Cover photos

Top to bottom: Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno and Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, the Adjutant General of , joined the New Jersey National Guard leadership and more than a dozen veterans’ organizations to honor New Jersey’s fallen service members at the State Memorial Day ceremony at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial Cemetery in North Hanover Township, N.J., May 23, 2015. The Cemetery, dedicated in 1986, is New Jersey’s sole state-operated veterans’ cemetery and is managed by the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. It is the busiest state veteran cemetery in the nation, averaging more than 3,000 interments each year and is the final resting place for more than 65,000 veterans and family members. ( photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Soldiers with the 3-112th Field Artillery, New Jersey Army National Guard, fire the M777A2 lightweight 155 mm howitzer during a live fire exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 26, 2015. These are the first M777A2 howitzers the NJARNG has received. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) The sun rises on KC-135R Stratotankers with the , New Jersey Air National Guard at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 7, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

1 NJDMAVA FY 17 Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry, on a roving patrol Wing Airmen are assisting New Jersey civil authorities and the Del- provide security on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, located between aware Port Authority with security during Pope Francis’s visit to Camden, N.J., and Philadelphia, Sept. 27, 2015. The joint New Jersey Philadelphia Sept. 26-27. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master National Guard task force comprised of 1-102nd Soldiers and 108th Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

Thank you for the opportunity to appear before this com- But first, I’d like to talk about the critical and often un- mittee to discuss the Department of Military and Veterans sung work our Soldiers and Airmen do to make New Jersey a Affairs’ Fiscal Year 2017 budget. safer and better place. I consider it a privilege to come here and represent the In September, more than 200 of our Soldiers and Airmen 8,600 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard were on the ground, helping civil authorities during the visit and a DMAVA civilian workforce that never stops working of Pope Francis to Philadelphia. It was an historic event – for our veterans. and a monumental security challenge. Our Soldiers and Air- The men and women of team DMAVA once again had a men played key roles on our side of the river by assisting record year in terms of the services they have provided to our law enforcement with traffic control and security. Our 21st state’s Veterans, especially in terms of securing the federal Civil Support Team provided authorities the expertise needed entitlements those men and women have earned through their in the event of the unthinkable, an attack using chemical or service. I will elaborate on that in a few moments. biological weapons. The work of our Soldiers and Airmen

I consider it a privilege to come here and represent the 8,600 Soldiers and Airmen of the New Jersey National Guard and a DMAVA civilian workforce that never stops working for our veterans.

2 NJDMAVA FY 17 helped make the pontiff’s visit safe for the thousands of pil- One of the ways we are doing that is by seeking new op- grims who entered the event from New Jersey. portunities by adding new capabilities. Since I last appeared But even as Pope Francis was appearing in Philadel- before this committee, our Army Guard has added the 104th phia, our Soldiers and Airmen were also assisting authori- Brigade Engineering Battalion, which will give our troops ties at the other end of the state for an event that drew fewer better maneuverability and survivability on the battlefield. headlines but was also a top national security imperative. For Our Air Guard has added a cyber defense mission that will three weeks, New Jersey National Guard elements assisted bring our Airmen new skills and put our troops on the front the U.S. Secret Service with security for the United Nations lines of what many consider the battlefield of the future. General Assembly as it convened in New York. Security for The Army National Guard budget – which underwent a the event, which draws leaders from 193 nations around the nine percent reduction from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year globe, is considered by the Department of Homeland Secu- 2015 – held steady at $120 million for Fiscal Year 2016. The rity to be a potential target for terrorist attack. Once again, Air National Guard Budget, which suffered a similar decline our Soldiers and Airmen responded to the call. from Fiscal Year 2014 to Fiscal Year 2015, remained essen- Even as it protects the homefront, the New Jersey Nation- tially unchanged for Fiscal Year 2016 at $96 million. In both al Guard continues to play a key role in our nation’s defense. cases, the addition of new units offset losses. Last month, more than 100 members of the Army National Guard’s 328th Military Police Company returned to their home armory in Cherry Hill after a yearlong deployment to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, upon completion of a high-profile mission in which they oversaw the safe, humane, transparent and legal custody of detainees.

A Tactical Air Control Party Airman with the 227th Air Support Opera- tions Squadron Airman fires at enemy positions on day three of Oper- ation Morning Coffee, a joint exercise with the New Jersey Army and Air National Guard and the Marine Corps Reserve on Warren Grove Gunnery Range, N.J., June 18, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

