Issue #22, Volume 6 The Commonwealth’s Guardian November 7, 2014

Soldiers provided fixed wing aviation support On page 2: New facility at Camp Pendleton Freedom Salute honors Det. 26 Afghan service Soldiers from the National Guard’s Sandston-based Detachment 26, Operational Support Airlift Command gathered Oct. 26, 2014, in Sandston, Va., to conduct a Freedom Salute in honor of their service in Afghanistan. The Soldiers returned to Virginia Aug. 8, 2014, after providing fixed wing aviation support in Afghanistan since October 2013. Secretary of Public Safety and Homeland Security Brian Moran, Deputy Secretary Adam K. Thiel, Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia, and Brig. Gen. Walter L. Mercer, the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, were all on hand to honor and recognize the Soldiers and their families for their service. “This is my second such ceremony and it’s really a great honor to be here,” Moran said. “It’s very enjoyable to say welcome home and to salute you. I appreciate the opportunity to participate this morning and on behalf of Governor McAuliffe and eight million Secretary Brian Moran pins the Governor’s National Service grateful Virginians, thank you.” Medal on a Virginia Guard Soldier during a Freedom Salute Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/11/04/6287/ Oct. 26, 2014, in Sandston, Va.

Virginia National Guard News Headlines Mark Your Calendars! 192nd makes history with first female vice wing commander The 192nd Fighter Wing welcomes a new vice wing commander at Joint Base Dec. 6: Memorial Ceremony Langley-Eustis, Va. Col. Kathryn Kahlson is the incoming vice commander and the first female to be promoted to colonel within the 192nd Fighter Wing. The Virginia National Guard Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/28/6274/ will host a memorial ceremony to honor Sgt. Nicholas C. Mason New leaders take command of 192nd Operations Group, Maintenance Squadron The 192nd Fighter Wing held a joint change of command ceremony for the and Sgt. David A. Ruhren at 192nd Maintenance Squadron and the 192nd Operations Group Sunday, Oct. 9 a.m. on Dec. 6, 2014, at the 19, 2014, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. Lt. Col. Thomas P. McAtee accepted Fredericksburg Readiness Center. command of the 192nd Operations Group from Col. William J. Butz. Sgt. Mason and Sgt. Ruhren were Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/25/6269/ killed in action during a suicide bomb attack on Dec, 21, 2004, on 192nd and 1st Fighter Wings participate in exercise Forward Operating Base Marez, in The 192nd Fighter Wing’s and 1st Fighter Wing’s Maintenance and Operations Mosul, Iraq. The attack killed 22 Group total force team simultaneously executed the first commander’s inspection people, including 14 U.S. troops, program employment exercise at Joint Base Langley-Eustis along with a complex and injured 70 others. large force, off-station exercise Oct. 16-18, 2014. Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/24/6265/ Sgt. Mason and Sgt. Ruhren were both combat engineers and Va. Guard infantry Soldiers train in Denmark members of the 229th Engineer Thirteen Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s Winchester-based 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in a multinational Battalion, which is now the 116th force training exercise Sept. 13-28, 2014, in Denmark. Brigade Special Troops Battalion, Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/23/6266/ based in Fredericksburg.

Visit http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/ for the latest news about the Virginia National Guard Page 2 The Commonwealth’s Guardian November 7, 2014 Va. Guard breaks ground on Camp Pendleton training facility

The Virginia National Guard broke ground on the first phase of a multipurpose training facility at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach, Va., on Oct. 24, 2014. “Investing in training facilities at Camp Pendleton is vital as we look ahead to the challenges of maintaining readiness in a resource-constrained environment and builds on the wide variety of existing facilities on the installation,” said Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Williams, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “Not only will this additional training capability benefit Virginia National Guard units in the area, but it will also benefit the many different Department of Defense and public safety organizations that regularly train at Camp Pendleton.” “Today we break ground on what will become a $3.8 million multipurpose training facility,” said Clifton C. White, deputy facilities management officer for the Virginia National Guard. The Virginia National Guard conducts a formal ground breaking “This facility will create a place to train and test communication ceremony on the first phase of a multipurpose training facility abilities up to the division-level headquarters. Additionally it will at Camp Pendleton in Virginia Beach Oct. 24, 2014. provide a place for national, state and local authorities to conduct similar exercises.” and administration facilities, more than $20,000 in upgrades to Furthermore this location will provide a staging base for the fitness facility, telecommunications upgrades post-wide, and personnel, equipment and other materiel in the event of a natural the addition of a laundry facility for customers training on Camp or manmade emergency.“It’s great to see all of our partners here Pendleton for extended periods. in the region- the Virginia State Police, the City of Virginia Beach, Camp Pendleton is a state-owned, 328-acre installation that Naval Station Oceana and, of course, our folks here from Camp provides training facilities for National Guard units, as well as all Pendleton,” Williams said to those in attendance. “Everyone other DOD units and public safety organizations. The post features knows that as times get tight with budgets and funding, training conference facilities, barracks, classrooms, dining facilities, a becomes even more important. Training here will go a long way live-fire qualification range and nine different virtual trainers as toward saving money in our training budget. This will greatly well as a chapel, fitness center, distance learning center, wooded expand our capabilities but it will also meet the needs of the local training areas, helipad, land navigation course and military access communities and first responders across the region.” beach and amphibious landing site. The first phase of the facility will cost an estimated $1.8 million, Read more: http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/10/30/6255/ occupy 1.5 acres and include two 70 feet by 120 -feet steel framed tensioned fabric structures and two 180-feet square grids where MORE ON THE WEB military units can set up their tactical operations center equipment and conduct battalion, brigade and division-level command post Va. Guard makes strong showing during Army Ten-Miler exercises. The first phase should be completed in early December. http://vaguard.dodlive.mil/2014/11/05/6297/ The second phase of the project will add seven more grids for Photos: 103nd Trans Co. Soldiers haul, reuse U.S. Navy a total of 6.7 acres and cost of $3.85 million. training boats The facility can also be used as a staging area for Virginia https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648697756367/ National Guard units preparing for National Guard civil support Photos: 429th BSB hosts open house missions when on state active duty. In addition to use by https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157646762228124/ tenant organizations, the new facility can also be used by other Photos: AG speaks to Va. Tech Corps of Cadets Department of Defense and public safety training customers. https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157646765123373/ “The new multipurpose center is a critical asset in our training Photos: New Virginia Guard warrant officers recognized inventory to better help us serve the training needs across the https://www.flickr.com/photos/vaguardpao/sets/72157648955675311/ spectrum of first responder through joint operations,” said Lt. Camp Pendleton on Facebook: Col. Elena Scarbrough, commander of Camp Pendleton. “This https://www.facebook.com/CampPendletonCTC multipurpose center is just of one of several initiatives in our Virginia National Guard on Twitter reinvigoration of Camp Pendleton.” http://www.twitter.com/VaNationalGuard Other initiatives in the reinvigoration of Camp Pendleton Virginia National Guard on Facebook include the reacquisition of several buildings from the Community http://www.facebook.com/VaNationalGuard Based Warrior Transition Unit for additional beds, classrooms,

The Commonwealth’s Guardian newsletter is produced by the Virginia National Guard public affairs office on a bi-weekly basis. Please send any feedback or story ideas to the public affairs office staff at [email protected].