PRESIDENT's NOTES Inside This Issue
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Wisconsin National Guard Association, Inc. Engaged Today, Securing Tomorrow Officers President –LTC Eric Leckel PRESIDENT’S NOTES Army VP – 1LT Alicia I look forward to seeing select for military technicians, Dorsett revision of the GI Bill, and each of you in New Orle- ans! NGREA funding. The mone- Air VP – LtCol Dan Statz tary commitment of our dues are going a long ways for the President Eric Leckel Secretary – LTC Myron work of ensuring benefits pari- Davis ty for the individuals we are entrusted to lead. NATIONAL GUARD Treasurer – LTC D J Klauser Maj Gen Dunbar announced MAGAZINE his candidacy for chair of Executive Director – NGAUS; what a fantastic op- With the January, February COL (R) Michael Williams portunity for the organization. and March 2018 National We are excited to support the Guard Magazine, there was a Board of Directors campaign throughout the next notice indicating that effec- HQ JF ARMY – VACANT three months. & VACANT I think spring is finally here tive 31 March the National In addition, thank you all for Guard Magazine subscription and I am excited for another the opportunity and privilege would be suspended until 64th TC – LTC Doug Kolb & year of engagement for your to serve another two years as 2018 membership dues were MAJ Nicholas Braun professional association. president of our great officers I would like to thank Mike association. I am excited over paid. NGAUS has assured 32nd IBCT – LTC Mike Hinman and the entire plan- the opportunity to continue to us that once 2018 member- Hanson, MAJ Bill Barthen & ning team from JFHQ for all ship dues are paid, the of- work together and I believe CPT Lonnie Roy their hard work hosting the ficer’s magazine subscription th that as a team we can obtain 68 Annual WINGA Confer- unimaginable accomplish- will resume. This applies to 157th MEB – LTC Brendon ence. What a great weekend ments for generations to come. those who pay their dues Manglos & CPT Nicholas of professional development, I have discussed the goal of annually. camaraderie, and networking. Rinaldi “engagement”, not just mem- We had a chance to show- bership in WINGA the past 128th ARW – case the beginning of the two years. During the confer- strategic planning process, Inside this 1LT David Lake ence the concept of the compa- resolutions agenda, and legis- ny grade committee was pre- issue: 115th FW – Capt David Biel lative items the organization sented and we will be imple- is working on to improve the menting it later this summer. TAPs 2 128th ACS – life of the warfighter. Please look for additional in- Scholarships 2 1Lt Bradley Kelly Another highlight of the formation soon on how you conference was the recogni- can all assist with improving NGAUS Legislative Day 2 Company Grade Officers – tion of Brig Gen Olesen for the organization. Together Truax Initiative 2 (Air) – 1Lt Joshua Johnson, over fifty years of service to We are preparing for the (Army) CPT Emily Yttri th the nation. I personally want upcoming 139 NGAUS Gen- Fix for Delayed Federal 3 to thank you, General, for the eral Conference in New Orle- Recognition Warrant Officer – many years of mentorship ans and would encourage eve- Legislative Corner 3 WO1 Joseph Rasmussen and guidance. ryone to consider attending. Mike Hadley from NGAUS This is one of the greatest pro- Committee Members 3 Retired Officers – also presented a legislative fessional development oppor- Col (R) Mike Hinman, update on all of the initia- Membership Info 4 tunities for members. COL (R) Kristine Schultz & tives the organization is After attending NGEDA in WINGA Conf Highlights 5 working on for Soldiers and CW4 (R) Tricia Gundlach January, I know New Orleans NGAUS 2018 Conf 6-7 Airmen of Wisconsin, such is going to be a phenomenal as fixing 12304b, Tricare host city! NGAUS/WINGA Benefits 8 Page 2 WINGA 2018 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS The deadline for WINGA Scholarship applications is fast approaching. Up to ten $500 undergrad- uate grants and two $500 graduate scholarships can be awarded. The WINGA website (www.winga.org) contains information on the WINGA Awards Program. One application form works for both the Educational Grants and the Presidential Scholarship Award. TAPS Applications for these awards are due at the WINGA Office, 2400 Wright St, Room 208, Madison, If you are aware of the passing WI 53704-2572, not later than July 1, 2018. of a member, please notify us. NGAUS SCHOLARSHIP CW3 (Ret) Philip Trinrud AFBA NGAUS Active Life Member Scholarship. NGAUS is pleased to announce the AFBA NGAUS Active Life Member Scholarship. Two $5,000 scholarships will be awarded in July to Ac- Your Communicator tive Life members of NGAUS or dependents of Active Life members seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree. Applicant must be a full-time student seeking an undergraduate or post-graduate Electronic vs degree. The application period will close May 31. https://www.ngaus.org/united-voice-national- Printed