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Jenkins be- 284th prepares Civil Air Patrol comes Kansas for first over- cadets attend re- Guard state seas combat gional encamp- PlainsPlainschaplain . .7 GuardianGuardianmission . .10 ment . .17 Volume 55 No. 1 Serving the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, Kansas Emergency Management, Kansas Homeland Security and Civil Air Patrol January 2012 Fighting Jayhawks awarded the Bronze Star By 2nd Lt. Matt Lucht ployment. Lt. Col. James Culp, com- of Augusta, Kan., were presented the ent the Bronze Star for service and 184th Intelligence Wing Public Affairs mander of the 184th Civil Engineer award by Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, the achievement above and beyond, it is truly Three members of the 184th Intelligence Squadron, and resident of Wichita, Kan., adjutant general. a special event,” Tafanelli said. “I would Wing, Kansas National Guard, were recently and Master Sgt. Homer King, a member of “The Bronze Star isn’t handed out often like to congratulate each of the recipients honored for their achievements while serv- the Civil Engineer Squadron, and resident and when we have an opportunity to pres- today for all their hard work, effort and ing in Afghanistan. The ceremony took place sacrifice upon earning the Bronze Star Dec. 3, 2011, in Hangar 41, crowded with award.” family members, friends and co-workers. Culp and King were deployed in support Master Sgt. Clint Bradfield, first sergeant of Operation Enduring Freedom from of the 184th IW Medical Group, and resi- March to August 2011. Under Culp’s com- dent of Sedgwick, Kan., was recognized for mand, the squadron completed projects being awarded a Bronze Star Medal for his that were essential to the operations of service with the second Kansas Agribusi- their area. ness Development Team from January 2010 “I was really thankful that I went,” Culp to January 2011. said. “My team wanted to go and was able While deployed, he supported 75 to make a huge impact on the mission.” Agribusiness Development Team missions While in Afghanistan, the 184th Civil and two combat missions. He was also at- Engineer squadron completed 166 projects tached to the 101st Airborne Division for totaling $76 million. The squadron also security support as a combat medic during completed nine complete Master Plans; in- his deployment. stalled 182 tents, averaging one per day; “My job as a medic is to take care of in- supported 18 forward operating bases; com- jured personnel and I didn’t feel like I did pleted 130 off-site missions and supported anything extraordinary other than what I five operations. was trained to do,” Bradfield said. Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, adjutant general, and Col. John Hernandez (right), Col. John Hernandez, commander of the Two members of the 184th Civil Engi- commander of the 184th Intelligence Wing, present the Bronze Star Medal to Master 184th Intelligence Wing, complimented the neer Squadron, 184th Intelligence Wing, Sgt. Homer King for his outstanding achievements while deployed in support of Op- Airmen for their achievements. “When you were also awarded the Bronze Star medal eration Enduring Freedom in 2011. (Photo by Master Sgt. John Vsetecka, 184th In- look at the contributions of you and all of for extraordinary service during their de- telligence Wing Public Affairs Office) (Continued on Page 11) National Guard gets seat Secretary of State receives at Joint Chiefs of Staff ESGR Patriot Award By Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill dent Barack Obama signed legislation that By Chuck Bredahl take this step to support our men and National Guard Bureau includes a provision adding the chief of Employer Support of the Guard and women in uniform.” The chief of the National Guard Bureau the National Guard Bureau to the Joint Reserve “It is refreshing to see not only private is now a statutory member of the Joint Chiefs. The Kansas Committee for Employer sector employers being nominated for the Chiefs of Staff. The provision, part of the fiscal year Support of the Guard and Reserve, an My Boss is a Patriot Award, but state lead- With the stroke of a pen, the same 2012 National Defense Authorization Act, agency of the Department of Defense, pre- ers being nominated, as well,” said Mick month the nation’s oldest military institu- ushers in a change some National Guard sented an ESGR Patriot Award to Secre- Allen, Kansas Chairman for ESGR. “Sec- tion celebrated its 375th birthday, Presi- historians have called the most significant tary of State Kris Kobach on Thursday, retary Kobach is an example of a state development since the Militia Act of 1903 Jan. 5, 2012. During the ceremony, leader that has a genuine concern for the codified the modern day dual-status struc- Kobach signed the ESGR Statement of men and women who serve, not only in ture of the Guard. Support. the Kansas National Guard, but in all “We are grateful for the efforts the exec- “Our Guard members couldn’t do what branches of the service. His leadership in PAID utive and legislative bodies have gone to they do without the support of employers,” supporting the men and women who serve PRSRT STD PRSRT SALEM, OR in placing the chief of the National Guard said Maj. Gen. (KS) Lee Tafanelli, the ad- is an example for all state leaders to fol- U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 178 PERMIT Bureau on the Joint Chiefs of Staff,” said jutant general. “We are grateful to all low.” Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief Kansas businesses and organizations who (Continued on Page 9) of the National Guard Bureau. “We look forward to working alongside the other Joint Chiefs to provide our na- tion’s senior leaders with a fuller picture of the non-federalized National Guard as it serves in support of homeland defense and civil support missions,” McKinley said. The provision is part of a federal law that has for the last half-century annually specified the Defense Department budget. The 2012 National Defense Authoriza- tion Act authorizes $670 billion in spend- ing for Defense Department programs and Energy Department nuclear weapons programs. Other provisions of the bill that affect the National Guard include re-establishing the position of vice-chief of the National Guard Bureau at the three-star level while rescinding the two-star position of director of the NGB’s joint staff. 2800 Topeka Blvd. 2800 Topeka The bill also requires that National OFFICIAL BUSINESS OFFICIAL Adjutant General of Kansas Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287 Topeka, Guard general officers be considered for Mick Allen, Kansas chairman for the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Penalty For Private Use, $300 DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY THE OF DEPARTMENT command of Army North and Air Force presents Kris Kobach, secretary of state for Kansas, with the ESGR Patriot Award NATIONAL GUARD OF KANSAS GUARD OF NATIONAL North and authorizes funding for the Na- and asks him to sign the ESGR Statement of Support for the state of Kansas at a cer- tional Guard State Partnership Program. emony in Topeka, Kan., Jan. 5, 2012. (Courtesy photo) DEPARTMENT AND AIR OF THE ARMY FORCE DEPARTMENT Page 2 Plains Guardian • January 2012 Nangahar University plowing ahead for Afghanistan By 1st Lt. Kathleen Argonza-Pangburn ating Base Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan, Dec. two years ago with the goal of supporting officer in charge of the agriculture section Agribusiness Development Team 4 20, 2011, to participate in a graduation cer- local Afghan agricultural professions in of- of ADT 4. “This is what makes some of us Members of the Kansas Agribusiness De- emony for a class of 46 students. fering a program of agricultural study to optimistic about the successful transition velopment Team 4 gathered with distin- The Nangahar University agricultural local Afghan students. from coalition forces to the Afghan gov- guished guests at the Research and training program was conceived by the This is the final time that an ADT will ernment.” Development Farm outside Forward Oper- Kansas Agribusiness Development Team play such a heavy role in the Nangahar The graduation ceremony included com- University’s curriculum. Nangahar Univer- mencement speeches from Richardson sity Dean of Agriculture Mohammed Asif Bawary and Mohammed Ismail Dawaltzai, Bawary and other facilitators of the aca- Laghman director of Agriculture, Irrigation demic institution have demonstrated that and Livestock. they are more than capable and willing to As the students mingled with the ADT, take the lead role of furthering the educa- many asked questions about farming in tion of their country’s young people. Kansas and many requested to have pic- “What they learn today will affect their tures taken with the Soldiers. future,” said Lt. Col. Russell Richardson, “What are ADT’s plans for Afghanistan,” Kansas ADT commander from Hamlin, asked one of the students at the end of their Kan. “These graduates have the capability day’s classes. to help train the farmers of Afghanistan. A member of the U.S. Department of They can become teachers, businessmen or Agriculture, Dr. Eric Grant, stepped up to future government employees.” answer the question, “We are here to Agricultural professionals are responsible teach you, so that you can teach your for providing the instruction while the ADT countrymen,” said Grant. “And you can supports them with training, resources and dictate what you do with these re- expertise. The Nangahar University agricul- sources.” tural training program is a recurring 11- During the 11-week course of study, stu- week course that brings about 30 dents receive instructions specific to Lagh- A graduate of the Nangarhar University 11-week Agriculture Training Program re- agricultural students to the Mehtar Lam Re- man province in the following classes: drip ceives his certificate from Mohammad Ismail Dawaltzai, Laghman Director of Agri- search and Development Farm and the or- irrigation, plant production, crop disease, culture, Irrigation and Livestock, while members of the Kansas Agribusiness chard in Zio Haq to learn sound agricultural marketing, soil science, gardening/orchard- Development Team 4 form a receiving line to extend their congratulations, Dec.