo by Staff Sgt. Barb Harbison,NJDMAVA/PA.
Fifteen New Jersey Guardsmen Participate In 10-Miler
G U A R D L I F E22
Short Rounds: Job Fair BossLift, WGRAnd Dance
Range Hosts Vineland VetsVeterans and members of the 177th Fighter Wing and 108thAir Refueling Wing shield their eyes as they watch a mini-airshow at the Warren Grove Training Range Sept. 22. The 177thand 108th hosted veterans from the Vineland Veterans Memo-rial Home at an annual barbecue. The program was organizedby Range personnel, Senior Master Sergeants Tom Dunn andTim Donovan from the 177th and Master Sgt. Steve Sabatofrom the 108th. Photo by Master Sgt. Anthony Christmas,177FW.
Hangar DanceOnce again, the 177th Fighter Wing Family Support ProgramManager, in conjunction with the Services Squadron, and theWing Commander pulled off another exciting Hangar Dance.This year’s event was well attended by wing personnel. Someattendees really got into the spirit of things by dressing inauthentic World War II uniforms courtesy of Wing CommanderCol.Brian Webster. Still others dressed in civilian attire from alleras to include leisure suits from the 70’s, and formal attire fromthe 40’s. Everyone had a great time. Photo by Tech. Sgt. MarkOlsen, 177FW/PA.
Bosses Receive LiftBergen County Sheriff Leo P. McGuire (C), is flanked by 250thFSB Commander Lt. Col. Joseph Sarama (L) and Sgt. 1stClass Al Roberts of the 50th MSB, during Boss Lift activities atthe New Jersey National Guard Training Center at Sea Girt.Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Robert Stephenson, NJDMAVA/PA.
Mega Job FairRecruiting and Retention manned one of 115 booths at theMega Job Fair at the National Guard Armory in Somerset Oct.11. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, NJDMAVA/PA.
G U A R D L I F E23
Army And Air Enlisted PromotionsProvided by Master Sgt. Daniel J. Calderale (Army) and Master Sgt. Paul B. Thompson, Jr. (Air)
NEW JERSEY ARMY
NATIONAL GUARD
To Sergeant Major(E-9):
Thomas J. ClarkRodger A. Miller
To Master Sergeant(E-8):
Frank A. CumberlandClinton A. DrummondDaniel S. McCrakenTerence O’Connor
John A. PayanMichael J. Pressey
Harry N. Streets
To Sergeant FirstClass (E-7):
Kenneth BoudreauMichael L. Burnette
John CoulterNelson S. DeoliveiraNorris H. FletcherRichard W. HeislerWilliam A. JacobsVictor M. Lopez
Larry S. Rosenthal
To Staff Sergeant(E-6):
Christopher D. BraineMichael H. BrownPeter J. Colombo
Brian D. ElgJoseph J. Emma
Michael J. GrahamThomas J. Hart, Jr.
Christopher E.Hoenge
Carlos J. MaderaKevin J. MakinRaymond L.Ostrowski
Anthony PadinMiguel A. Salles, IIIDonald P. SullivanRobert L. SurgickMarc D. Winans
To Sergeant(E-5):
Kurt A. Allen
Zachary H. D.Appleton
Antonella G. CataliotiGregory E. Cranmer,
Jr.Emely C. Crespo
Glenn T. CunninghamTerry L. Darr, Jr.
Daniel E. GonzalezJohn S. GuevaraJeffrey M. Hiles
Frederick J. HornigKevin C. Martin
Jeffrey J. McNeel, Jr.Rosalind M.Merkerson
Brian L. MillsJacqueline F.
MurnaneSean C. MurphyYvonne P. PadenJoseph J. Rios, IIIPaul A. RodeskyLuis A. Roman
Thomas C. SamuelsStefanie S. SmithDaniel R. Tinkler
Belinsky ToussaintAdam M. WechtMichael J. WelchMichael J. ZerrJuliana Zifovski
To Specialist(E-4):
Achal N. AminBryan R. Ascher
Madeleine R. AventBilal Bajwa
Kuan I. BowlegCharles Brack IIIMarvin H. Cadet
James F. CervenyNelson R. Cespedes
Carlos Correa Jr.Felicia F. Davis
James H. Dennis IIISean S. Fisher
John F. Gontarski IIIWilliam D. HarpeJohn P. Hartley
John J. Howard, Jr.Eric J. Johnson
Robin A. JohnsonAdam R. Jones
Rafal KaminskiJohn C. King
Luis R. MaldonadoBrian V. MayhueBryan J. MulvihillMary C. NunezAaron J. OliverAkinwande A.
OshodiGabriela L. Pereira
Brian D. PioSteven B. Porter, Jr.
Eric M. RueKonstantin D.
