June 2011 Vol. 6 No. 6

GRIZZLYOfficial Newsmagazine of the National Guard 1-140th AVN’s work in Iraq almost done 13

146th AW fights Texas www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs 7 Leadership Corner Leadership, accountability focus of first 45 days June

Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin

Since being sworn in as the adjutant gener- implementing key process controls to en- staff, and past adjutant generals. We have I secured the most experienced U.S. Prop- al, I have squarely focused on restoring the sure sustained success. also implemented process controls to en- erty and Fiscal officer (USPFO) in the na- honor and integrity associated with being a sure the adjutant general, who is appointed tion to serve our state while we execute a member of the California National Guard. Working closely with senior leaders, I have by the governor, adheres to SCO and DPA nationwide search for a permanent replace- In the spirit of transparency, I want to share also reorganized key elements of the Mili- pay policies. ment. I am also working closely with the with you what we’ve done during my first tary Department to improve efficiency and (NGB) to imple- 45 days to improve leadership, dialogue accountability. For example, we: We are also investigating alleged abuses of ment process controls and ensure over- and accountability as we move forward. • Initiated a study of the Military Depart- the Student Loan Repayment Program and sight of federal property and money. Ad- ment construction program to maximize Selective Reserve Incentive Program. This ditionally, I have received a commitment I am not the only new leader at Joint Force available federal construction funds and investigation, which involves auditing tens from NGB to hire eight new auditors, and Headquarters. Since taking command, I have refocus those funds toward training facili- of thousands of transactions, is being led by we are moving quickly to identify poten- replaced virtually every key leader in the or- ties that directly benefit the Soldiers and an Army , who is a former prosecu- tial candidates and get them on board as ganization, each with a proven combat vet- Airmen of our force; tor, and is proceeding concurrently with an quickly as possible. Our focus is on mak- eran with a distinguished record of service. investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office ing our internal controls program the best • Are developing a comprehensive Mili- for the Southern District of California. We in the nation. Early on, I brought together senior leaders tary Department diversity plan, which we have established a working relationship from across the state and issued clear com- will publish next month; and with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and our California National Guard members are ex- mand priorities: fiscal accountability, lead- • Re-aligned organizational structures to complementary efforts will ensure there is a pected to meet high standards, which are ership, and responsiveness. During these streamline our response to domestic emer- thorough examination of the alleged fraud. clearly defined and decisively enforced. We discussions, we developed a senior leader- gencies. are also expected to look forward, be eager counseling program and I personally coun- Pending the results of the investigations, I to meet new challenges and achieve new seled CNG senior leaders. I also issued Leadership sets the tone for any organiza- have reassigned a colonel who was associ- goals as situations demand. When we ex- guidance for a strategic plan re-write. tion, and our leaders will be held account- ated with the programs in question, and pect the best from each other, we achieve able. I have therefore coordinated with the I have suspended eight service members great things as an organization. I will never The 144th Fighter Wing has also undergone California State Controller’s Office (SCO) ranking between master sergeant and lieu- accept anything less. a leadership change, and the new com- and the Department of Personnel Admin- tenant colonel. Additionally, personnel as- mander is rapidly taking proactive mea- istration (DPA) to audit the pay of all cur- sociated with our performance and reten- The leadership from the California State sures to put the organization on the right rent CNG general officers as well as the tion bonus program have been suspended Legislature will play a critical role in our trajectory to accomplish its “Air Sovereign- assistant adjutant general, the director of or reassigned because of a previous lack of success. I look forward to working with ty Alert” mission, while simultaneously the Joint Staff/Military Department chief of appropriate oversight in that section. you as we move forward.

The adjutant general of the California Na- tional Guard, Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin, far left, Gov. Edmund G. Brown, Brig. Gen. (CA) James Gabrielli and Command Sgt. Maj. William Clark Jr. listen to Capt. Sonya Moore of the 349th Quarter- master Company sing the national anthem June 2 at Mather Airfield, Calif. Ga- brielli was promoted to brigadier general during the Mather cer- emony, while Baldwin was pinned as a general and presented his second Bronze Star in recognition of his recent deployment to Afghanistan. Gabrielli is the commander of California’s Youth and Community Programs Task Force. Photo by Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler

2 GrizzlyThe Official Newsmagazine of 12 the California National Guard Quake- June ready Vol. 6 No. 6 2011 Ropes Publisher Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin course The Adjutant General Director of Communications ‘Dustoff’ Maj. Thomas Keegan Editor 6 return Brandon Honig 8 Editorial Staff Table of contents 1st Lt. Will Martin 2nd Lt. Jan Bender Smooth transition TF Long Knife cuts through Iraq tour Senior Airman Jessica Green 4 The Community Based Warrior Transition Unit enables troops 13 The 1-140th Aviation Battalion (Assault), which is averaging Photographers to heal at home with the support of family and friends 2,000 hours of monthly flight time, is preparing to return home Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler Tech. Sgt. Joseph Prouse Bin Laden killed Capitol performance Al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama bin Laden is dead A CNG bagpiper represented the Air Force during two perfor- 5 mances for President Barack Obama and distinguished guests 147th Airman makes AF Team of Year Senior Master Sgt. Ernest T. Williams is one of five first ser- Deployed now, employed later geants who compose the Air Force Team of the Year 14 Deployments for Soldiers serving full-time on the Southwest border mission may end soon. ESGR wants to help. Submissions 129th shows Special Ops the ropes Army Special Operations forces cross-trained with pararescue Articles: Food fight 6 jumpers from the CNG’s 129th Rescue Squadron The 340th Brigade Support Battalion’s “Fighting Culinarians”  250-300 words for a half-page story; are gearing up for the Army food service competition 600-800 words for a full-page article Drench from above  Include first and last names, and verify 7 C-130J aircraft and crews from the dropped Viewfinder spelling thousands of gallons of retardant on Texas wildfires 15 The Long Range Advance Scout Surveillance System brings new capabilities to troops along the Southwest border  Spell out acronyms, abbreviations and Super savers full unit designations on first reference The 640th ASB found more than $10 million in unused helicop- Midnight run  If there is a public affairs officer assigned ter parts in Iraq and returned them to the supply system A 12-Airman team ran a 201-mile, nonstop race in 36 hours to your unit, ensure he or she reviews it Medevac homecoming Executive Personnel Council Photographs: 8 Sixty “Dustoff” Soldiers returned from Afghanistan, where they 16 The results are in for the first quarter of 2011  transported 609 injured patients during a yearlong deployment  Highest resolution possible: MB files, not KB Maternal influence  No retouched photos Road team The 163rd Reconnaissance Wing on Mother’s Day recognized  Caption (what is happening, who is The 649th Engineer Company is working with Afghan engi- daughters, mothers and grandmothers who have served pictured and the date of the photo) neers to improve vital routes in Paktika province  NASA focuses on military children  Credit (who took the photo) Star system 17 A CNG Soldier and California educator met with top minds 9 The 148th Space Operations Squadron has a new Advanced from around the U.S. to improve education for military kids E-mail submissions by the 15th Satellite Mission Control Subsystem of the month to: Not your father’s armory [email protected] Language arts The new 100,000-square-foot Sacramento Okinawa Street Ar- CNG linguists are vital to humanitarian efforts in El Salvador mory features the latest in technology and design Feedback: [email protected] Pharmaceutical waste Comprehensive Soldier Fitness CNG troops supported a Drug Enforcement Administration 18 Two events focused on resilience and performance initiative to dispose of old prescription drugs Cover Shot Communication is key Cover Shot Quake relief Diversity and respect affect mission readiness, course shows 12 Four CNG wings worked with local responders and volunteers in Camarillo to prepare for a potential disaster Features Modern aircraft 2 Leadership Corner 19 News & Benefits The 3-140th S&S Battalion’s new LUH-72A Lakota helicopters bring technological advancements to domestic missions 10 At a Glance 19 Did You Know?

The California National Guard as of May 2011 Afghanistan/Germany/Guam/ Asia Honduras/Iraq/Kuwait/ Europe Kyrgyzstan/Qatar/United Arab U.S. Emirates/Horn of Africa (51) Afghanistan (418) (331) Kosovo U.S. Photo by Spc. Darriel Swatts (8) Iraq (303) Air (1146) Sgt. Edwin Rodriguez of Company E, 1st Battalion Africa (Assault), 140th Aviation Regiment, cuts a steel beam North America Army Kuwait with an arc welder May 5 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq. (1) 3 Grizzly | 2011 | June Photo by master sgt. davi D Home is where the healing is Community-Based Warrior Transition Unit heals mind and body while reuniting warriors with loved ones By Brandon Honig

Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs J. loeffler Recovering from an improvised explosive and heal with compassion,” said 1st Sgt. get the support like we do here.” device (IED) blast poses many challenges. Lynn Hoyt of the Oregon National Guard, For Spc. Luis Rodriguez of the Nevada who has served the CBWTU for the past The CBWTU case managers develop a per- National Guard’s 221st Cavalry Regi- three years. “I think the family care and sonal relationship with each patient, and ment, who was injured in Afghanistan in the family is half of the healing. Without a even if a Soldier is neglectful of their own 2009, it required overcoming spinal com- good family support system, it’s an uphill medical care, the CBWTU staff ensures pression fractures and traumatic brain in- battle for [wounded warriors].” the Soldier receives the attention he or she jury. But the toughest part of the healing needs. process was being isolated from his loved Hoyt and other members of the CBWTU ones. spent May 2-6 in Sacramento with 160 “You have to email your appointment log recovering Soldiers who live in California, to them. They call your doctors, they call “Being away from my family was the hard- Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The the facilities. They have you under their est part,” he said May 6 during a wound- CBWTU for those states serves about 260 thumb, more or less,” Cano said. ed warriors muster in Sacramento. “I’m Soldiers, but some could not attend the very thankful I was able to transition back May meeting because of recent or pending Spending time with other wounded Sol- home and at least have my family around surgeries or because they are being diers is also beneficial, Rodriguez said, as while I’m getting my medical stuff taken processed for a medical discharge or return it reminds troops they are not alone. They league baseball game featuring a Purple care of.” to duty. The CBWTU holds a muster for its share tips and experiences and are encour- Heart ceremony and a day of “adaptive recovering warriors four times a year, and aged by seeing others heal from injuries sports” for people who have experienced After three months of recovery at Fort Lew- the location changes each time, rotating similar to their own. major injuries. is, Wash., Rodriguez was transferred to the through the four states. Community Based Warrior Transition Unit Spc. Roy Esquivel of the Oregon National Before a May 4 matchup of the Salt Lake (CBWTU) for Nevada and the three West The muster provides an opportunity for Guard, who returned from deployment Bees and Sacramento River Cats, Spc. Isra- Coast states, where he learned that healing platoon sergeants to ensure their injured with the 144th Infantry Regiment because el Luna of the California National Guard’s of the body and mind are connected. Soldiers are meeting height, weight and of post-traumatic stress disorder, said his 1 1-185th Armor Battalion was presented other requirements expected of all Sol- ½ years in the CBWTU program have led a Purple Heart in recognition of injuries “It’s being able to have the resources to heal diers, healthy or otherwise. The injured him to many beneficial programs. caused by an IED near Baghdad in 2009. troops fulfill their Army commitments by Additionally, Hoyt threw out the first pitch

Photos by brandon honig working within their physical limitations “For instance, The Wounded Artists Proj- during his last week of military service. He at an armory or Reserve center near their ect — they send wounded warriors art sup- retired May 6 after a career that began with home. plies, and you can just start practicing your active duty service in 1967. He had served doodling, and it’s totally free,” he said. “And the National Guard since 1976. Each weeklong muster is also filled with it’s amazing, they’ll show you these amaz- informative briefings and social activities, ing artworks, and then you find out it’s a “Specialist Luna knows other Soldiers and and it gives nurse case managers an oppor- guy who has no arms and is doing it with vets are appreciative, but to see that ap- tunity to meet with Soldiers to identify is- his teeth. So never count yourself out.” preciation come from his peers and those sues and appropriate therapies. citizens of the , it was a huge Esquivel counsels fellow Soldiers about deal,” said Maj. Jesse Basher of the Cali- “The nurse case managers and staff are available benefits at the quarterly musters fornia National Guard, who is command- great here. I have a case manager in Sacra- since many are unaware of valuable oppor- er of the CBWTU. “If you looked in the mento and one in , and I talk to tunities, such as their eligibility to apply for dugout, all the River Cats and other play- each of them at least once a week, maybe Social Security disability benefits while still ers were clapping away with appreciation twice a week,” said 1st Sgt. Edward Cano a member of the Army. as well.” of the California National Guard’s 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance “My words to them are … just look for it. The final day of the muster featured scu- Group. If you look for [benefits you need], it will ba training, rock climbing, track and field most likely be out there,” Esquivel said. events, hand-operated bicycles, and wheel- Cano sustained injuries to both arms, one “There’s a lot of people who love us, and chair softball and basketball, among other knee and his airway when he was struck by they’re working hard for us.” activities for athletes with special needs. an IED blast in Iraq in 2005. He was sent to Germany and then to Fort Lewis for nine During the May muster, troops were treat- “Combat is not a natural environment for months, but he said, “Up there, we didn’t ed to two days of social activities: a minor a human being. Stress is involved … and for us to provide a fun event like this takes them away for a moment from that stress,” Basher said. “We need to make sure our Soldiers are doing well physically as well as mentally, and if we don’t provide the so- cial interaction, we’re not doing our part.”

