LOUISIANA MILITARY FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND Sgt
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Governor The Adjutant General THE QUARTERLY MAGAZINE FOR THE LOUISIANA ARMY AND AIR NATIONAL GUARD Bobby Jindal Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau Fall 2008 Governor Bobby Jindal FROM THE FRONT The Adjutant General 2 Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau ARGUING FOR A LIVING Pelican Dispatch Staff 4 State Public Affairs Officer FATHER-SON DUO LAUNCH FIGHTER JETS, SHARE HISTORY Maj. Michael J. Kazmierzak 5 Editor in Chief 199TH LEADERSHIP REGIMENT ACHIEVES PERFECTION Capt. Taysha Deaton Gibbs www.la.ngb.army.mil 7 Production Editor 1st Lt. Lance T. Cagnolatti AROUND THE STATE Managing Editor 8 Sgt. 1st Class Melanie R. Rowton GUARD AVIATION FLIES INTO ‘MOUTH OF THE DRAGON’ Web Content Manager Sgt. 1st Class Carlos H. Sanchez 10 Graphic Designer FIGHTER PILOTS CONDUCT COMBAT TRAINING IN HUNGARY Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Benoit 12 Copy Editor BUFFALO SOLDIERS OF YESTERDAY AND TODAY Staff Sgt. Denis B. Ricou 14 241st MPAD Capt. Taysha Deaton Gibbs Staff Sgt. Sara L. Piazza EDUCATION BENEFITS Capt. Kevin D. Cowan Sgt. Michael L. Owens 15 1st Lt. Lance Cagnolatti Pfc. Malcolm L. McEwen 1st Sgt. Patrick M. Sellen Staff Sgt. Jerry Rushing KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Sgt. 1st Class Carlos H. Sanchez Spc. Jamison Self 17 Staff Journalists/UPARS RECRUITING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM 2nd Lt. Erin E. Duplechin Sgt. Nathaniel P. Orphey 18 Staff Sgt. Rachel A. Hall Sgt. Tresa L. Allemang Staff Sgt. Stephanie J. Cross Sgt. Michael L. Owens, Jr. OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL Staff Sgt. Lacy L. Brown Sgt. Angela K. Fry 19 Staff Sgt. Walter C. Thomas Spc. Cami M. Carber Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone Spc. Qualan M. Jefferson LOUISIANA MILITARY FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND Sgt. Robin C. Carpenter 20 For comments or suggestions please e-mail: [email protected] or call (225) 255-8482 Louisiana National Guard Black Hawk pilots fill their Bambi Bucket at Articles and photos for consideration may be e-mailed to a dip site in Susanville, California, approximately 30 miles away from [email protected] their drop location while responding to another small fire north of the Bob Ulin Susan Harrington Yosemite Telegraph fires in July. Publisher Editor Courtesy Photo: Marty Bicek/The Modesto Bee Justin Ritter Darrell George Graphic Designer Advertising Sales The Pelican Dispatch is published by AQP Pub- siana National Guard, or AQP Publishing, Inc. of the lishing, Inc., a private fi rm in no way connected with products or services advertised. the Louisiana National Guard, under written contract Everything advertised in this publication shall be with the Louisiana National Guard. This Louisiana made available for purchase, use, or patronage with- National Guard magazine is an authorized publication out regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, for employees and military members of the Louisiana age, marital status, physical handicap, political af- National guard. Contents of this publication are not fi liation, or any other nonmerit factor of the purchaser, necessarily the offi cial views of, or endorsed by, the user, or patron. CORPORATE OFFICE: state of Louisiana, the U.S. Government, Department Editorial content is edited, prepared, and pro- 8537 Corbin Dr., Anchorage, AK 99507 of Defense, or the Louisiana National Guard. vided by the Offi ce of Public Affairs, Joint Forces The appearance of advertising in this publication, Headquarters – LANG. All photographs and graphic (907) 562-9300 • (866) 562-9300 including inserts or supplements, does not constitute devices are copyrighted to the Louisiana National Fax: (907) 562-9311 endorsement by the state of Louisiana, DoD, the Loui- Guard unless otherwise indicated. www.AQPpublishing.com [email protected] Fall 2008 / Louisiana National Guard 1 2 Pelican Dispatch / Fall 2008 4 Pelican Dispatch / Fall 2008 Father-son duo launch fi ghter jets, share history The Downings carry on family tradition By Staff Sgt. Kristi Moon 159th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Specialist he Louisiana Air National Guard is rich in tradition; and father and son, Command T Chief Master Sgt. James Downing Sr. and Senior Airman James Downing Jr. share their family traditions with the 159th Fighter Wing’s Bayou Militia. The duo recently celebrated a milestone few other father and son teams could ever dream of, launching an F-15 fi ghter jet together. “It was a pretty cool experience that not too many people get to do,” the younger Downing said. He returned from Fighter Aircraft Main- tenance training in April and has been in the Guard for a little more than a year. The elder Downing, now in charge of the Wing’s overall morale