Proactive engagement at the local, state and federal More than 120 Citizen-Soldiers with the 328th Military Police Com- pany, New Jersey Army National Guard, were welcomed home level is the only way to ensure we maintain New Jersey’s March 16, 2016 by senior military leadership, friends and family at military infrastructure and missions. It’s for that reason the the National Guard Armory at Cherry Hill after a nearly year-long Department continues to support the Administration’s initia- mobilization to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. (NJDMAVA photo by Kryn Westhoven/Released) tives to safeguard New Jersey’s military installations, which provide employment for tens of thousands of people, who in The MPs from Cherry Hill are part of a force that has turn contributed billions of dollars to the state’s economy. never been stronger. The Army National Guard is at 102 The military is New Jersey’s second largest employer and its percent strength and the Air National Guard’s 108 percent people and their missions must be protected from possible strength is among the top three in the nation. future base closures and realignments. These strength numbers are more than just bragging I remain optimistic about New Jersey’s ability to safe- rights for New Jersey among the 54 states and territories. guard its assets. And I remain inspired by the young men and These strength numbers are the best way to maintain the New women who chose to serve our country. Jersey National Guard as strong, viable and modern in an Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to Fort Ruck- era where the Department of Defense budgets are growing er, Alabama, for an historic graduation ceremony. For the tighter. The National Guard Bureau has made it clear that the first time in the Army’s history, three brothers graduated from states and territories with the highest strength and readiness the same class of the Initial Rotary Wing Training course to will lose the least force structure. It is our goal to mitigate the become UH-60 “Black Hawk Pilots.” loss of funds and the readiness of our force. Warrant Officers Alvin, Daniel and Tu Bui are of course,

3 NJDMAVA FY 17 Those opportunities are growing in the National Guard. In a year when the first two women graduated from the Ar- my’s Ranger School, the New Jersey Army National Guard got its first two female combat engineers and its first female field artillery officer. Second Lieutenant Jennifer Wain be- came New Jersey’s first female combat arms officer in the organization’s history in August with her graduation from the Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. Staff Sergeant Antonell Ng and Sergeant Linenette Rodriguez graduated from the physically-intense combat engineer course at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri in November. “To know that I’m making history and I’ve helped lead the way for other females – I feel honored.”

New Jersey Army National Guard Warrant Officers Tu Bui, left, Daniel Bui, and Alvin Bui in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Fort Rucker, Ala. On March 3, 2016 the brothers became what are believed to be the first brothers to graduate on the same day from the U.S. Army Initial Rotary Wing Training course to become Army aviators. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Woolley/Released) part of the New Jersey Army National Guard family. The young men from Toms River joined the National Guard as soon as they were old enough to enlist and made it through the tough pilot training program by leaning on each other. The best part of their graduation ceremony was the part where family members pinned the silver aviator wings on their Sol- diers’ chest. For the Bui brothers, those family members were Joseph and Mung Bui, who came to the New Jersey State Command Chief Master Sgt. Janeen M. Fillari from Vietnam in search of a better life and more opportuni- poses in front of the State Command Chief wall at Joint Force Head- ties for their children. The Bui brothers say they found those quarters, New Jersey Air National Guard, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix- opportunities in the National Guard. Lakehurst, N.J., March 15, 2016. Fillari is the first woman to serve as the New Jersey State Command Chief Master Sergeant for the New Jersey Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

On March 18, our Air Guard made history. That was the day State Command Master Chief Janeen M. Fillari was sworn into the position, becoming the first women in the his- tory of the New Jersey Air National Guard to serve as the top enlisted Airmen. Fillari said she made it to that elite level by following the lead of other women who made their gender an asset. Fillari’s work ethic didn’t hurt either. Her motto is simple: Your life is a resume. You can make it a half a page, or if you want, you can fill two pages. At this point Master Chief Fillari is beyond two pages. As I said when I began, the impressive work done by the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is not confined to the uniformed members of the National Guard. Every ci- vilian member of the DMAVA team approaches service to Veterans with the same zeal our Soldiers and Airmen put into New Jersey Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Jennifer Wain, 3-112th Field Artillery, poses for a portrait as a 155 mm round from a M777A2 light- their state and federal missions. weight howitzer detonates in the background during a live fire exer- For evidence of this, look no further than DMAVA’s Vet- cise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Aug. 26, 2015. Wain, a erans Service Officers. From 16 offices covering all 21 New fire direction officer with the 3-112th, is the first female combat arms officer in the history of the New Jersey Army National Guard. (U.S. Air Jersey counties, the VSO’s primary job is to ensure that every National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Veteran in our state gets all the federal entitlements he or

