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Kansas 35th ID fields Memorial medics train new tactical would serve with operations to inspire next PlainsPlainsArmenians . .5 GuardianGuardiancenter . .7 generation .12 Volume 53 No. 5 Serving the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, Kansas Emergency Management, Kansas Homeland Security and Civil Air Patrol November 2010 Bunting will retire from adjutant general post in January By Sharon Watson of Kansans, I thank him for his service and Public Affairs Office wish him all the best in his retirement.” Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting will retire as As adjutant general, Bunting oversees Kansas adjutant general in January after the Kansas National Guard’s 5,500 Soldiers seven years in the position, all during and 2,200 Airmen, is the director of the wartime. The retirement takes effect at the Kansas Division of Emergency Manage- end of Governor Mark Parkinson’s term. ment and director of Kansas Homeland Se- “I’m honored to have been called upon curity. For the past two years, Bunting also to serve in these challenging times in our served as the chair of the National Guard nation’s history,” Bunting said. “The Sol- Association of the United States, an organi- diers, Airmen and federal and state em- zation which advocates for the needs of the ployees are truly the finest people I have National Guard. ever served with. These have been the most “I’m considering some future opportuni- rewarding years of my career.” ties, and truly looking forward to spending Bunting was appointed in January 2004 more time with my family,” Bunting said. under then-Governor Kathleen Sebelius. “I could not have done this job without the He has served 32 years in the military, be- support of my family, especially my wife.” ginning his career in the Kansas National Bunting has faced many challenges as Guard in 1978. adjutant general, including the deployment “General Bunting has been a remarkable of more than 6,000 Soldiers and Airmen to adjutant general for Kansas and a dedicated Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, the servant to his country,” said Gov. Parkinson. Horn of Africa and Egypt, deployments “While facing two wars and an economic re- which sadly included the loss of 10 Kansas cession, General Bunting has been a deliber- Guardsmen in combat zones. Additionally, ative and decisive leader, devoted to the he faced the impact to the Air Guard result- Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant general, shared a light moment with the audi- safety and welfare of all Kansans. I have ing from the 2005 Base Realignment and ence during the retirement ceremony in Salina for Brig. Gen. Norman Steen. (Continued on Page 7) cherished his trusted counsel and, on behalf Bunting announced his own retirement Oct. 12, effective in January 2011. (Photo by Three confirmed by Senate Steve Larson, Public Affairs Office) committee as brigadier general Guardsmen deploy to start The Kansas National Guard has three “I am extremely proud of the fine Soldiers bringing equipment out of Iraq new generals. who serve their fellow citizens so loyally On Oct. 14, the Kansas Senate Confirma- and selflessly in the armed forces,” said By Steve Larson how many of the Soldiers had deployed tion Oversight Committee approved three Parkinson. “I am certain that these three, Public Affairs Office with the unit the first time in 2005, then re- promotions for the Kansas National Guard highly regarded and experienced men will Approximately 300 Kansas National minded them of their return a year later to submitted by Governor Mark Parkinson. make a valuable impact in their new roles Guardsmen were honored during a deploy- the Manhattan armory. Col. Vic Braden, Col. Eric Peck and Col. with the Kansas National Guard.” ment ceremony on Sunday, Oct. 17 in Her- “It was Thanksgiving,” said Bunting, Lee Tafanelli were appointed to brigadier Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant gen- itage Hall of the Salina Bicentennial Center. “and we could not find a way on Thanks- generals by Parkinson and, with the ap- eral, recently appointed Tafanelli as assis- The Soldiers were from the 778th Trans- giving Day to feed (you) turkey. Nothing proval of the Senate committee, are await- tant adjutant general of the Kansas Army portation Company (Heavy Equipment was open.... So what we did do... is the per- ing confirmation by the full Senate during National Guard, Peck to director of the Transport), headquartered in Kansas City, son who owns all the Pizza Huts in Man- the next legislative session. Great Plains Joint Training Center in Salina Kan., augmented by Soldiers from the 731st hattan made a couple of hundred pizzas.” and Braden as deputy commander of the Medium