The CBWTU is staffed by National Guard and Reserve members and mainly treats reserve component Soldiers, but some ac- tive duty Army Soldiers are also included if they require home-based care while they recover.

“If anybody out there needs that assistance to get therapy to heal, call us,” Basher said. “Anybody who was once in the military, deployed and has any issues whatsoever — or even if they didn’t deploy but injured themselves while conducting training as an Army National Guardsman or Reservist or active component Soldier — I want to hear TOP RIGHT: Spc. Israel Luna of the California National Guard’s 1-185th Armor Battalion salutes the flag after receiving his Purple Heart at a about it and what I can do for them.” Sacramento River Cats baseball game May 4. TOP LEFT: Staff Sgt. Robert Coffindaffer of the Washington National Guard practices rock climbing May 6 during a Community-Based Warrior Transition Unit muster in Sacramento. BOTTOM LEFT: Wounded warriors play wheelchair basketball To contact Basher, call 916-830-1450 or May 6 in Sacramento. BOTTOM RIGHT: First Sgt. Lynn Hoyt of the Oregon National Guard throws out the first pitch at the River Cats game. email [email protected].

4 Grizzly | 2011 | June SEALs kill 9/11 mastermind bin Laden in Pakistan U.S. response to 2001 attacks has included thousands of CNG deployments By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service p hoto by “Justice has been done,” President Barack “Then last August, after years of pains- Obama said in announcing the death of taking work by our intelligence commu- Osama bin Laden during a statement from nity, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin

the White House. p ete souza Laden,” Obama said. “It was far from cer- tain, and it took many months to run this A U.S. Navy SEAL team killed bin Laden thread to ground.” on May 1 during a firefight near Islam- abad, Pakistan. The al-Qaida leader was hiding in a com- pound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. “The United States has conducted an op- eration that killed Osama bin Laden, the “The United States launched a target- leader of al-Qaida and a terrorist who is ed operation against that compound,” responsible for the murder of thousands of Obama said. “A small team of Americans innocent men, women and children,” the carried out the operation with extraordi- president said. nary courage and capability.

The operation ends a manhunt of almost “No Americans were harmed,” he con- 10 years. Bin Laden and al-Qaida planned tinued. “They took care to avoid civilian and executed the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that casualties. After a firefight, they killed killed 3,000 people in New York; Washing- Osama bin Laden and took custody of his ton, D.C.; and Pennsylvania. body.”

During the era of increased military activ- While his death marks the most significant ity that followed the attacks, the California achievement to date in America’s effort to President Barack Obama and New York firefighters toast during a lunch at Engine 54, Ladder 4, National Guard has deployed 2,149 Sol- defeat al-Qaida, it does not mean the end Battalion 9 Firehouse on May 5, four days after the death of al-Qaida terrorist leader Osama diers to Afghanistan, including multiple bin Laden. The firehouse lost 15 firefighters responding to the Sept. 11, 2001, al-Qaida attacks. of U.S. efforts. Obama said there is “no deployments for some individuals, and doubt” Al-Qaida will continue to pursue 12,082 Soldiers to Iraq and Kuwait. Califor- attacks against the U.S. nia National Guard Airmen have deployed Obama said Americans were united to pro- port in Afghanistan. Around the globe, overseas 8,910 times since 2001; the loca- tect the nation and to bring those who com- U.S. personnel worked with allies to cap- “As veterans of this conflict, we under- tions of those deployments are not avail- mitted the 9/11 terrorist attacks to justice. ture or kill scores of al-Qaida terrorists. stand that this was an important way- able for release. point, but our focus remains on the road “Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tire- “Yet, Osama bin Laden avoided capture ahead,” Baldwin said. “[May 1], our armed forces struck a ma- less and heroic work of our military and and escaped across the Afghan border jor blow to our enemy and to all those that our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve into Pakistan,” Obama said. “Meanwhile, “Doctrine tells us to exploit success, and would use terror as a means to advance made great strides in that effort,” the al-Qaida continued to operate from along that is the path we must now take as an their cause,” then-Brigadier General David president said. “We’ve disrupted terrorist that border and operate through its affili- organization and as individuals,” the ad- S. Baldwin, the adjutant general of the Cali- attacks and strengthened our homeland ates across the world.” jutant general continued. “We will con- fornia National Guard, wrote in a memo to defense.” tinue to bring the fight to the enemy and CNG members May 3. “[Bin Laden’s] reign Shortly after Obama took office in 2009, will do so with renewed vigor in terms of of terror is over, and our military has put Soon after 9/11, American forces removed he ordered the CIA to make the killing or our training and readiness for combat, as his followers on notice that their time is the Taliban government that had given bin capture of bin Laden the top priority of the well as our preparedness to respond here coming.” Laden and al-Qaida safe haven and sup- U.S. war against al-Qaida. at home.”

147th’s Williams named to Air Force Team of the Year By Master Sgt. J.C. Woodring Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

A California first sergeant and four our units, and it’s an honor to recognize them,” said Chief Photo by morataya andy other Air Force first sergeants were recognized last month Master Sgt. of the Air Force James Roy. “They help enforce during events in Washington, D.C., that honored them for the standards of integrity, service and excellence that make representing the Air Force and Air Force Association 2011 us the finest Air Force in the world.” Team of the Year. Williams began his military career in the Marines in 1980. Each year the chief master sergeant of the Air Force, along After an 11-year career in the Marine Corps as an air traf- with the major command-level command chief master ser- fic control communications technician, he enlisted in the geants, selects a specific Air Force specialty to be recog- CNG’s 149th Combat Communications Squadron (CCS). nized as the “Team of the Year.” Five individuals are then selected to represent the specialty. He was later reassigned to the 147th CCS and appointed team chief for the AN/MRC-144 Mobile HF/UHF/VHF Senior Master Sgt. Ernest T. Williams of the 147th Combat Radio System. He has since deployed to Afghanistan, the Communications Squadron, 162nd Combat Communica- Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine and many U.S. locations, tions Group, California National Guard, was one of the including responding to California in 1997 and Cali- five honorees. Williams was also honored this year as the fornia fires in 2008. In June 2001, Williams cross-trained as California Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year. a satellite wideband and telemetry systems technician and was eventually assigned to be team chief for the AN/TRC- Senior Master Sgt. Ernest T. Williams of the California During their visit to the nation’s capital, the first sergeant 170 Tropospheric Scatter Microwave Radio Terminal. National Guard’s 147th Combat Communications Squadron, second from right, was one of five Air representatives enjoyed a tour of Washington and a social Force first sergeants honored as the 2011 Air Force at Airey House, the official residence of the chief master In 2004 he was selected to fill the role of first sergeant for Association Team of the Year during a ceremony in sergeant of the Air Force. Then they met with senior Air his squadron. In February 2008 he was elected president of Rosslyn, Va., on May 2. Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Force leaders at the Pentagon and were honored at a recep- the California Air National Guard First Sergeants Council. James Roy, far right, and Air Force Association President tion hosted by the Air Force Association. The honorees also In his civilian career, Williams is employed by the Depart- Michael Dunn, far left, presented the honors to (from met with their congressional delegations on Capitol Hill. ment of the Navy as an in-service engineering agent and left) Chief Master Sgt. David R. Henry, Senior Master project lead. Williams also donates time and resources to Sgt. Melanie K. Noel, Master Sgt. Todd K. Meaney, Senior “First sergeants provide an important leadership role in several charities in California, Afghanistan and Iraq. Master Sgt. Manny Pineiro and Williams.

5 Grizzly | 2011 | June 129th RQS, Army Special Ops train for rescue, assault Three days in the mountains with Army Special Operations forces and the California Air National Guard’s show that multi-agency mission success is often based on one key thing: joint training.

Story and photos by Skip Robinson team boarded the HH-60Gs — call signs Jolly 91 and Jolly Vertical/Vertical911 Magazine 92 — and the aircraft launched from Bridgeport, heading toward the general location of the downed pilot, thought The 129th Rescue Squadron (RQS) — a unit of the CNG’s to be in mountainous terrain at an altitude over 8,500 feet. 129th Rescue Wing — recently took part in the Marine Along the way, the helicopters used terrain-masking to Corps-sponsored Mountain Warrior exercise. This three- remain concealed from enemy threats. Additional intelli- day segment of the larger Mountain Warrior program saw gence was gained en route to give a clearer understanding an Army Special Operations ground team cross-train with of the situation to the rescue crews; by the time they ar- the squadron’s Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk crews at the rived on scene, they had much better situational awareness Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center near of both the enemy threats and the survivor’s location. Bridgeport, Calif. The 129th RQS operates HH-60G heli- copters and Lockheed MC-130P Combat Shadow fixed- Working in cooperation, Jolly 91, the lead aircraft, located wing tankers. For this exercise, the unit sent two of its HH- the downed pilot and inserted the Special Operations res- 60Gs, each with a four-person crew, plus mechanics. cue team, while Jolly 92 flew cover and provided surveil- lance and suppressive fire. The Special Operations team DAY ONE: THE FOUNDATION proceeded to find the pilot on the ground and perform an The first day of training at the Mountain Warfare Training injury assessment. The pilot was then “packaged up” and Center consisted of fast-rope insertion and rope-ladder ex- escorted to Jolly 91. As the recovery was expected to be traction. This exercise allowed the Special Operations team relatively rapid, Jolly 91 stayed on the ground with its door to become re-familiarized with alternate insertion and ex- gunners at the ready to provide suppressive fire. After the traction operations. For safety, a pararescue jumper (PJ) pick-up, Jolly 91 performed a tactical departure and joined “rope master” from the 131st RQS — also part of the 129th up with Jolly 92 for a terrain-hugging flight back to base. Rescue Wing — observed while the Special Operations team practiced fast-rope insertions into a grass meadow. DAY THREE: THE ASSAULT The third day and night of training witnessed a joint 129th After each Special Operations member performed three RQS, Army Special Operations team and Marine Corps fast-rope insertions, training transitioned to rope-ladder convoy night assault, or “hit,” on a simulated enemy-held extractions. Because of the heavy gear each Special Op- village in the Nevada desert. erations team member carried, climbing the ladder was a TOP: An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 129th Res- particularly challenging task. To help, the PJ shared some In the afternoon, the helicopters staged to a forward base for cue Wing flies through the Mountains during a advanced climbing techniques that enabled them to make 129th RQS crews and Special Operations team members to joint search-and-rescue exercise with Army Special Operations it up the ladder faster and with less effort. Following the start planning the mission with Marine Corps ground force forces. RIGHT: Special Operations Soldiers perform dual-per- rope-ladder training, the teams practiced hoisting opera- commanders. The assault was scheduled for 8.45 p.m. and son hoist training with help from 129th Airmen. tions with single- and two-person lifts. would have the two HH-60Gs pairing up to the target with Special Operations Soldiers on board. The plan was for the During these exercises, the Pave Hawk crews trained HH-60Gs to then simultaneously insert the Special Opera- HH-60Gs were requested to extract the Special Operations in approaches and high-altitude power management. tions teams in order to maintain surprise and increase de- teams. The aircraft landed together, loaded the personnel Although the HH-60G is a powerful helicopter, it is also fensive firepower. The helicopter crews would use night and flew back to the Mountain Warfare Training Center. flown heavier than the Army’s UH-60L (from which the vision goggles and utilize the aircraft’s forward-look- Pave Hawk is derived). This, as a 129th RQS pilot explained, ing infrared turret for navigation and terrain avoidance. THE WRAP-UP means it requires careful management: “We carry an air- More than just an interesting three days, the joint training refueling probe, internal fuel tanks, plus [search and Lift-off time was 8 p.m.; during the wait for the insertion, the gave the teams the confidence to operate effectively togeth- rescue] gear and equipment, not to mention the mounted helicopters practiced formation flying. Once the call came er in the future. The Pave Hawk crews were able to operate weapons and ammunition. When the aircraft operate in, the crews located the landing area and proceeded to set in difficult hot and high conditions and refine their flying at higher altitudes, we need to be aware of the [limited] up the approach just as the Marine Corps task force rolled skills. They also demonstrated that training for CSAR is power available and plan our missions accordingly.” up on the building. Diversionary flares were launched and good preparation for many other mission sets. The Army the ground units initiated suppressive gunfire. The Pave Special Operations team, meanwhile, was able to train in a DAY TWO: THE RESCUE Hawks then landed within yards of the building and the CSAR mission and become familiar with the Air Nation- The second day saw the HH-60G crews on a 30-minute com- Special Operations teams exited to begin the assault. al Guard’s operational standards, tactics, techniques and bat search and rescue (CSAR) alert. The scenario simulated procedures. All in all, it was a very productive three days. a Navy pilot shot down in a high-threat, high-altitude loca- After taking simulated ground fire, the lead helicopter tion. The Special Operations team would rescue the pilot, called for the flight formation to lift off and depart the giving them the opportunity to learn how a quick-reaction area. Once they had gained some altitude, the Pave Hawk Reprinted with permission of CSAR mission develops (normally, the Special Operations gunners began providing surveillance and suppressive fire VERTICAL/VERTICAL911 Magazine. team only engages in pre-planned, assault-type missions). with their GAU-18/A .50-caliber guns. At any time, how- Latest issues can be downloaded at: Once the CSAR mission was called, a quick intelligence ever, the aircraft were still available to extract wounded or Verticalmag.com and threat assessment was briefed. The Special Operations injured team members from the assault. After the hit, the