and well-being as the command chief, joined his crew chief son on the fl ight line June 6 to send off one of the unit’s jets for a training fl ight. “It was a blast,” Downing Sr. said of work- ing with his son. “It was defi nitely the highlight of my career.” Senior Airman James Downing Jr. explains to his father, Command Chief Master Sgt. James Downing Sr., the changes that have taken place in launching F-15 fighter jets since he last served as a crew chief more than two It had been more than two years since years ago in the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard. The father/son team launched a jet Downing Sr. had launched a jet in his former together June 6, 2008, soon after the younger Downing returned from Fighter Aircraft Maintenance training at role as crew chief. “I was a little rusty, that’s Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas. Photo: Master Sgt. Dan Farrell, 159th Fighter Wing Multi Media Manager for sure,” he said. “I had to bring my dad up to date on some new parts,” “My goal is to be here when both of my sons are in the Downing Jr. said. Some things had changed since his dad unit,” Downing Sr. said. launched planes on a regular basis. By the time the youngest son joins the 159th Fighter Wing, However, for someone with as much experience launching Downing Jr. will be close to graduating from college and en- as Downing Sr., the basics can never be forgotten. Downing tering the active duty Air Force, with plans to fl y fi ghter jets. Sr. crewed jets for 17 years, worked in quality assurance, and Before he goes, he hopes to repeat this launch experience served as the maintenance superintendent over several sections with his dad and younger brother, too. including weapons, crew chiefs, avionics, alert and C-130s. Going back even further, their father and grandfather, Se- The elder Downing is understandably proud of his four chil- nior Master Sgt. John Downing, retired in 1994 with 20 years dren, all of whom his wife, Kim, homeschooled, including Me- of service with the 159th Weather Flight, beginning the Down- lissa, 20; James Jr., 18; Stephanie, 16; and Jonathan, 14. ing family tradition with the Bayou Militia. Fall 2008 / Louisiana National Guard 5 en-thousand to One! Those are the approximate odds of winning Soldier or Noncommissioned Of- T ficer of the Year in the Louisiana National Guard. But for two stand-out Guardsmen in the 199th Leader- ship Regiment, months of preparation have paid off with the receipt of this year’s coveted title. Sgt. Brett D. Johnston won Soldier of the Year for the Louisiana National Guard on April 19 at the state competi- tion held at Camp Cook, and Staff Sgt. J. Kevin Savoy won NCO of the Year. After winning at the state level, Johnston and Savoy moved on to the regional competition held in Bastrop, Texas, May 1-3 against the winners from five other states: Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas. Johnston, of Tioga, La., works full-time for the Guard as a supply sergeant for the 199th. He is also a light wheeled vehicle mechanic who deployed to Afghanistan with the 527th Engineer Battalion in 2003 in support of Operation 199th Leadership Enduring Freedom. “I love the people I work with. My job is making sure Sol- diers have what they need,” Johnston remarked. “I enjoy Regiment helping people.” Johnston, who has 11 years in the military, placed fourth at the state competition last year, which motivated him to achieves study harder in preparation for this year’s competition. “It’s an honor to be asked. You don’t want to turn down perfection the opportunity,” explained Johnston. “A very select few get asked to represent their unit; if your leadership deems you Both Louisiana Guard Soldier, worthy, it’s a tremendous honor.” Johnston’s first line supervisor, Sgt. 1st Class Dale W. NCO of Year from same unit Lonidier, spoke highly of the motivated Soldier by saying he was someone that completes any job to the fullest. By Sgt. Rebekah L. Malone “Give him a job and he will accomplish it. You don’t have 225th Engineer Brigade Public Affairs Representative to follow up,” explained Lonidier. “He is a model Soldier who takes his job seriously.” Recently promoted, Johnston is the son of deceased Air Force Sgt. Brett Johnston and Barbara Corley of Tioga. He is married to the former Amanda Davenport and a graduate of Tioga High School. The NCO of the year, Staff Sgt. John Kevin Savoy of Kinder, La., was almost expected to win the title. As a small group leader for the Warrior Leader Course taught at Camp Cook, part of the Noncommissioned Of- ficer Education System, Savoy had a considerable ad- vantage on common tasks and regulation knowledge. Savoy’s full-time job not only prepared him for the Continued on page 19 Staff Sgt. J. Kevin Savoy expertly navigates the obstacle accurately named “The Tough One” during regional competition for the Noncommissioned Officer of the Year held in Bastrop, Texas.