SmirnovRachel R. SturtevantPaul W. Summerfield
Terrill WalkerJanet M. Wyka
Raymond R. Young
To Private First Class(E-3):
Michael J. BarrecaRobert J. BoehmDaniel E. BoteroBrian M. Burd
Abreu Y. CabaNicholas C. CarrubbaDonald H. CorriganJoseph P. DefeliceAntonio D. DejesusManuel J. Gomez, III
Meji G. L. GomezMaria E. Guerra
Jeffrey A. HowardChriston R. LackieOscar A. LlerenaJonathan M. LongTimothy R. LongMaria H. Luna
Timothy J. MajzerRobert C. McClintock
Jamil D. MillerMartin ObandoKori M. Oshall
Wisley E. RiveroAshleigh R. RodgersLeonilda Rodriguez-
BatistaPreux D. Saint
Edwin SantiagoJuan P. Solano-SalasAndrew J. Steffens
Alyssa R. Stokes
Lindsi A. Weatherby
To Private(E-2):
Christopher A.Dobson
Gabriela DureckovaLuis A. Echavarria-
SarmientoJoshua A. GrahamAnthony E. Green
Matthew S. MiczulskiJoseph L. RipaEdward J. Ross
Raheem J. RowellReginald Small
NEW JERSEY AIR
NATIONAL GUARD
To Chief MasterSergeant (E-9):John P. Sullivan
To Senior MasterSergeant (E-8):
Donald E. Taggart
To Master Sergeant(E-7):
Gary J. BarronNino Dottavio
Kevin M. Moore
To TechnicalSergeant (E-6):Alex Cadavid
Crystal M.Chinqueesmith
Stephen L.Diambrosio
Kevin L.Dickinson, Sr.
Thomas R. HalleFerdinand D.
KabigtingWilliam V. Lanehart
Richard P. MillerAndrew J. Moseley
Brian C. MurrayRodger C. Neumann
Mark W. NeyJeffrey A. Pilgrim
Julius E. SimmonsTimothy B. Thornton
To Staff Sergeant(E-5):
Carlos R. AcostaLia C. Barnes
Caroline A. ChinDean R. Esposito
Bridget M.Fitzsimmons
Gordon A. HillStephen J.
Kubanovich, IIIRamon Marquez
CorreaJames P. McNallyMichael R. MimlerLauren M. Paul
Elizabeth S. PritchardJason C. Roskam
Richard A. Ryan, IIIJonathan R. SchohlKevin A. StoddardBenjamin D. TylerTracy L. Williams
To Senior Airman(E-4):
John E. AllenSuzanne K. DefilippiAdnardo Garcia, Jr.Anthony R. GuddoDiorca HernandezKara L. Kauffman
Thomas W. Mabey, IIMuhammad H.Maudarbocus
Dominique A.Mehnert
Juan M. Ortega-Hernandez
Nestor B. Rivas, Jr.Jose I. RodriguezMichele L. SharpDavid C. SigwartAlex A. Swenda
To Airman First Class(E-3):
Joseph M. BartlettJoshua C. Bone
SamanthaN.Carnevale
Melissa CortezJames M. Gerety, Jr.
Kimberly M. GiftMichael J.
HendricksonStephen W. Hillmann
Dianna L. JenkinsBrandon M. JohnsonChristina M. KennyDaniel S. Larson
Nicholas J. LigameriDavid Molina
Rick T. RobinsonEdgar A. Rodriguez
Byron RomeroMelissa D. Santiago
Colleen M. SheaJoshua W. Travis
Michelle R. Williams
CONGRATULATIONS
Remember,Everyone
Is ARecruiter.
State of New JerseyDepartment of Military and Veterans AffairsPO Box 340Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340
Last Round: School DaysStory and photos courtesy of Chaplain (Maj.) Jan Koczera, HHD, 119 CSB
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PaidPermit No. 294
Tucker, GA
oday (Sept. 15) we visited a local elementary school loaded down with school supplies to the AlHakeka (The Truth) Elementary School in southern
Iraq.When the soldiers from the Headquarters and Head-
quarters Detachment, 119th Corps Support Battalion cameto Iraq in December 2004 we immediately noticed thepoverty in our area and found out that the schools wereoperating with little or no supplies. We asked our FamilyReadiness Group for donations of school supplies. Inaddition, the people of Hammonton, N.J., and Chaplain JanKoczera’s home church, the First Presbyterian Church ofHamilton Square, N.J., gave very generously. The suppliesincluded notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, crayons, col-ored markers, construction paper, folders, teaching sup-plies and sports equipment for the children.
We decided to wait to donate these supplies to aschool close to our camp, in southern Iraq, at the beginningof the new school year, which started on the morning of theSept. 15. The students share one desk and daily bring alltheir supplies in a school bag.
Pictured top to bottom: Maj. William Peace and Capt.John Perez with school children; Maj. Peace is showingthem his ranger beads – a type of pace counter used in landnavigation. Center photo is of local school students.Bottom photo, Maj. John Simms, Capt. Perez, Maj. Peace,Capt. Margaret Brescio, Spc. Charles Cornell and ChaplainJan Koczera (hidden by students) are thanked by thestudent during final assembly.
Additional Soldiers participating in the humanitarianeffort were Master Sgt. James Hubert, 119th CSB; Capt.Hilidebrand of the 254th Quartermaster Company, ArmyReserve, and Spc. Charles Cornell of A Company, 753rdMain Support Battalion, Missouri National Guard.
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