6 Grizzly | 2011 | June 146th Airlift Wing douses Texas fires By Maj. Kimberly Holman 146th Airlift Wing

The 146th Airlift Wing deployed 40 Na- not uncommon for planes to drop up to p hoto by staff sgt. eric harris tional Guardsmen and two C-130J Hercu- 10 loads of retardant before sunset. It was les aircraft from April 17 through May 6 in also not uncommon for crews to sit and wait response to wildfires that were devastating for launch orders for days at a time. Their much of southern Texas. biggest challenges came from the weather.

“Our wing received notification in the late “We had rain the first week, then hail and afternoon on [April 16] that we would be thunderstorms,” Senior Master Sgt. Bob deploying to Texas, and less than 29 hours Barry said. “Then it was nice, in the 80s. later we were actually performing our Literally the only thing we’ve been missing first drop of retardant,” said Lt. Col. Kurt out here is snow.” Holden, commander of the 115th Airlift Squadron, 146th Airlift Wing. “The mem- “[Sometimes] we’ll sit around for four or bers of this wing are truly dedicated to this five hours, maybe doing nothing till 2 or 3 mission and worked throughout the night in the afternoon. But when you get the call, loading the equipment onto the aircraft to it can get really busy,” Garnsey added. ensure an on-time departure.” Tasking for launch orders is determined by Shortly after departing Channel Islands Air the incident commander at the fire and is National Guard Station, Calif., the 146th based on weather, work and safety condi- aircraft were diverted to Laughlin Air tions. Air support is only requested when Force Base, Texas, where they were loaded conditions are favorable for an effective with fire retardant and sent directly to the retardant drop, according to officials from Lt. Col. Greg Ervin of the California National Guard’s 115th Airlift Squadron, 146th Airlift Wing, Wildcat Fire about 10 miles north of San the U.S. Forest Service surveys the Oasis in west Texas on April 26 as he and his crew prepare to dispense fire Angelo, Texas. retardant from their C-130J Hercules aircraft, which is equipped with the Modular Airborne The deployed C-130J aircraft are equipped Fire Fighting Systems II. “This is the first time we’ve been called out with a self-contained aerial firefighting sys- of California to do something of this scale,” tem known as the Modular Airborne Fire without the risk of damaging structures and bases don’t have air compression equip- said Tech. Sgt. Marc Garnsey, a loadmas- Fighting Systems II, or MAFFS II, which other things on the ground, Allen said. ment, so we had to bring our own when- ter for the 146th, while flying home from a can discharge 3,000 gallons of water or fire ever we went out on a mission.” weeklong stint helping out with the fires. retardant in less than five seconds, cover- The MAFFS units are also equipped with “It breaks the monotony of training.” ing an area up to 1/4-mile long by 60 feet onboard air compressors that can reload The 146th had been scheduled to spend wide. while in flight, making for a much quick- early May conducting its annual MAFFS Air National Guard and Reserve units from er reload time on the ground. Planes only certification and training in Boise, Idaho, four states flew more than 80 missions and “Commercial air tankers like the P3 and P2 need to be on the ground long enough to with the other three MAFFS units from dropped more than 243,000 gallons of re- use gravity feeds to distribute retardant,” refill their fire retardant — about 12 min- around the country. The 146th has 12 fully tardant on many of the state’s largest fires, said pilot Lt. Col. Bryan Allen of the 146th. utes. Maintenance crews waiting on the qualified MAFFS crews and does not an- which have burned more than 2 million “The water tends to want to stay together, ground work busily to keep up with the ticipate any issues responding to future acres since November. so it can potentially be destructive.” planes returning for fuel and retardant. fires. The wing plans to hold local certifi- cation and training for its air crews in June During the time the California National By using pressurized air, MAFFS can drop “In the past, we needed to have compres- at Channel Islands Air National Guard Guard unit was deployed to Texas, it was a consistent layer of retardant on an area sors on the ground,” Allen said. “Most air Station.

640th finds helicopter parts, saves Army millions ASB found $10 million in unused parts during first two months in Iraq Story and photo by Spc. Matthew A. Wright 640th Aviation Support Battalion

With the discovery of thousands of heli- the Camp Taji airfield, Johnson said. out and put on our shelves.” copter parts ranging from tires all the way up to transmissions and rotary blades, the The 640th is a California Army National Reyes and his staff took time out of their technical supply section of the 640th Avia- Guard battalion from Los Alamitos, Calif. busy work schedule to log the equipment tion Support Battalion has identified and It is attached to the 40th Combat Aviation back into the Army’s supply system. inventoried millions of dollars worth of Brigade (CAB), which is deployed to Iraq unused parts, returning them to the supply in support of Operation New Dawn. One “We started off with six Soldiers — three system for use. of the battalion’s missions is to maintain during the day and three during the night,” the CAB’s helicopters and keep them fly- said Spc. John Millan of Los Angeles, a During eight years of war, numerous units ing. The 640th is currently the only aviation technical supply specialist with Company and massive amounts of military hardware support battalion in Iraq. B. “With Soldiers on [rest and recuperation have cycled through Iraq. With prepara- leave] and on [days off], we borrowed some tions underway for the combat theater to During a 1 ½-month span, the technical staff from Alpha Company, so we probably close down in December, the 640th ASB is supply section of Company B, 640th ASB, had around 10 people for both shifts.” playing a critical role in tracking and mov- led by Staff Sgt. Adan Reyes of Apple Val- ing tons of aviation hardware out of Iraq. ley, Calif., inventoried the parts that had “We found Chinook transmissions,” John- been recovered from storage containers at son added. “The cheap ones are $650,000.” More than $10 million in unused — and Camp Taji. Reyes had the equipment trans- Chinook engines were also found, which unaccounted for — parts were processed ported to his warehouse and organized can run about $800,000 or more apiece, he during slightly more than two months af- the parts his unit could use. The rest of the estimated. ter the 640th ASB arrived in Iraq. Some of equipment was sent to Kuwait or the Unit- those individual parts are worth hundreds ed States to be used by other units. With the parts found at Camp Taji logged Spc. John Millan, a technical supply of thousands of dollars apiece, said Maj. and inventoried, the next job is to recover specialist with Company B, 640th Aviation Jeremy Johnson, support operations officer “We had it all trucked over to a consolidat- parts throughout Iraq. Parts are already ar- Support Battalion, inventories helicopter for the 640th ASB and a resident of Brea, ed location and we inventoried the lion’s riving from other bases, and plans are be- parts May 3 on Camp Taji, Iraq. The 640th’s Calif. The parts were found in cardboard share of it,” Johnson said. “The things that ing made to search for even more caches of discovery and processing of helicopters boxes and storage containers, primarily on we could use, we went ahead and pulled parts, Johnson said. parts saved the Army millions of dollars.

7 Grizzly | 2011 | June 2-135th detachment completes lifesaving Afghan tour By Maj. Fran Clader Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs p hoto by sgt. 1st class For the members of “Bayou Dustoff,” De- and respect. “It doesn’t matter who they tachment 1, Company F, 2nd Battalion, were, they were treated the same,” he said. 135th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), their yearlong mission in Afghani- For Oomps, coming home this time means stan could not have been more meaningful starting a new life with his future wife. Be- — saving lives on the battlefield. fore deploying, the Livermore, Calif., resi- dent got engaged, met his future in-laws, “Dustoff” refers to the radio call sign given then headed overseas. He and his fiancée, to the first aeromedical helicopter evacua- Megan, plan to wed June 11. j esse flagg tion unit during the as a re- sult of the dust and dirt that was disturbed For maintenance test pilot Chief Warrant whenever a helicopter landed in the field to Officer 2 Thaddeus Crouch, the deploy- evacuate the wounded. The call sign lives ment was his third overall and his first to on today and is synonymous with lifesav- Afghanistan. He participated in about 60 ing aeromedical evacuation. medevac missions operating out of Farah province. Posing for pictures with his During a May 14 welcome home ceremony parents beside one of the Black Hawks, in a hangar on Mather Airfield, Calif., fam- Crouch described Afghanistan as “the ily and friends of the 60 returning unit darkest place in the world at night and members learned just how many lives the hottest place during the summer.” were impacted by the unit’s mission. The detachment transported 609 patients dur- His father, Ken Whitman, beamed with ing its deployment. Of the total, 175 were pride. “It’s great they went and did what civilians, 184 were members of the Afghan Soldiers of Detachment 1, Company F, 2nd Battalion, 135th General Support Aviation Battalion they had to do, and it’s great that they’re (GSAB), salute during the national anthem at a welcome home ceremony May 14 at Mather National Army, 134 were U.S. Soldiers, 99 back safe.” Airfield near Sacramento. The medevac unit had just returned from a yearlong deployment to were other coalition Soldiers and 17 were Afghanistan, during which it transported 609 injured patients. enemies, according to Capt. Sean Connor, Spano encouraged the Soldiers, now that acting commander. they’re home, to take time to take care of to combat injuries, ensuring the patients re- have an impact on saving someone’s life,” themselves and to ensure they and their Col. Robert Spano, commander of the ceived the medical care they needed in “one said Sgt. Jeffrey Oomps, a UH-60 Black families take advantage of resources, such 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment of the most hostile areas in the world.” Hawk helicopter mechanic, who complet- as Military OneSource, that are available Group, higher headquarters for Detach- ed his second tour in Afghanistan. to returning service members. ment 1, applauded the unit’s performance, The importance of their mission was not noting that the crews transported patients lost on the crew members. “To me, it was What impressed Oomps the most was that “You’re our most cherished treasure,” he suffering everything from a scorpion bite the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done – to every patient was treated with the same care said. “We need you to sustain the fight.”

