Volume 6, Issue 3 • Fall the Official Publication of The
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THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE WISCONSIN NATIONAL GUARD VOLUME 6, ISSUE 3 • FALL 7 2013 NGB Media Contest winner Wisconsin Guard members Fall 2014 join Guardsmen across U.S. Volume 6, Issue 3 on the cover Official Newsletter of the for Patriot Exercise 2014 Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard Master Sgt. Daniel Plantiko, an Airman with the 128th Security Forces Squadron, http://dma.wi.gov low-crawls through an obstacle as part of The Adjutant General: the 128th SFS Defender Challenge Aug. Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar 9. The event tests security forces mem- Deputy Adjutant General Army: bers’ endurance, career field knowledge, and team work. 128th Air Refueling Wing Brig. Gen. Mark Anderson 10 photo by Staff Sgt. Jenna V. Lenski Deputy Adjutant General Air: Runway renovations prompt Brig. Gen. Gary Ebben Deputy Adjutant General, Civil Support: 115th Fighter Wing to take 3 FROM TAG 4 DETACHMENT 52 SUPPORTING Brig. Gen. John McCoy THE MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN 5 REALIGNING Director of Public Affairs: its show on the road UNITS AND ARMORIES ACROSS THE STATE Maj. Paul Rickert 11 VITAL EXPERIENCE GAINED AT RED FLAG At Ease Editor: 12 COMMO SUPPORT FOR NORTHERN STRIKE Vaughn R. Larson 14 54th CST TRAINS CIVILIAN HAZ-MAT TEAMS Joint Force Headquarters Public Affairs 15 BUILDING FOBS AT FORT McCOY 16 1158th 112th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 32 TRANSPORTATION HITS THE TANK TRAIL 17 115th FIGHTER WING BASE GETS A BOOST 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team Youth Camp provides MARKSMEN TEAM ON TARGET INSIDE THE Public Affairs 18 20 avenue for Guard kids to JOINT ENLISTED OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM 157th Maneuver Enhancement 21 LAWMAKERS’ STAFF TOUR GUARD FACILITIES Brigade Public Affairs overcome challenges 22 A SECOND UNIT VIES FOR CONNELLY AWARD 115th Fighter Wing Public Affairs 23 GREEK TRAGEDY OPENS DIALOG ON PTSD 128th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs 26 WARRANT OFFICER CORPS TURNS 96 132ND ARMY BAND STRIKES A CHORD Volk Field Combat Readiness 28 The on-line, interactive @ease offers many features you VOLK FIELD HOSTS AIR NATIONAL GUARD’S Training Center Public Affairs 30 may not be aware of. Follow the red caption text to see ad- FIRST HYBRID VEHICLE MAINTENANCE COURSE ditional photos and videos. Click on the blue text to open re- How to Reach Us 34 LONG-DISTANCE EXERCISE SUPPORT lated sites. Click on the teasers above to go directly to that 35 A BOY’S BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO GUARD E-mail: [email protected] page in this issue. MEMBERS 36 FIRM HONORED FOR SUPPORTING Phone: (608) 242-3056 Fax: (608) 242-3051 GUARD EMPLOYEE 37 MERITORIOUS SERVICE Department of Military Affairs; The pages are designed to print out at 8.5-by-11 inches, 40 A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT Attn: Vaughn R. Larson giving you the option of reading @ease off-line. 2400 Wright Street; Madison, WI 53708-8111 Submissions: For photo or story submissions, The Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard’s At Ease newsletter is an authorized publication for members of the Department of Defense. Contents of At Ease please call (608)242-3056 are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army or Air Force. The editorial content of this publication or e-mail [email protected] is the responsibility of the Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Officer. @ease 2 Fall 2014 From the Adjutant General SIS reminds us that we must additional support, our governors remain prepared. call the National Guard to I In August 2010, the last respond and assist. U.S. combat forces left Iraq and This unique dual charter makes Operation Iraqi Freedom came the National Guard incredibly to an end. Today, we are rapidly valuable to our nation and our approaching the scheduled date communities. This day-to-day for withdraw of combat forces posture of the National Guard from Afghanistan and, per occurs under the command and Presidential direction, Operation control of the governor unless Enduring Freedom will likely and until mobilized for federal come to a close. Nobody in service (active duty). Although the military seeks additional largely funded by the federal combat actions, and closure of government, we remain a state these missions as directed by the organization consistent with the national command authority is a constitution until we are called good thing because it has been into federal service (active duty). determined that the mission is There is a lot of talk about war complete. weariness lately. I’m not sure However, the world is still a who is being referred to by these dangerous place and our nation comments — however, when I Maj. Gen. Don Dunbar still needs a ready military to The Adjutant General am asked, I tell people that the meet the known and unknown National Guard is not weary of threats to our country. Over It