Copy? guard/scholarships/ngaus-afba-active-life-member-scholarship Would you like to reduce 2018 NGAUS LEGISLATIVE DAY paper clutter and save by CPT Brian Faltinson WINGA money? If you pre- fer to receive Your Communica- NGAUS held their annual Legislative Day in Washington, DC, on 13 February 2018. The session tor via email—or if you do featured updates by NGAUS legislative staff, congressional staff, state delegations, EANGUS repre- not to want to receive a print- sentatives, as well as NGB staff. ed copy—please notify us at A major legislative accomplishment fixed loopholes in 12304b deployments. Guardsmen now have [email protected] the same TriCare and GI Bill benefits as those deployed for other T10 deployments. Important issues leading the way in 2018 are TriCare Reserve Select eligibility for Federal Techni- cians and early retirement credits for Guardsmen deployed in 12304b status. NGAUS is also advo- cating for modernizing the federal recognition promotion process for Army National Guard officers. The recent budget agreement raised the topline budget for defense by $80 billion in FY18 and $85 billion in FY19. Congress has yet to complete appropriations for these budgets. Follow Gen Joseph Lengyel closed the session stating he wants every Guard leader to read the non- WINGA on classified version of the National Defense Strategy because everything we do as an organization needs Facebook to be connected to that. https://www.facebook.com/ TOGETHER TRUAX WisconsinNationalGuardAsso- http://togethertruax.com ciation Truax Field, located at the Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, is among 5 finalist bases being considered by the US Air Force to receive F-35 jet aircraft. Receiving F-35s will help secure Truax Field’s long-term stability, protecting the base’s 1,200+ jobs and $100 million annual econom- ic contribution. The future of Truax depends largely on the community support it receives. Help us Save the Dates demonstrate community support for the Truax Air National Guard Base and the 115th Fighter Wing by signing up at the link below. Your individual support will be communicated as part of our com- munity advocacy in support of the F-35 basing at Truax. NATIONAL NGAUS Annual Conf 69TH WINGA ANNUAL CONF, GREEN BAY 140th: 24-27 Aug 2018 26-28 April 2019 New Orleans, LA The 32d Infantry Brigade Combat Team is busy 141st: 30Aug-2 Sep 2019 planning the 69th WINGA Annual Conference. Denver, CO It will be held at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Green Bay. It is located across the street 142st: 28-31 Aug 2020 from the airport and just 4 miles from Lambeau Boston, MA Field, home of the Green Bay Packers. The hotel is connected to Oneida Casino via an indoor corri- 143rd: 9-12 Sep 2021 dor. Thornberry Creek at Oneida offers excep- Charlotte, NC tional golf about 7 miles away. Page 3 YOuR COMMUNICATOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS PROPOSED FIX FOR DELAYED FEDERAL RECOGNITION Senators Warren & Daines and Representatives Awards, Gifts & Grants: COL (R) Darrel Feucht – Chair Shea-Porter & Kelly are sponsoring bills on LTC Doug Kolb Capitol Hill to fix the Federal Recognition pro- Capt Jeremy Phillips cess. These bills are a major priority for COL (R) Marty Seifer WINGA/NGAUS as this issues of delayed By-Laws: promotions has affected officers in all 54 states LTC (R) Tammy Gross – Co-Chair and territories. Passing of this legislation would LTC Michael Hanson – Co-Chair be a major policy win for our association mem- LtCol Christina Hastings bers. Credentials: Lt Col (R) Don Schuh – Chair Please contact your legislative representa- COL (R) Michael Williams COL (R) Don Pagenkopf tives to voice your support. This issue is a perfect example of the power of a unified Finance: Guard voice from the states through the nation- LtCol Dan Statz – Chair al level as it was raised through a grassroots LTC Eric Leckel 1LT Alicia Dorsett advocacy of our state associations. Now we are LTC Myron Davis on the doorstep of a significant legislative bene- LTC D J Klauser fit for our officers. COL (R) Michael Williams Insurance: Bill information: COL (R) David Gault – Chair COL (R) Michael Williams – SIA BG (R) John Larson S 2801 - Senators Warren (D-MA) and Senator Daines (R-MT) COL (R) Robert Klinger https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2801?q=%7B%22search%22%3A% BG Joni Mathews LTC Eric Leckel – WINGA President 5B%22s2801%22%5D%7D&r=1 LTC Douglas Moore Staff Lead: Sasha Baker ([email protected]) COL (R) Terry McArdle SGM (R) Lowell Koehler HR 5731 Rep. Shea Porter (D-NH-1) and Rep. Kelly (R-MS-1) SGM Janice Finck https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/house-bill/5713?q=%7B%22search%22%3A% CMSgt (R) Gregory Cullen 5B%22hr5713%22%5D%7D&r=1 LTC (R) Bob Strange Staff Lead: Susan Mayer ([email protected]) Legislative: Col Erik Peterson – Co-Chair LTC (R) Jackie Guthrie—Co-Chair LEGISLATIVE CORNER Lt Col Jon Kalberer by LTC (Ret) Jackie Guthrie Maj Ryan Gaffaney MAJ Krista Schuster The state legislature is out of session and not expected to return until after elections.