649th supports Afghan engineers’ road projects By 649th Engineer Company

The 649th Engineer Company’s first mis- best course of action at each site with input quality and in a timely manner, resulting in counterparts seemed to please the local sion in coordination with Afghan National from U.S. engineers and planned the same increased mobility along a critical route. residents who drove by and elicited an un- Army (ANA) engineers was a big success. methods and materials that would have usual amount of grins and waving. The mission was to support ANA engi- been used in a U.S.-led project. The assess- Another benefit of the project was that local neers in completing road improvements ment was promising in that it showed a residents were able to see the ANA taking “I believe that, moving forward, the ANA to one of the key routes in the 649th’s area glimpse of the ANA engineers’ capability the lead, with U.S. Soldiers in a supporting engineers will be a productive engineering of operations. Despite the numerous par- to plan work, but there was still significant role. This image gives credit to the capa- unit that can be assigned independent mis- ties involved, language barriers and lack doubt about the quality of their operators bility of the ANA and also humanizes the sions,” Ross said. “Having the ANA engi- of equipment, the project was completed and equipment. U.S. Soldiers, who are usually only seen neers as an actionable element will reduce ahead of schedule with improvements to through concertina wire, barriers or the the load on U.S. elements and help develop the route that benefit both coalition forces Following the assessment, several weeks windows of mine-resistant armor protect- the ANA toward being a reliable security and local nationals. of planning ensured all resources were in ed vehicles. Seeing U.S. engineers breaking force capable of providing security for the place, including security, equipment, ma- for lunch and eating alongside their ANA Afghan people.”

Overcoming the challenges required coor- terials and U.S. engineer support. Sgt. 1st p hoto by staff sgt. anna rutherford dination, proactive interaction with ANA Class Scott Nyquist of the 1249th Engineer Soldiers and U.S. Army support at all levels. Battalion, Oregon National Guard, was em- bedded with ANA Soldiers at their base to “The primary factors for success were the ensure the required materials and equip- ANA engineers’ work ethic and capabil- ment were prepared to mobilize each day. ity,” said 1st Lt. Brian Ross of the 649th. “Leading up to the project, I was doubtful The first day of work focused on two of the of the ANA’s ability. But after seeing them easiest work sites, but the ANA operators in action, I am confident that they can effec- seemed to be competent and capable on all tively execute engineering missions.” equipment except the motor grader, which is one of the most difficult pieces of equip- The scope of work consisted of eight work ment to operate. Work at successive sites sites along the route that were impair- proved the Soldiers’ capability, as grades ing coalition and local national traffic due were raised with fill and compacted, gravel to improvised explosive device damage, was placed and spread, and drainage was washouts and “wadi flows,” streams that improved. may be torrential during the rainy season but dry otherwise. In total more than 8 miles of route were improved and several stretches of craters The first step was an assessment of each filled and smoothed. Throughout the pro- site with U.S. Army and ANA leadership to cess, Soldiers of the 649th Engineer Com- determine the scope of work and the mate- pany trained the ANA operators and pro- A California National Guard Soldier from the 649th Engineer Company assesses a complete rial and equipment needs at each site. The vided input on the methods used. Overall route improvement project in Paktika province, Afghanistan, on April 12. The project was a ANA engineer commander determined the the work was completed to a high level of coordinated effort of coalition forces and Afghan National Army engineers.

8 Grizzly | 2011 | June 148th upgrades satellite mission control subsystem By Capt. Denis Breslin 148th Space Operations Squadron I llustration by lockheed martin Pioneering the way in Space Operations for the Air Na- The original ground control system was the Mission tional Guard, the 148th Space Operations Squadron, Control Element (MCE), shortly followed by the highly based at Vandenberg Air Force Base Tracking Station, advanced follow-on dubbed the Satellite Mission Con- Calif., has shared the command and control mission for trol Subsystem, or SMCS. the Milstar satellite constellation with the 4th Space Op- erations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., for The “smucks,” as it is known, was a dramatic tech- the past 10 years. April 18 marked the decommissioning nological and system design improvement over the of the Milstar Satellite Mission Control Subsystem and MCE. It has the ability to command one satellite while Air Force Command Post Terminal, which had been in monitoring the health of the entire constellation and si- operation for the Air Force for more than 16 years. multaneously allow throughput of secured communi- cations. Fulfilling its operational life expectancy with Since March 23, 2001, the 148th Space Operations Squad- complete success, the SMCS was replaced last year by ron’s decade of successful round-the-clock operation the Advanced SMCS, though the SMCS still served as marks a momentous accomplishment for the first Air Na- the backup until April 18. tional Guard squadron to assume a command and con- trol space operations mission. The 148th operations crews The new Unix-based Advanced SMCS allows high-tech have worked tirelessly to provide secure, protected com- features such as the capability to command two satellites munications to the warfighter and the commander in at once in efforts to support the new Advanced Extremely The Lockheed Martin-built Milstar satellite provides chief, with 82,059 total satellite sorties thus far. High Frequency satellites as they assume position in orbit secure, jam-resistant worldwide communications for the in the near future. military as part of a six-satellite constellation. The CNG’s The Lockheed Martin-built Milstar Flight 1 was launched 148th Space Operations Squadron, which has shared the in 1994 and followed by five successful additions to the The 148th continues 24-hour-a-day operations with a Milstar command and control mission since March 2001, cross-linked constellation, including the most recent Ad- force of four full-time crews, including 10 traditional of- recently decommissioned a Satellite Mission Control Sub- vanced Extremely High Frequency payload last year. ficer and enlisted operators. system and upgraded to a more advanced model.

Salvadoran outreach mission CNG supports depends on CNG linguists drug take-back Story and photo by Spc. Emerson Marcus By 1st Lt. Patrick Bagley 106th Public Affairs Detachment JTF Domestic Support–Counterdrug The 9th Century Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne said, the journalists to stop walking through formations. The California National Guard’s Joint Task Force Do- “To have another language is to possess another soul.” It mestic Support–Counterdrug supported the Drug can also mean the ability to bridge the barrier between Chang and other linguists take the Defense Language Enforcement Administration’s second National Pre- people, countries and, sometimes, armies. That is what Proficiency Test each year to remain qualified in Spanish. scription Drug Take-Back Day on April 30, with the Soldiers of the 223rd Military Intelligence Battalion, Cal- They must score a 2 out of 3 in the reading and listen- goal of removing old, unused and potentially dan- ifornia , are doing as linguists in ing portions. The test is multiple choice, and linguists can gerous drugs from home medicine cabinets. El Salvador. score higher than 3 on the advanced scale. The California Society of Health-System Pharmacists “It’s not as easy as people think,” said Spc. Charles Chang For Chang, deploying to foreign countries as a linguist is (CSHP) hosted the event at its downtown Sacramen- of the 223rd. Chang put his translating abilities to the test nothing new. He was in Nicaragua last year, and in 2009 to location in cooperation with the Joint Task Force last month during the opening ceremony of Beyond the he was in the Dominican Republic. and the Department of Justice, which catalogued and Horizon 2011, a training exercise to provide humanitar- transported 10 large boxes of disposed pharmaceu- ian assistance to the people of El Salvador most affected “I grew up in a household with many different languag- ticals to the DEA. More than 5,300 sites nationwide by Hurricane Ida in 2009. Journalists pushed Soldiers es,” said Chang, who learned Spanish from his mother joined the effort to prevent pill abuse and theft. standing in formation and stormed the stage just as U.S. and Chinese from his father. “That’s why this job is per- Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponti began speaking, and fect for me.” “The goal is to provide a safe, easy way for commu- Chang had to regulate the group in Spanish. nity members to drop off their unused medications Staff Sgt. Adrian Bustos of the 223rd is also deployed to and prevent them from either being diverted and “I kept telling them, ‘You can take pictures in the desig- Central America. Serving as the permanent party linguist abused or disposed of improperly,” said Dawn Ben- nated area, but you can’t walk through formations shov- for Beyond the Horizon, he will be deployed until mid- ton, executive vice president and CEO of CSHP. ing Soldiers to the side,’” said Chang, who eventually got June. Bustos has worked as translator during a meeting with Brig. Gen. Cesar Adonay Acosta Bonilla, the Salva- Several volunteer student pharmacists were on hand doran chief of staff, and has sat in on several battle update to support the event and provide information, while briefs as the translator for Salvadoran officers. dozens of community members showed up to drop off old medications totaling more than 100 pounds. “English and Spanish speakers who don’t speak anoth-

er language tend to think that all you are doing is tak- p hoto by 1st lt. ing words and replacing them in sentences, but there is much more to it than that,” said Bustos, who grew up in a Spanish-speaking household in Visalia, Calif. “Grammar plays a huge role, and the majority of words don’t have definitive replacements.” p atrick bagley His most difficult assignment was to translate for a con- gregation of more than 150 in a rural Salvadoran church. When the chaplain, Maj. Wes Balmer, informed the con- gregation about the medical and dental assistance avail- able, Balmer finished his speech with an ad-lib, diverting from what Bustos expected.

“The linguists have really done a great job here,” said Col. Staff Sgt. Adrian Bustos of the CNG’s 223rd Military Timothy Houser, commander of the 130th Maneuver En- Intelligence Battalion, left, translates a message into Spanish hancement Brigade, the command and control element for A young Sacramento resident drops off a load of old for Maj. Wes Balmer, a chaplain with the the exercise. “Without them we aren’t able to continue. … prescription drugs April 30 during National Prescription National Guard’s 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. We need them to perform this exercise.” Drug Take-Back Day.

9 Airmen of the 144th Civil Engineer Squadron perform a rapid runway repair task March 11 during their Operational Readiness Inspec- tion, which was held at the 163rd Civil Engineer Squadron Regional Training Site on , Calif. Photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey

Col. Sami D. Said, center, takes com- mand of the Fresno- based 144th Fighter Wing, receiving the wing guidon from then-Brigadier General David S. Baldwin, the adju- tant general of the California National Guard, on May 14. Said joined the Air Force in 1991 and most recently served as chief of staff and senior military assistant to the under secretary of defense, acquisi- tion, technology and logistics at the Pentagon. Photo by Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler

Tech. Sgt. Erin McPherson of the 146th Airlift Wing and the 562nd Air Force Band prepares to sing the national anthem April 17 before The 40th Brigade Support Battalion Color Guard presents the colors March 16 during the national anthem before a Los Angeles Clippers game on Military Appreciation Night. The NBA and the Clippers a race of the Toyota Grand Prix in Long Beach. recognized the 40th BSB and their families as honored guests, and the Staples Center crowd provided a rousing ovation. The Color Guard, from right to left: Spc. Jerson Chu, Private 1st Class Alexandr Gar- Photo by 146th Airlift Wing cia, Staff Sgt. Cynthia Rodriguez, Spc. Mark Hernandez and Spc. Jaime Sanchez. Photo by the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

10 At a Glance

LEFT: Staff Sgt. Brendon Baker, an aersopace propulsion special- ist with the 129th Maintenance Squadron, secures an MC-130P Combat Shadow propeller to a forklift May 16 at , Calif., so it can be moved to the maintenance shop for re- placement of leaking seals. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kim E. Ramirez TOP MIDDLE: Master Sgt. Vic- tor Maurizzio of the CNG’s Joint Task Force Domestic Support– Counterdrug holds up a sign so his group of 30 middle school students can find him March 29 during the Drug Store Project, a drug, alcohol and to- bacco abuse prevention program involving more than 40 commu- nity organizations. Approximately 350 6th-graders were led through a series of substance abuse sta- tions, which dramatized a judicial hearing, juvenile hall, overdose and a funeral. Photo by 2nd Lt. Kara Siepmann

Christian Carbonel, a ju- nior mentor at The First Tee of Monterey County, shows Calvin DeCosta, a participant in California National Guard Child and Youth Programs, how to line up a putt April 16 during a break- out session of a Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program attended by 129th Rescue Wing Air- men in Monterey Calf. Photo by Staff Sgt. Kim E. Ramirez

The 146th Airlift Wing’s Air Terminal Operations Squadron, Logistics Readiness Squadron and Security Forces Squadron depart Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., on June 4 and head for Joint Base Elmendorf- Richardson, Alaska, to complete their two- week annual training. Photo by The 40th Brigade Support Battalion Color Guard presents the colors March 16 during the national anthem before a Los Angeles Clippers game on Military Appreciation Night. The NBA and the Clippers Tech. Sgt. Alex Koenig recognized the 40th BSB and their families as honored guests, and the Staples Center crowd provided a rousing ovation. The Color Guard, from right to left: Spc. Jerson Chu, Private 1st Class Alexandr Gar- cia, Staff Sgt. Cynthia Rodriguez, Spc. Mark Hernandez and Spc. Jaime Sanchez. Photo by the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team

11 Grizzly | 2011 | June Op Medical Shelter tests multi-agency quake response Four CNG wings joined local responders, volunteers for Camarillo exercise By Airman 1st Class Ashley Ramirez 146th Airlift Wing