is not clear what the mission and Congress determines that performing its mission. We are the last nine months, a terrorist will be or how large the United the active duty forces are not prepared to respond here at home organization known as ISIS (also States presence will be within the sufficient, the National Guard is or to meet threats overseas — our known as ISIL) has dominated coalition that our nation’s leaders mobilized or called into federal Soldiers and Airmen are the best the narrative in the Middle East. are seeking to form. What is service. It is precisely for this trained and most ready force we This group has taken territory, clear from the ISIS threat is that, potential call up that our nation have ever had — and we remain declared itself an Islamic State, regardless of the conclusions of funds our training and ensures Always Ready, Always There. and persecuted people in the Operations Iraqi and Enduring that we train to the same standard region for their beliefs. The Freedom, our responsibility as the United States Army and President recently addressed this as the National Guard has not United States Air Force. threat with a prime-time address changed. We have two missions. Second, we are America’s to the nation and pledged that First, we are America’s first military responders. On the America would act against this primary combat reserve. When occasions when disaster strikes group. threats need to be countered and our first responders need @ease 3 Fall 2014 Guard aviators playing an important role in Afghanistan Capt. Joe Trovato received from family, friends, churches, Wisconsin National Guard schools, veterans organizations and other Detachment service organizations. Though small in number, a Wisconsin 52 Operational “It feels great to be appreciated and Army National Guard unit is doing big Support Airlift cared for so much,” he said. things in Afghanistan. Command, left As for Afghanistan, Phelps said flying The seven Soldiers of Detachment to right: Chief high over the country has given him a 52 of the Operational Support Airlift Warrant Officer 3 unique, reflective perspective on a country Command, based in Madison, deployed Paul Phelps, Chief where the United States has waged war for to Afghanistan in March, and since then Warrant Officer almost 13 years. the unit has had the important mission of 4 Alan Massman, “It’s mind-boggling to see numerous, shuttling high-level personnel through the Chief Warrant Officer 4 primitive homes and villages dotting skies of Afghanistan aboard a C26 fixed- Troy Bittner, Sgt. Travis the remote slopes, valleys and landscape wing aircraft. Brimmer, Chief Warrant throughout the country,” he said. “There Every day begins with pre-flight Officer 4 Thomas Rogers, are no power lines, paved streets, grocery planning, aircraft inspections and then Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joseph stores, underground water or sewer takeoff to various destinations around the Zewiske and Chief Warrant services. Gravel trails wind to single-story country as requested. The destinations Officer 4 Arthur Hebblewhite, clay homes with small plots containing could include ceremonies, troop visits, in Madison March 6. Wisconsin National gardens, animals and outhouses. As we memorials to fallen service members or Guard file photo quietly reflect on these observations from regional emergencies, but according to high above, it’s humbling to realize how Chief Warrant Officer 4 Paul Phelps, the fortunate and blessed our lifestyles are Soldiers of Detachment 52 take pride in back in America.” completing as many missions as possible. Asked what was most rewarding about Phelps, one of the detachment’s pilots, his unit’s deployment to Afghanistan, said via e-mail that daily operations have Phelps said, “The inner feeling that we are been smooth and the unit has gotten into fulfilling our part of service to our country a rhythm since arriving in theater. Each and to the creation of a safer world for our day brings its mission requirements, children and the people of Afghanistan.” administrative tasks, unit classes, physical Phelps had one more message fitness training, and unit bonding, he said. Detachment 52 wanted to send home. “The balance of this rhythm produces “We would like to thank everyone professional results, positive attitudes back home for the tremendous support and bonding laughter from every unit they have given us,” he wrote. “The member,” he wrote. “Needless to say, unit success we’ve experienced so far is due cohesion is strong and morale is high.” to the combined efforts of our families, Some of the best moments of the employers, the Wisconsin Army National deployment have been the experiences Guard and the Soldiers within our unit. shared with his fellow Soldiers, Phelps Mission success is truly a multifaceted said. From celebrating birthdays and team effort.” sharing meal times together, the unit has Detachment 52 deployed to grown close, which takes on an added Afghanistan last spring where it began significance given the distance from family flying day and night all-weather airlift and loved ones.