Truck Company and the 137th “I stood up in front of these great Sol- 35th Infantry Division in Leavenworth. Transportation Company (Palletized Loading diers of the 778th and said I gotta apolo- “The Kansas National Guard needs exem- System). All three units are part of the Kansas gize,” he continued. “We didn’t have any plary, visionary leaders as it takes on new National Guard’s 287th Sustainment Brigade. way to make you a turkey dinner, but we missions and responsibilities at state, na- The Guardsmen are deploying to Kuwait do have a couple of hundred Pizza Hut piz- PAID tional and international levels,” said Bunting. to transport military equipment and sup- zas and from folks who had been in the PRSRT STD PRSRT SALEM, OR U.S. POSTAGE plies out of Iraq as U.S. troops withdraw desert for a year you said ‘Way to go PERMIT NO. 178 PERMIT “These officers will do excellent work and make Kansas proud in their new roles.” from that nation. ‘cause I’d much rather have a Pizza Hut Tafanelli, Topeka, assumed the position Calling for a show of hands, Maj. Gen. pizza than turkey any day’.” of assistant adjutant general of the Kansas Tod Bunting, the adjutant general, asked (Continued on Page 11) Army National Guard on July 19, 2010. He is also the commander of the Land Compo- nent for the Joint Force Headquarters- Kansas and has served as a member of the Kansas National Guard for over 30 years. Most recently, Tafanelli served as com- mander of 69th Troop Command and the director of operations for the Kansas Na- tional Guard. He has earned a number of awards and decorations such as the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Global War on Terrorism Medal. In his civilian career, Tafanelli is a state representative for the 47th District in the Kansas Legislature. Peck, Manhattan, has served at all levels of command from detachment through battalion and has been assigned to the Department of the Army and National Guard Bureau staffs. 2800 Topeka Blvd. 2800 Topeka He formerly served as the Kansas Army Na- OFFICIAL BUSINESS OFFICIAL Adjutant General of Kansas tional Guard chief of staff before becoming Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287 Topeka, Penalty For Private Use, $300 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY THE OF DEPARTMENT the chief of the Joint Staff in 2006. He com- NATIONAL GUARD OF KANSAS GUARD OF NATIONAL manded 1-6th Kansas Agribusiness Develop- Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson addresses members of the 778th Transportation ment Team deployed to Afghanistan from Company and their families and friends during a departure ceremony for the unit on DEPARTMENT AND AIR OF THE ARMY FORCE DEPARTMENT (Continued on Page 5) Oct. 17 in Salina. (Photo by Sgt. Charles Malloy, UPAR) Page 2 Plains Guardian • November 2010 Brig. Gen. Norman Steen retires after 32 years of military service Brig. Gen. Norman Steen, commander of son why that support is so important. It’s the Great Plains Joint Training Center, re- because the enemy’s real target is not our tired from military life Oct. 31. On Oct. 17, military – we just happen to be in their he handed over that command to Brig. Gen. way. Their real target is you and your sup- Eric Peck during a brief ceremony at the port of our country and our ideology. If the Kansas Regional Training Institute in enemy can remove your will to resist, they Salina. defeat you. If the enemy can earn your In saying farewell, Steen thanked his sympathy for their cause, they defeat you. family for their support and recapped the If the enemy can convince you that our de- changes that had occurred in the world’s fense of America and our Allies is unjust, military and political scene over the course they defeat you. That’s why, here at Great of his 32-year career. Plains, we’re working to stay in the Steen’s remarks are reprinted below. enemy’s way and out of liberty’s way. ** ** ** We’re doing that by jointly training Army Thank you for coming. I am honored that ground commanders to work with Air you’re here and sincerely appreciate your Force pilots so that together they can take presence. This is a great day in Kansas and out pin-point size enemy target, and mini- the Kansas National Guard, because it sig- mize both foreign civilian casualties and nals the endurance of what is good. our own military casualties. When I first considered military service That’s why we’re training Soldiers and while attending a small Minnesota country Airmen to fight and survive in more hostile high school in 1973, little did I realize what parts of the world, while being ambassa- good things lay ahead. In 1978, my lovely dors to that world. That’s why we’re jointly wife Cheryl and I were married and we began training our civilian first responders – our life together.