Members of four California Air National were rolled into the Air Guard tents one af- pared to be moved to the flight line. Air- were able to triage their patients. Guard wings worked with local agen- ter another, each was greeted by an Airman men loaded the patients into the beds of cies and several hundred volunteers from eager to help. Air Force Humvees, and they were ready “They didn’t believe us at first when we Ventura County and surrounding areas in to go. said we could do 30 people in five min- May to execute Operation Medical Shelter As the patients were helped onto gurneys, utes,” Sumner said. “The exercise was a 2011, an exercise designed to test the pre- Airmen asked “What’s your name?” and After a five-minute drive, they reached the huge success and will be used as a bench- paredness of first responders during a ma- “Do you remember anything about what flight line, where a C-130 aircraft and the mark for both civilian and military first re- jor disaster. happened?” Simulating real-world situ- 146th Aeromedical Crew were standing by. sponder training.” ations, some victims yelled out in pain, Each patient was carefully loaded onto the The daylong exercise May 11 at the airport while others showed frustration because plane and secured tightly. As patients were Sumner, who works in the medical field in in Camarillo, Calif., simulated the medi- they were not being tended to as quickly being escorted onto the aircraft, a crew her civilian career, added that she was very cal needs of local citizens after a major as they wanted. With every yell and cry, an member walked around the plane, explain- proud of how the civilian medical staff earthquake. More than 100 volunteer vic- Airman was there to explain what was hap- ing to everyone what was going to happen stepped up to the plate during the exercise. tim role-players helped test the prepared- pening and the status of the patient as they and how the plane works, and asking if ev- ness of emergency medical services, public moved forward with their procedures. eryone was OK. “They really made it happen,” she said. health agencies, animal control staff and “[People] say you should be able to trust 10 local hospitals as well as the California The exercise tested Airmen and civilian re- The civilian medical volunteers were im- them with your life. Well, I really do. They National Guard’s 129th Recue Wing, 144th sponders by including victims with special pressed with how quickly the CNG Airmen were great.” Fighter Wing, 146th Airlift Wing and 163rd needs, disabled victims who were wheel- Reconnaissance Wing. chair-bound, small children and victims Photo by airman 1st class who had animals. Involving these types Master Sgt. Mark Rubio of the 146th Air- of real-world victims was a challenge, said lift Wing Medical Group said exercises and Col. Nancy Sumner, commander of the drills like Operation Medical Shelter are 146th Airlift Wing Medical Group, but it essential for testing each agency’s role in a was essential to the exercise because it gave major natural disaster. the responders experience in handling vic- tims who require extra attention. It also “Every agency has its own way of doing created a challenge for the 146th air crew, business,” he said. “It’s important to get ev- which needed to determine how to trans- eryone together to get trained on what each port and secure wheelchairs, create proper N icholas of us needs to do to get the job done.” seating for a toddler and handle a large dog on the aircraft. Rubio said this exercise was the first time C

a CNG chemical, biological, radiological, “This was the first time they had civilians, arzis nuclear and explosives enhanced response special needs [victims], animals and airlift force package (CERF-P), aeromedical evac- [training] together in one,” Sumner said. uation squadron and medical groups have “That has never been done before.” worked with civilians in this capacity. The exercise culminated with civilian med- The Airmen involved in the exercise were ical staff requesting that the Air Force help staged in three medical tents. Each tent was transport overflow patients to hospitals in set up with medical equipment, bandages another county. After going through the Medical staff from the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing and 146th Airlift Wing lift a victim role- and intravenous drips prepared for pa- proper protocol and ensuring everything player into an Air Force vehicle during Operation Medical Shelter, a simulated disaster training tients who were received as overflow from was in order, the Airmen got the thumbs- exercise, May 11 at Freedom Park in Camarillo, Calif. In addition to CNG Airmen, the exercise the local hospitals’ tents. As the patients up to transport, and every patient was pre- included local hospital staff, law enforcement agencies and other first responders.

3-140th gains high-tech Lakotas for domestic missions Story and photo by Senior Airman Jessica Green Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs

The California Army National Guard has recovery, evacuation, counterdrug and lim- received two LUH-72A Lakota light utility ited passenger transportation support. helicopters and is preparing for six more to be assigned to the 3-140th Aviation Security Two of the 3-140th’s Lakotas are retrofitted and Support (S&S) Battalion in Stockton. with the new mission equipment package, or MEP, outfitted as medical evacuation The Lakota will ultimately replace the bat- aircraft and being utilized as training talion’s OH-58 A/C Kiowa helicopters one- platforms for pilots and maintainers. The for-one. The new aircraft also free up the MEP includes an electro-optical/infrared California National Guard’s UH-60 Black sensor, enhanced cockpit screens, high- Hawk helicopters, allowing them to focus power illuminator system, analog-digital on bigger operational missions. data downlink capability and GPS- enhanced moving map displays. “Transitioning from the legacy Kiowa to the new modernized Lakota helicopters “We are among the first states to get the will require a whole new technical knowl- MEP,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Mi- edge base and skill set,” said Capt. Rob- chael Rathe, pilot and training officer with ert Mariotti, commander of Company A, the 3-140th S&S Battalion. “The MEP is the Capt. Robert Mariotti, 3-140th Aviation Security and Support Battalion commander, left, 3-140th S&S Battalion. “This new aircraft bread and butter for our missions, especial- and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Michael Rathe, 3-140th pilot and training officer, inspect a new allows our pilots and maintainers a better ly those supporting law enforcement and LUH-72A Lakota helicopter April 29 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Stockton, Calif. way to train and conduct our mission.” border security operations.” input specific street addresses and intersec- “Something we learned during Hurricane Ka- Being a light utility helicopter, the Lakota is One system aboard the MEP-equipped air- tions into the flight management system, trina is that the fire department, for example, designed to fly general support operations craft is a GPS-guided navigation system incredibly useful when conducting domes- such as civil search and rescue, personnel with moving maps and the capability to tic missions, Mariotti said. continued on page 19

12 Grizzly | 2011 | June 1-140th nears end of yearlong Iraq mission Aviation unit is approaching 20,000 hours of flight time during current tour Story and photo by Spc. Darriel Swatts 40th Combat Aviation Brigade

The Soldiers of 1st Battalion (Assault), 140th day, and they come back and do it the next Aviation Regiment, based out of Los Alam- day with the same great mindset of getting itos, Calif., are nearing the end of a busy the mission done.” yearlong deployment to Iraq in support of Operation New Dawn. The approximately “My Soldiers give it their all,” added Sgt. 350 Soldiers of the 1-140th are gearing up to 1st Class Shawn Winstead, maintenance head home mid-summer. platoon sergeant for Company E, 1-140th. “We support a larger element than we are “Each and every one of my Soldiers, I’m designed to take care of. We’re taking care proud of them,” said Troy Eck, command of more than a battalion; we take care of an sergeant major for the 1-140th. “They are entire task force and we’re extremely profi- all citizen-Soldiers from all walks of life cient at it.” and all different backgrounds coming to- gether as a task force and completing the The pilots of the 1-140th are knocking on mission.” the door of 20,000 hours of total flight time and are averaging more than 2,000 hours of Most of the Soldiers of the battalion, known flight time a month. And, with this amount as Task Force Long Knife, are California of flying, keeping the helicopters in the air National Guard members, augmented by a requires plenty of fuel. company from the Alaska National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment. “So far we have distributed more than 2 million gallons of fuel,” said 1st Lt. Ja- The Soldiers of the 1-140th arrived in Iraq cob White, distribution platoon leader for in late October. The unit controls about Sgt. Robert Prewitt, left, removes the transmission oil filter from a UH-60A Black Hawk Company E. “And since the pilots’ missions thirty UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and helicopter May 5 on Joint Base Balad, Iraq, while Spc. Zach Bewick ensures the oil stays contained happen at all times of the day and night, about 20 fixed-wing aircraft. once the filter is removed. my Soldiers sustain 24-hour operations and are always ready to accomplish the mission. The battalion’s Soldiers have been tasked to These Soldiers are some of the best people fly the command staff of U.S. Forces–Iraq, “As soon as we arrived in country we hit “Having the 40th CAB come in and take the I’ve ever worked with.” operate two forward arming and refueling the ground running,” said Maj. Jeff Sib- reins was a nice familiarity,” Sibley said. points, and provide direct support to the ley, operations officer for the 1-140th. “It “We already knew them from back home With all the Soldiers of the 1-140th work- Combined Joint Special Operations Task was a seamless transition between us and and we already have such a rich history ing seamlessly together, they have never Force, as well as other tasks. The 1-140th our predecessors, and we often get compli- of working together. It was a great morale dropped a mission since they arrived in operates from three bases ranging from ments from outside sources praising us for boost.” theater, Holliday said. Baghdad to Mosul. how well we operate.” Despite having to shift gears in the middle “These Soldiers have taken the Nation- One company in the battalion is respon- When the 1-140th first came into theater, of its deployment with the introduction of al Guard mentality of ‘One weekend sible for flying distinguished visitors who it fell under the command of the active a new command group, the 1-140th hasn’t a month, two weeks a year,’ and have have visited the country during the past duty Army’s 1st Combat Aviation Brigade missed a beat in their operations. turned it into a full-time job,” Eck said. year. Distinguished visitors have included (CAB), out of Ft. Riley, Kan. About halfway “They have rocked the entire time we Robert Gates, secretary of defense; Navy through the 1-140th’s deployment, the 1st “The Soldiers of this task force have been have been mobilized, and now that we are Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the CAB returned home and the battalion tran- absolutely phenomenal in getting this mis- nearing the completion of our mission, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and California’s Nancy sitioned to fall under the 40th CAB, which sion done,” said Lt. Col. Jeffery Holliday, I know for a fact that all of our Soldiers Pelosi, minority leader in the U.S. House of is headquartered in Fresno, Calif., not far 1-140th commander. “They are working can’t wait to get home and be with the Representatives. from the 1-140th’s home in Los Alamitos. extremely long hours, often 12 to 14 hours a ones they love.”

Airman performs for Obama, dignitaries A piper for the Air Force Reserve Bagpipe Band recalls a Capitol performance By Staff Sgt. Cullan Hooley 146th Airlift Wing p hoto courtesy of the white house We first flew to Warner Robins Air Force arriving and going up the steps to the Cap- It was a very busy and tiring trip, yet it was Base, Ga., for four days of uniform fitting, itol, and again after the luncheon, as they extremely rewarding and definitely some- equipment and instrument checks and re- were departing. We then got back on the thing I will remember and cherish for the hearsals … and more rehearsals. This was bus and headed to the White House, where rest of my life. I am very proud to have the first time we had all played together the president hosted a reception for Kenny performed as part of a rare and elite unit and we needed to meld into a cohesive unit and other guests that evening. for such prestigious dignitaries, and also to play together as one. We then flew to to have been able to represent the U.S. Air Andrews Air Force Base, Md. There we re- We performed outside the East Wing en- Force in such a high-profile, dignified and hearsed more, made our final preparations trance for about an hour as the guests were professional way. and managed for a few hours to go to the arriving. Then we were taken to a room in National Mall and do a little sightseeing. the White House for a group photo with The Band of the Air Force Reserve Bagpipe the president and first lady, who personally Band is based out of Warner Robbins AFB. On the day of the performances, March 17, greeted each of us and shook our hands. Af- Two Active Guard Reserve (AGR) pipers, we got on the bus and headed to the Capitol ter the group photo was taken, we returned three drummers and the drum major are in Washington, D.C. John Boehner, speaker to a “holding room” in the East Wing until stationed there, while the other eight pip- of the House of Representatives, was our it was time to perform again. ers, such as myself, are spread through- host for the event. Every St Patrick’s Day, out the Air Force and the country. When the speaker hosts a luncheon for the U.S. This time we formed up outside the main there is a scheduled performance, we are president and the prime minister of Ire- entrance to the White House. We marched flown in from our respective bases for the Staff Sgt. Cullan Hooley of the 146th Airlift land, the newly elected Enda Kenny. into the Grand Foyer just inside the front event. Wing stands in front of the Capitol in door and played a few songs for the guests Washington, D.C., where he performed for We performed twice at the Capitol: once as at the reception. After our set we marched For more information about the band, visit U.S. and foreign dignitaries March 17 with the Kenny and President Barack Obama were out, and our performances were complete. www.usafreserveband.af.mil/ensembles. Band of the Air Force Reserve Bagpipe Band.

13 Grizzly | 2011 | June Employment Summit is JTF-tested, ESGR-approved Full-day event prepared JTF Sierra troops for life after deployment Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Inigo Joint Task Force Sierra Public Affairs An Employment Summit prototype was of California can get the information neces- held at the armory in National City, Ca- sary for them to return to their point of ori- lif., near San Diego on April 13, bringing gin and have the best knowledge available together civilian resources, veterans orga- to them,” said Fatima Hassam, a local vet- nizations and representatives from colleg- eran and employment representative at the es and universities to help California Na- South County Career Center, a partner of tional Guard members better navigate their the California Employment Development futures. Department (EDD).

Specifically geared for the members of Joint Included in the summit were representa- Task Force Sierra, the Southwest border tives from the EDD, who helped prepare mission, this all-day event meant that the unemployment paperwork in the event looming end of mission slated for the end an immediate job could not be found; of June will not be simply a dead end but Department of Veterans Affairs officials, rather a window of opportunity. who explained benefits, including health care options; civilian veteran organiza- Employer Support of the Guard and Re- tions, like the Reboot Workshop, which serve (ESGR) brought the event to JTF Si- offered free science-backed seminars that erra service members and stressed that the teach service members how to be success- summit was unlike typical job fairs in that ful civilians; and multiple colleges and it gathered specialized key assets to help universities that provided information prepare Soldiers and Airmen for life after about G.I. Bill benefits and other veteran deployment. and spouse options.

Many service members on the task force “This is important to my troops because it are hoping to be picked up by Border enhances their military growth as well as Maurice Wilson, executive director of the Reboot Workshop, speaks with Soldiers of Joint Task Patrol to work full-time, including Spc. growth in the civilian sector,” said Sgt. 1st Force Sierra about the science behind his free, three-week workshops, which help transitioning Danny Martinez, who attended the Em- Class Perry Anthony Garner, a platoon ser- service members re-energize, get motivated and move strongly into the civilian workforce. ployment Summit just after his shift from geant with JTF Sierra. Chula Vista Station. Witnessing the Employment Summit blue- model to Arizona. ESGR’s mission, according to the orga- In case that option doesn’t work out for print in motion for Guard units in Cali- nization’s website, www.esgr.org, is to him and others who have applied for Bor- fornia and across the United States, Scott “I’m seeing very good one-on-one time develop and promote employer support der Patrol positions, the ESGR event maxi- Essex, the state chairman of the Arizona with Soldiers and Airmen,” Essex said for Guard and Reserve service members mized their knowledge in preparation for ESGR and a program support manager during the Employment Summit. “We’re by advocating relevant initiatives, recog- entering the civilian job market. for Employer Partnership of the Armed going over things that worked here and nizing outstanding support, increasing Forces, said this model is definitely some- will establish events very similar to this. It awareness of applicable laws and resolv- “We’re working our butt off so each and ev- thing that could benefit Guardsmen ev- seems to work tremendously in answering ing conflicts between employers and ser- ery service member from all over the state erywhere, and he is hoping to bring the questions.” vice members.

‘Fighting Culinarians’ prep for Connelly competition 340th BSB cooks will be judged in July for Army food service contest By Staff Sgt. Marcus Flakes Joint Force Headquarters

Soldiers of the 340th Brigade Support Battalion are honing their culinary skills for the later this year after all states have been judged. upcoming Phillip A. Connelly Awards Competition. The unit will begin the evaluation process during its annual training in July at Camp Roberts, Calif. Judging will be multi-faceted, including elements such as food safety and field sanitation.

The 340th BSB is the second unit in the California Army National Guard to participate in “This is the first time we have ever competed, and normally the cooks do a stellar job in the Connelly Competition during the last 10 years. The 40th terms of sanitation,” said Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Morales, food BSB participated last year on Joint Forces Training Base-Los operations sergeant for the 340th BSB. “I feel confident about Alamitos. “This is the first time we have this entire process.” ever competed, and normally The 340th’s decision to compete will continue to promote the The cooks of the 340th attended a Food Safety and Sanitation California Army National Guard’s best field chefs while also the cooks do a stellar job in Course in May. Food safety and sanitation is the No. 1 prior- representing one of the nation’s great culinary venues: Califor- terms of sanitation. I feel confi- ity for cooks in the Army National Guard, as it accounts for nia. Capt. Sally Gill, commander of the 340th BSB Headquar- three quarters of the evaluation checklist. ters and Headquarters Company, said she is ecstatic about the dent about this entire process.” opportunity for the 340th cooks to prove their excellence in — Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Morales, The cooks will undergo a field kitchen pre-evaluation by field food service. the California National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters food operations sergeant, 340th Logistics Directorate Food Service Section in June. The pre- The objectives of the Connelly program are to promote and im- evaluation will help the cooks prepare food under pressure, prove Army food service through encouragement and aware- using their time management skills to cook a meal that has been ness with incentives, competition and media attention. The Department of the Army and distributed to each state in the competition. The meals will be prepared from scratch. the International Food Service Executives Association therefore recognize deserving units for superb performance. The 340th is diving into this competition with the mindset of, “Measure twice and cut once,” to help cooks’ precision and minimize mistakes. “I feel that the training and prepa- The competition comprises three levels: regional, semi-final and national. The California ration for this competition is sudden, but if we all discipline ourselves and stay focused on National Guard is in Region 7, where only two of the six states have confirmed they will the expectations, we can actually go pretty far, “ said Private 1st Class Kaylor Salazar. participate. “I’d like to see our cooks win, and this takes a lot of unit cohesiveness,” added Sgt. 1st The unit that wins the nationwide competition will receive $40,000 for its general services Class David Ronningen, supply sergeant for the 340th BSB. “I’ve actually taken the liberty administration account; the runner-up will receive $20,000. Results will be announced of ordering unit caps that say ‘Fighting Culinarians.’”

14 Grizzly | 2011 | June LRAS3 brings new capabilities to border mission New surveillance system helps identify objects 9 miles away, night or day Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Inigo Joint Task Force Sierra Public Affairs While in a holding pattern awaiting informa- ute to visibility, including weather and the tion on the future of the U.S.-Mexico border available moonlight at night, Munoz said mission, California National Guardsmen the LRAS3 outshines the rest. “On a good are using some unexpected extra time on night, it does perform better than anything the job to provide increased optical surveil- else,” he said, adding that keeping the lance capabilities through continued field LRAS3 on the border, if the mission is ex- testing. tended, would be a benefit.

Though Task Force Sierra was scheduled JTF Sierra leadership said they are now to begin out-processing from the yearlong planning on keeping the 1-18th Cavalry mission with U.S. Customs and Border Pro- scouts through the June 15 date requested tection about a month prior to the official by NGB, and longer if the mission is ap- June 30 end-of-mission date, the chief of the proved for extension. National Guard Bureau (NGB) has ordered the four Southwest border states to main- During a recent border tour in May, the tain current staffing levels until June 15. California National Guard adjutant gen- eral, then-Brigadier General David S. Bald- Now with a little extra time on their hands, win, visited EIT sites to personally thank Soldiers and Airmen of Joint Task Force Si- Soldiers and Airmen for all their hard work erra are continuing to use the latest optical on this important mission, as well as to see advancements provided by reconnaissance exactly what types of needs EIT members Then-Brigadier General David S. Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, scouts from the CNG’s 1st Squadron, 18th would have if the mission continues. tries out the Long Range Advance Scout Surveillance System near the U.S.-Mexico border. Cavalry Regiment. “The LRAS3 is a very important product The Long Range Advanced Scout Surveil- hours of light and darkness. Its gear in- or human trafficking, said Staff Sgt. Brooke for us,” he said during the visit. “If we get lance System, or LRAS3, arrived for the task cludes a forward-looking infrared (FLIR) Parras, Imperial Beach Station NCOIC. extended, I do want to have more optics force in early May for a monthlong test and thermal sight that shows images according Throughout the yearlong border mission, and night vision capabilities available, not evaluation period. The system allows entry to their heat signature; a GPS laser range the coastal sites, from Imperial Beach to only for this mission, but for all of the Cali- identification teams (EIT) to “see further finder system that calculates the range and San Clemente, have assisted Border Patrol fornia National Guard.” out and have better imaging” along coastal position of objects to within five meters; in capturing five panga boats. “Now, with sites, said Sgt. 1st Class Luis Ferretti, non- and a video camera. Plus, the visual sen- having increased capabilities of the LRAS3, Despite scheduled end-of-mission plan- commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of sors have high magnification, allowing dis- it could only help us in our mission,” Par- ning, about 40 coastal EIT members as well the four-man 1-18th Cavalry team that is tant objects to be identified for more than ras said. as JTF Sierra criminal analysts are moving contributing to EIT sites along the border. 15 kilometers, or about 9.3 miles. on to continue border support with the Pfc. Juan Munoz of the San Clemente Sta- CNG’s Joint Task Force Domestic Support– “It brings a better surveillance system than These increased optics will help coastal tion has worked with all forms of optics Counterdrug, thus ensuring there are no what has been used during the mission,” teams better watch for illegal entry into while on the mission, including handheld coverage gaps in support to Border Patrol. he said. The LRAS3 is a $500,000 piece of U.S. waters by large motorboats known as binoculars, a scope truck, FLIR and now At present, no official word of a mission ex- equipment that can be used both during pangas that are often used for illegal drug the LRAS3. Though many factors contrib- tension has been released.

147th CCS relay team: Aim High, Run Far A 12-person Air National Guard team completed a 201-mile overnight race Story and photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey San Diego Regional Public Affairs

Running all night, up hills, through tough “The mid-spring temperature and blue ed fellow runners by holding each other “When you know people are counting on terrain for 200.9 miles is not the usual “up- ocean views made the uphill course all accountable for the Ragnar event and their you, it really inspires you to be consistent in hill both ways” story that young Airmen worth it.” ultimate goal of being fit to fight. your training,” Master Sgt. Keith Nuanes said. hear from their supervisors. For members of the 147th Combat Communications The annual, nationwide Ragnar Relay Se- Squadron, this will be a story to tell their ries is the largest overnight running relay Airmen for years to come. series in the nation. During the April re- lay, each team member ran three legs, each “The run was not like any other race,” said ranging from 12.4 to 25.2 miles and varying Staff Sgt. Steve Sandoval of the 147th. “Dur- in difficulty. Only one runner pounded the ing my night run, I had limited vision on the road at a time, while their teammates drove path. I wore a head lamp, and with the full ahead cheering in the team vans. moon that night, I could see the hill to some extent but you could definitely feel when The runners wore their Air Force-issued you were running up the steep incline.” physical training shorts, and the team name — “Aim High, Run Far” — was emblazoned Runners enjoyed sunshine one mile and across their shirts as they ran through Ana- moonlit streets the next as the squad- heim, Carlsbad, Del Mar and La Jolla on the ron’s 12-person team completed the Rag- way to the finish in San Diego. nar relay event April 15-16, which started in Huntington Beach, Calif., and headed “I’ve definitely seen an improvement in south down the Pacific coast. A day, night my overall health and fitness and expect and day later, they made it to the finish line my [fitness] test score to improve dramati- in just under 36 hours. cally,” Staff Sgt. Priscilla Estrada said.

“Although the terrain was rough, the sights The team trained by conducting regular carried you through the run, as you saw physical training sessions and entering lo- Staff Sgt. Steve Sandoval, a radio frequency transmissions technician for the 147th Combat shooting stars and frogs peeping out with cal 5-kilometer races and half-marathons Communications Squadron, enjoys the scenic views of La Jolla Cove as he nears the end of his their wide eyes at night,” Sandoval said. on the weekends. Team members support- 25.2-mile leg of the 201-mile, 12-person Ragnar relay race on April 16.

15 Grizzly | 2011 | June

Executive Personnel Council Results, Q1 2011

Command mander, 40th CAB, effective NLT March 1, 2012. Promo- Intelligence and Sustainment Company, 40th Infantry tion to colonel is effective immediately. Division, transferred to Army airfield commander, Los a. Col. John Haramalis, senior mentor, JFHQ-CA, trans- Alamitos, effective June 1. ferred to commander, 100th Troop Command, effective d. Lt. Col. Michael Leeny, brigade fire support officer, no later than (NLT) June 1. transferred to commander, 1st Battalion, 143rd Field Ar- g. Lt. Col. Nicole Balliet, deputy commander, 224th Sus- tillery Regiment, effective Aug. 1. tainment Brigade, transferred to garrison commander, b. Lt. Col. (P) Myles Williams, airfield commander, Los , effective Dec. 1. Alamitos, transferred to commander, 1106th Theater Avia- e. Lt. Col. Peter Cross, executive officer and chief of staff, tion Sustainment Maintenance Group, effective NLT Aug. 1. 49th Military Police Brigade, transferred to commander, Re- h. Maj. Nate Barto, operations officer, 579th Engineer Bat- cruiting and Retention Command, effective immediately. talion, transferred to commander, 579th Engineer Battal- c. Lt. Col. (P) Laura Yeager, deputy commander, 40th ion, and promote upon control grade availability, effec- Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), transferred to com- f. Lt. Col. Bruce Malarky, airspace management officer, tive Sept. 30, 2011.

163rd remembers military moms on Mother’s Day By Megan Just 452nd Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

While it is not uncommon to meet service members who courtesy of master sgt. laurice souron had fathers in the military, it is rare to meet a service mem- ber with a military mother. In the California Air Nation- al Guard’s 163rd Reconnaissance Wing, however, there are two senior noncommissioned officers who celebrated Mother’s Day last month with moms who also served.

Instead of playing house when she was a little girl, Senior Master Sgt. Crystal Rossman liked to dress up in her mom’s uniform and play Air Force. When her mother, retired ac- quisitions professional Senior Master Sgt. Pamela Francis, brought work home, the young Rossman would mimic her by pretending to write contracts. Ironically the younger Rossman is now the 163rd Mission Support Group’s con- tracting officer, the exact job her mother held 19 years ear- lier. “One of the biggest compliments I’ve gotten is ‘You are just like your mom,’” Rossman said. Master Sgt. Laurice Souron, right, her mother Laura Froehlich, center, and grandmother Phyllis Esposito represent three Rossman recalls being proud as a child when her parents, generations of military service. Souron is the knowledge operations functional manager for the 163rd Communications especially her mother, would come to her school in uni- Squadron, Froehlich also served in the Air Force, and Esposito was in the Women’s Army Corps. form. “They normally expect to see dads, but when it’s your mom, it’s so cool,” she said. thing is possible. Whatever I set my mind to, I can do,” the other service members. “She is my hero,” Souron said. Souron said. “I am who I am today because of my mother.” Being the child of a military mother wasn’t always easy, though. Rossman recalls many milestones her mother Souron’s mother, Laura Froehlich, met her husband while Souron joined the military more than 20 years after her missed, including her 16th birthday and high school grad- serving at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. She separated mother separated. After college Souron reached a point in uation. “There were things she gave up,” Rossman said. after becoming pregnant, which was policy at the time. Al- her life when she felt like she needed a change, and she “She had to make sacrifices, but I understood why.” though Froehlich was no longer a service member, she nev- was considering joining the 163rd Reconnaissance Wing. er stopped serving others. “For as long as I can remember, At the time, her mother was the honorary commander of It was during Operation Desert Storm that the wider pic- she’s volunteered in some way or another,” Souron said. the 163rd Operations Group, and her father had just re- ture of what her mother was doing sank in. “I realized that tired from the Air Force Reserve and was beginning an Air she’s part of something really big, and especially at a time Much of Froehlich’s volunteerism has been in support of Force civil service career. “They were extremely supportive when our country needs service members the most,” Ross- troops. Locally she began volunteering with the military and helpful because they both understood the life,” Souron man said. “She was making a difference.” in 1985 as a member of the Moreno Valley Military Affairs said. “Joining was the smartest decision I’d ever made.” Committee. After Sept. 11, 2001, when an increasing num- Crystal Rossman joined the National Guard when she was ber of troops was deployed to the Middle East through When Souron enlisted in the Guard, she wasn’t just a sec- 17 years old, but even though she had left the nest, her moth- March Air Reserve Base (ARB), where the 163rd is based, ond-generation service woman. She was a third-generation er was still in charge. Crystal Rossman’s first assignment Froehlich rallied a team of volunteers and collected dona- service woman. Souron’s paternal grandmother, Phyllis Es- was with the 163rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, where tions that transformed the austere deployment-processing posito, served in the Women’s Army Corps during World her mother was the first sergeant. “She wanted everybody hangar into a welcoming place for troops to relax. War II. Souron’s father, retired Master Sgt. Larry Froehlich, to know there was no favoritism,” Crystal Rossman said. remembers his mother as, “a very caring person who took “I was the first one to get the hardest project, every time.” “My mother is extremely vivacious and full of life,” Souron care of everyone else’s need before her own.” said. “She’s one of the hardest-working people I’ve ever Working for her mother gave her the opportunity to ob- known. She gives her whole heart and soul into everything He said that when he was a young boy, his mother’s mili- serve her strong work ethic, dedication and “service before she does.” tary experiences were impressive to his friends, who only self” philosophy. “I wouldn’t be where I’m at today at this had fathers or uncles who served. “I was pretty much one- age if it wasn’t for the example she set,” Rossman said. At March ARB, Froehlich is known affectionately as “Flag upping all my buddies when I was a kid,” he said. Mama.” Not only does she continue to run the hangar and Crystal Rossman said her mother continues to be the big- its more than 100 volunteers, she personally gives a hug Larry Froehlich’s mother came from a large Italian fam- gest supporter of her military career and is always prod- or handshake to every service member who deploys from ily and was one of 13 children. Many of his aunts worked ding her to go after her next rank. Her mother also sup- the hangar. And even if it’s 3 a.m., Froehlich will be stand- in manufacturing jobs that supported the military during ports her by taking care of her three children so she and her ing next to the plane to greet those service members when World War II, and five of his uncles served in the mili- husband can work during the kids’ breaks in school. they return. She has seen off or welcomed home more than tary. “I couldn’t get through a weekend without hearing 200,000 service members on 4,000 flights. war stories,” he said. Crystal Rossman’s colleague, Master Sgt. Laurice Souron, knowledge operations functional manager for the 163rd “She’s been a patriot long before 9/11,” Souron said. “She When he was 19, Froehlich decided he wanted some war Communications Squadron, also has a mother who served truly does bleed red, white and blue.” stories of his own and joined the Air Force. He went on to in the Air Force. serve in Vietnam from 1970-71, and between active duty, Souron said her mother’s volunteerism is no small time Reserve and civil service time, Froehlich worked for the “She raised me to lead by example and to believe that any- commitment, but she is happy to share her mother with Air Force for 38 years.

16 Grizzly | 2011 | June CSM Derma attends NASA education summit The middle-school principal provided advice for educating military children Q&A with Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Derma 79th Brigade Special Troops Battalion

Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Derma, senior enlisted member of suring that all students in our nation, including children of California Army National Guard that I know of at the the San Diego-based 79th Brigade Special Troops Battal- military families, are provided with a strong foundation in event. No other person from my school district attended. ion (BSTB), attended the NASA Office of Education’s STS- science and math. 134 Pre-Launch Education Summit and military families Q: Can you explain your position in both the Army Na- events in Orlando, Fla., in April. Q: What was the purpose of the summit? What was pre- tional Guard and your civilian position in Calipatria? sented, covered and discussed? Derma: I am the command sergeant major of the 79th BSTB NASA invited military personnel who are involved in Derma: The main purpose of the seminar was to answer in San Diego. My civilian job is as a middle school princi- education, educators who teach near or on a military in- the following question: “What are the major educational pal. I taught U.S. history, world history, reading and com- stallation and families of deployed service members to issues facing children of military families today?” We ex- puters for six years, and I am now in my 11th year as a participate in the three-day event, April 17-20, which was tended this question to not only cover active duty families middle school principal. centered around STS-134, the final flight of the space shut- but also the children of deployed National Guard and Re- tle Endeavour. serve service members. The program, titled “Meeting America’s Commitment to Q: Although you are a member of the Army National Military Families: Laying the Foundation for a Coordi- Guard, you are also a principal at a junior high school nated Approach to Supporting & Engaging Military Chil- in Calipatria, Calif. In what capacity were you invited to dren,” brought together academicians, industry partners, attend the event? educators and thought leaders to discuss strategies to sup- port and engage the families of military members Derma: I wore both hats at this seminar. I spoke and gave my insight as a principal discussing the factors that lead to Although hardware issues delayed Endeavour’s final flight, success for all students, and then I gave insight over how to the International Space Station, until May 16, NASA’s the Department of Education can help the children of de- effort to support military families went off without a hitch. ployed service personnel. As a command sergeant major, I NASA’s Office of Education used the summit to kick off stated that there is need for the families, family readiness an educational campaign focused on engaging students in groups and schools to work hand-in-hand to ensure that science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related the students left behind [when their parents deploy] are studies. This initiative supports the Joining Forces cam- successful, get the counseling they need and are guaran- paign, which first lady Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife teed time off from school to re-connect with returning ser- of Vice President Joe Biden, announced in early April. vice personnel.

Q: How was your experience at the NASA Kennedy Q: Who else attended the event? Other educators from Space Center? your school? Other service members? Command Sgt. Maj. Joe Derma of the 79th Special Troops Derma: I had a great experience at the NASA summit. Al- Derma: There were about 100 attendees. There were two Battalion, left, pauses for a photo with Leland Melvin, NASA though the launch was canceled, the educational seminar other teachers from California who teach near or on mili- associate administrator of education, during the STS-134 Pre- was excellent. The people from NASA are dedicated to en- tary installations. I was the only representative from the Launch Education Summit in April in Orlando, Fla.

CNG opens state-of-the-art Sacramento armory By Maj. Alana K. Schwermer 40th Infantry Division

The California National Guard opened its X-rays, patient interviews and screenings, new state-of-the art Sacramento Okinawa and medical exams. Street Armory on April 8. The armory, the newest of the CNG’s more than 100 armor- “The high quality of the facility reflects the ies, uses a forward-looking design to sup- California National Guard and what we port the organization’s current and future do,” said Sgt. Jesus Martinez of the 40th needs. Units began drilling at the armory Infantry Division, who recently returned in February. from Afghanistan, where he was deployed as part of the 40th ID Agribusiness De- “The [armory] is a symbol of the Guard velopment Team. “With all the additional moving into the 21st Century,” said CNG classrooms, Soldiers have more opportuni- Army Division Command Sgt. Maj. Mi- ties to conduct formal classes. We also have chael Winstead. “Not only do our Soldiers a lot more space to do military training in deserve it, they need a training center like the new building.” this. … The distance-learning facility al- lows us to train our Soldiers with modern According to Wintzer, the flexible design of technology. The [armory] offices are mod- the armory allows the California National ern, and our full-time personnel have the Guard Stationing Committee to change latest technology.” unit assignments if necessary, and it also reflects the current modular design of the The 100,000-square-foot armory supports military. six units with a large central drill floor, 60-seat amphitheatre, six classrooms, a “All of the modern features of this build- gym, library and Family Readiness Group The 59th Army Band plays April 8 for the opening of the Sacramento Okinawa Street Armory. ing stem from the idea that flexibility office. The armory includes large locker rules, and the building needs to accom- room areas with individual lockers where manager for California National Guard Fa- The armory was designed to accommodate modate the dynamic mission of the Na- Soldiers can store their assigned organiza- cilities and Engineering, who was the proj- many types of military units so it can meet tional Guard,” Wintzer said. “The [ar- tional clothing and individual equipment. ect manager for the armory construction. the changing needs of the Guard. However, mory], like all new readiness centers, is A 2,000-square-foot, well-equipped kitchen “The design of the [armory] and its adja- the design also focused on the unique needs plug-and-play like the modular forces was also included in the new center. cent Field Maintenance Service began in of the California Medical Detachment as- they support. As a model for future fa- 2004, and the architect was charged with signed to the armory. The Medical Detach- cilities, Soldiers and their leaders can rest “The first thing that comes to mind when creating a design that would meet Sol- ment had previously drilled in trailers at assured that when they go to drill at the you walk into the new [armory] is ‘This diers’ needs but also stand out as a struc- the Mather Veterans Affairs Hospital. The new [armory], they can focus on their sure isn’t like the armory my father drilled ture that will set it apart from previously Medical Detachment’s new home includes mission and their training, not the build- at,’” said Capt. Brian Wintzer, construction built armories.” rooms for vision and hearing exams, dental ing they work in.”

17 Grizzly | 2011 | June Conference, workshop stress comprehensive fitness Story and photo by Staff Sgt. Jessica Inigo Joint Task Force Sierra Public Affairs

The Health Promotion and Prevention and Army civilians whose resilience and Training Workshop brought subject matter total fitness enables them to thrive in an experts in the fields of psychological health, era of high operational tempo and persis- drug deterrence, sexual assault prevention tent conflict,” according to the MRT page and resilience training to National Guards- at www.army.mil. men from across the United States at this year’s conference in San Diego. The Nation- To highlight the overall theme of the confer- al Guard Bureau (NGB) conference acted as ence, Cornum, who was a prisoner of war in a backdrop to a resilience trainer assistant Iraq in the 1990s, addressed key issues for (RTA) train-the trainer workshop, both of newly trained RTAs and more specialized which kicked off April 25 and focused on MRTs. The flight surgeon, who was then a Comprehensive Soldier Fitness (CSF). major, was shot down from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and sustained two broken The goal of CSF is to increase resilience and arms, a broken finger and a gunshot wound enhance performance by developing the in the back. She told her tale of being cap- five dimensions of strength: physical, emo- tured through a picture board during the tional, social, spiritual and family. conference, explaining that her success in coping with that adverse event spoke to the This is not training to be a “kinder, gentler importance of one’s frame of mind. Army,” as it might sound. This remains the train-as-you-fight force, but now challeng- “How you come out of an event depends es are faced smarter and backed by science, a lot on how you go into it,” Cornum said according to conference leadership. during her presentation, giving a nod to- ward the idea of positive thinking. She of- The first day brought program chiefs to the fered the example of running a marathon stage, offering an overview of exactly what — it’s not something a person would just Lt. Col. Johnny Boatman, National Guard Bureau Counterdrug Branch chief, discusses the resilience training and each of the men- jump into, but rather something that is National Guard’s Prevention, Treatment and Outreach program April 26 in San Diego. tal wellness programs can do for today’s trained for over a longer period of time to fighting force. “Look at the people around work up to the event. It’s training before, Hunter, director of psychological health more psychological health professionals to the world who could join the Army,” said not afterward. for the National Guard Bureau. This high help curb negative reactions to excess pres- Brig. Gen. Rhonda Cornum, director of the operational tempo increases pressure on sure, she said. U.S. Army’s CSF program, who was also Cornum said the emphasis that is placed the force, which could be reflected in the a speaker during the workshop. “These on post-deployment needs should be re- higher suicide rates seen within the force. All-in-all, through the training workshop are people who are obviously patriotic, vamped and moved to the front, so the ser- However, life and family issues remain and conference, NGB is showing its focus they’re good people. However, they don’t vice member trains prior to the deployment, a major cause of the increased suicide at- on the complete health and fitness of the all necessarily have the skill-set and scope much like a marathon runner. “You’re more tempts, according to Hunter. For this very men and women in the California National to effectively face the challenges and disap- successful if you train before the event,” she reason the Comprehensive Soldier Fitness Guard and across the National Guard as a pointment that comes with the job.” said specifically about the CSF program, program and its medical and mental health whole. There are now working groups im- but this principle applies to all aspects of providers are assisting in offering the over- plementing strategies in phases, utilizing With the Army’s realization that physical total fitness and risk reduction. all best practices for service members and science-based curricula, and 28 states have fitness is not the end-all, be-all of top per- their families. prevention coordinators to assist in reach- formance, a more encompassing approach The Army is working with researchers, ing the goal of making strong minds along has been taken, and now the National doctors and medical professionals world- Through these best practices, an increase in with strong bodies. Guard is following suit by providing RTA wide to better identify and expand treat- a service member’s resilience would then certification by master resilience trainers ment options, which were highlighted at play a larger part in physical, emotional, As Lt. Col. Johnny Boatman, NGB Counter- (MRT). The San Diego-based workshop the San Diego conference for Guardsmen. spiritual, social and family well-being. drug Branch chief, said April 26, quoting an produced 243 RTAs, the first-level basis This is especially true with California’s old corporate slogan, “In a world of tech- of the program, to go back to units across Guardsmen have made up 40 percent of embedded psychological health program nology, people make the difference,” and the Guard. Currently there are 295 certified the U.S. fighting force during Operation that is currently available, according to it is this human difference these programs MRTs, whose vision is to create “balanced, Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Hunter. In fact, because of the California hope to bring to America’s fighting force — healthy, self-confident Soldiers, families Freedom, according to Navy Capt. Joan embed program, other states are utilizing making them strong inside and out.

Proper communication improves unit morale “Lakotas,” cont. from page 12 Story and photo by Master Sgt. Julie Avey San Diego Regional Public Affairs

Sgt. Lance Nash of Company C, 79th Bri- the California National Guard holds an in the last two years, with a total of 53 stu- gade Special Troops Battalion, sat in the Equal Opportunity Leaders Course annu- dents. The lessons covered values, behav- Equal Opportunity Leaders Course, which ally to train Soldiers in the areas of diversi- iors, effective listening, communications was held May 15-21 in San Diego. Nash ty and respect and how they affect mission- processes, conflict management, sociology, listened, ready to learn how he could help readiness. It teaches equal opportunity cultural concepts, racism, sexism, educa- others, and was caught off guard by the in- regulations and coaches leaders on how tion on extremist organizations, prevention formation presented on mission-readiness. to create a cohesive unit environment. The of sexual harassment, equal opportunity course totals 60 hours, and students receive policies and the overall roles of equal op- “I was reminded of something we are all a Department of the Army form that many portunity advisers. aware of and forget from time to time,” institutions will accept for college credit. Nash said. “One person can create an en- The class also received a visit from Veron- vironment to foster unit morale and team- “We should reflect our community,” Com- eca Burgess, an administrative judge for work. Learning to censor myself as I hold mand Sgt. Maj. William Clark Jr., the the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity conversations in the workplace will im- CNG’s senior enlisted leader, said during Commission, who presented insights on prove communication throughout the unit. a classroom visit. “I wouldn’t have made it the court system and advice for students to Sgt. Marisol Munoz of 1st Battalion, 140th … Most of our conversations do not belong to this position without mentorship. People take with them after completing the course. Aviation Regiment, and Staff Sgt. Murray in the work center, and I could simply redi- are the best asset, and we need to continue Harrison of Detachment 1, 100th Missile rect myself when discussion of unwanted the mentorship process to allow for growth “Communication should occur at the low- Defense Brigade, participate in an exercise details arises.” and diversity.” est level possible,” Burgess said, “and if to get to know each other’s level of comfort this occurred more often, we would solve within their space May 19 during the Equal In accordance with an Army requirement, The May class was larger than other classes more issues.” Opportunity Leaders Course in San Diego.

18 News&Benefits

Members of the 144th Fighter Wing come to attention May 14 in Fresno during a change of command ceremony in which Col. Sami D. Said took his position as wing commander. Photo by Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler

VA support available for caregivers The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) published the interim final rule for implementing the Family Caregiver Program of the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act Did you know... of 2010, which provides additional support to eligible post-9/11 veterans who elect to receive care in a home setting from a primary family caregiver. failure to meet Army or Air Force Additional services available for primary family caregivers of eligible post-9/11 service mem- standards can adversely impact bers include a stipend, mental health services and access to health care insurance, if the care- giver is not already entitled to care or services under a health care plan. Caregiver training your military career? and medical support are other key components of the program. Army commanders ensure Soldiers meet Army standards. Failure to meet Army standards as prescribed by regulation can result in the initiation of a suspension Veterans can download the Family Caregiver Program application (VA CG 10-10) at of favorable personnel actions, also known as a flag. Commanders direct flagging www.caregiver.va.gov. The application enables a veteran to designate a primary family care- actions, notify Soldiers and follow steps for flag initiation per Army Regulation giver and secondary caregivers, if needed. Caregiver Support Coordinators are stationed at (AR) 600-8-2. Multiple documented incidents of not meeting Army standards can every VA medical center and available by phone at 1-877-222 VETS (8387). result in a bar to reenlistment and separation from the service. Further information can be found in AR 135-178 and AR 600-8-2. Caregivers for veterans from earlier eras are eligible for respite care and caregiver training. Air Force commanders ensure Airmen meet Air Force standards. Commanders also ensure Airmen are notified concerning failure to meet Air Force standards. Air CA vet license plate available online Force administrative actions for unsatisfactory performance range from an oral The California Veteran special interest license plate can now be ordered online through the reprimand to a letter of reprimand. Failure to achieve Air Force standards can Department of Motor Vehicles website, http://dmv.ca.gov. Proceeds go to the Veterans Ser- ultimately result in adverse actions including removal from a duty assignment or vice Office Fund and are used to expand veteran services statewide. The plates cost $30. Since promotion list, and even separation from the service. Further information can be the inception of the veterans plate program in 1995, about 24,500 have been issued, resulting found in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 36-3207 and AFI 36-3208. in $6.8 million raised and distributed to county veteran service offices.

“Lakotas,” cont. from page 12 The Lakota is built mostly with commer- according to aircrew training manuals. craft they’ll need an airframe and power- cial off-the-shelf technologies by the North plant license from FAA as well.” will say, ‘Hey, go to the corner of 5th and American operation of the European Aero- Not only are pilots being trained on the Main,’ [and] as Army aviators we don’t nec- nautic Defense and Space (EADS) Co. new equipment, maintainers are being in- Maintainers are looking at about a year of essarily know where that is,” Mariotti said. troduced to new technologies this aircraft classroom and hands-on training to get up “The system’s aeronautical charts will aid “Being a commercial aircraft, there is no ar- brings to the table. to speed on all of the Army and FAA regu- greatly in guiding us to those locations, al- mor or countermeasures on the helicopter lations, King said. lowing us to help them facilitate rescues.” that would normally be found on military “The biggest challenge is how differently aircraft to defeat threats,” Rathe said. “For this aircraft operates from present Army “We go through a factory course for about a Along with the MEP configuration, the that reason it isn’t deployable to combat functioning procedures,” said Staff Sgt. month and our [airframe and powerplant] Lakotas will include a new RT5000 radio theaters.” Larry Kavanaugh, an aircraft mechanic requirement is at least another month,” Ka- system able to transmit simultaneously on with the 3-140th who has more than 10 vanaugh said. “We’re required to take three multiple bands. “What’s unique about this There are 12 pilots assigned to the 3-140th years of experience working on military written tests, then a practical test before be- is not only will we be able to communicate S&S Battalion, and five are trained to fly the aircraft. “It’s like going from analog to dig- ing rewarded with the A&P license.” on all the civil band radios such as police, new Lakotas. Pilots are required to attend ital. Everything is state of the art.” fire department, hospitals and first re- a 14-day course from American Eurocop- The 3-140th S&S Battalion is proactively sponders, but we can also communicate on ter, an EADS North America company in Additionally, the Lakota is not maintained training and preparing their pilots, crew military frequencies,” Mariotti said. “It’s Texas that teaches the basics any pilot, mil- like normal military aircraft; its mainte- chiefs and maintainers to remain mission- far past anything I’ve seen as far as an avia- itary or civilian, would need to transition nance is regulated by the Federal Aviation ready while transitioning aircraft. With the tor in the military. It’s incredible.” to the new aircraft, Rathe said. Administration, and maintainers must ob- exception of their final aircraft to be deliv- tain FAA certification. ered, the unit expects to be fully function- The final six aircraft, slated for delivery in Pilots also must attend the military’s only ing by mid-January, Mariotti said. fiscal year 2012, will be set up with a secu- Lakota training course at the National “That adds a whole other twist to work- rity and support configuration as well. The Guard’s Eastern Aviation Training Site in ing and training on it,” Rathe said. “Sol- “This aircraft will have a significant positive S&S package enables pilots to view and Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. The six-week diers would typically go to school to get impact on the way we train and do our job,” share key data in real time with personnel course focuses on air traffic control quali- their [military occupational specialty] and he said. “The capability it brings to con- on the ground. fications that indoctrinate Army standards be qualified to work. However, for this air- duct our mission will be second to none.”

19 Public Affairs Directorate, California National Guard 9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, CA 95827-3561

An Airman from the 146th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, California Air National Guard, washes fire retardant off of a C-130J Hercules aircraft May 3 at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, after a day of firefighting operations. The retardant is corrosive and needs to be washed off as soon as possible to prevent damage to the aircraft. Photo by Staff sgt. eric harris

Grizzly Newsmagazine is published by the Directorate of Communications, California National Guard, 9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, CA 95827 Views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the Department of the Army, the Department of the Air Force or the California State Military Department. Grizzly is an official publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-1 and AFI 35-101.

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