4 NJDMAVA FY 17 The New Jersey For example, the strong relationship DMAVA maintains Veterans’ Benefits with Veterans organizations has led to these groups logging Guide highlights services and pro- tens of thousands of volunteer hours at the Department’s grams offered by three Veterans Memorial Homes in Paramus, Menlo Park DMAVA, the fed- and Vineland as well as at Veterans Haven-North and Vet- eral government and private orga- erans Haven-South, the Department’s transitional housing nizations. (NJD- programs. MAVA design by These volunteers have done everything from organizing Mark C. Olsen) bus trips to running bingo games to just being there to lend she has earned an ear to a fellow Veteran. through their service. The DMA- VA Veterans Service Officers have steadily increased the amount of fed- eral Veterans Administra- The third handicapped accessible bus was presented by the American tion benefits re- Legion to the New Jersey Veterans Memorial home at Paramus Feb. 10, 2015. In less than two years, the veterans of Bergen County donated ceived by New nearly a quarter-million dollars to purchase three handicapped acces- Jersey Veterans sible buses. The first bus was dedicated on April 25, 2014, to start the in each of the past seven years, from $72 million in Fiscal process of replacing the aging bus fleet and to provide reliable and 2009 to $161 million in Fiscal Year 2015. That is a 123 per- safe transportation for the home’s residents. (Courtesy photo) cent increase. The majority – 83 percent of that money went While the Veteran-to-Veteran connection is priceless, to New Jersey Veterans for compensation for Service Con- these volunteers have provided more than 80,000 hours of nected ailments, which run from Post-Traumatic Stress Dis- staff manpower for a savings of more than $2 million in sala- order, to Traumatic Brain Injury, to Agent Orange Exposure ries. On top of that, these volunteers have also donated more to hearing loss. than $285,000 worth of goods and services including a bus, Between federal entitlements to New Jersey Veterans, computer equipment and air conditioners. direct federal support to the National Guard, military con- The Department of Military and Veterans Affairs contin- struction projects at National Guard facilities, federal money ues to be a leader in the use of alternative energy to reduce for VA construction funds at state facilities and other direct costs and create a healthier planet. federal support of state programs through the Department, Alternative energy and conservation has allowed DMA- the total economic impact tops $1 billion. VA to avoid nearly $1.2 million in electrical utility costs Even as DMAVA adds to the state’s economy, we remain since 2009. The use of solar energy also led to the depart- mindful of our obligation to be careful stewards of tax dol- ment receiving $386,000 in utility rebates over the past two lars. The Department’s proposed $96.4 million budget for years. The Department has been awarded four Secretary of Fiscal Year 2017 is an $800,000 decrease from the adjusted the Army Energy and Water Management Awards in that appropriation from the previous year. time period. With a declining budget, one of the hallmarks of the De- In addition to the eight current solar arrays across the partment of Military and Veterans Affairs is its ability to form state, DMAVA has received Department of Defense and Na- partnerships that allow it to maximize resources to accom- tional Guard Bureau approval for additional photovoltaic plish its core missions. projects in Lawrenceville, Sea Girt and Lakehurst as well as

Between federal entitlements to New Jersey Veterans, direct federal support to the National Guard, military construction projects at National Guard facilities, federal money for VA construction funds at state facilities and other direct federal support of state programs through the Department, the total economic impact tops $1 billion.

5 NJDMAVA FY 17 The exterior walls and windows are nearly complete at the Regional Training Institute at the National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, N.J., Dec. 13, 2015. The nearly $31-million dollar military construction proj- Aerial photo of the photovoltaic project at the National Guard Training ect will include 10 State-of-the-art classrooms, auditorium with seating Center at Sea Girt, N.J., Sept. 3, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo for 225 students and 72 lodging rooms in the 85,902 square foot build- by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released) ing. (NJDMAVA photo by Kryn P. Westhoven/Released) a solar ventilation project at Picatinny. ers and more proficient in their military occupational special- One of the biggest energy initiatives will be the MICRO- ties. The prime contractor for the project is DOBCO Indus- GRID system that will allow electrical independence at the tries of Wayne. National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt. In addition to Other projects that have been approved for $17 million anticipated cost savings, the system will allow the installa- in federal funding include a new military medical clinic, a tion to maintain power even if a natural or manmade disaster power generation building, a field maintenance shop and an interrupts power to surrounding communities. engineering maintenance building. Major renovation proj- Perhaps the best part of DMAVA’s environmental efforts ects are currently underway at National Guard facilities. A is that they have led to a fruitful partnership with one of New $5 million project at the Jersey City armory will replace Jersey’s great higher education institutions, Rowan Univer- the roof and repoint the brick exterior. The contract was sity. Six years ago, the department and Rowan created an awarded to Spartan construction, a New Jersey-based com- internship program for students studying geographic infor- pany. Another $5 million project will replace the roof and mation systems and environmental sciences. Energy audits upgrade the heating, ventilation and cooling system at Joint done by these students have identified more than $300,000 in energy savings at DMAVA facilities. The work done by the geographic information systems interns also led to a $1.4 million increase in Department of Defense reimbursements for facilities upkeep since 2010 because it allowed us to present a more accurate picture of the size of our facilities. A number of these students have landed jobs in their fields based on their real world experience working on National Guard facilities. It’s been a great program that has helped keep DMAVA green and led to good jobs for bright students. The New Jersey National Guard leadership team under- stands that one of the keys to maintaining a highly-trained force lies with our ability to provide the infrastructure that allows them to train. One of the recent success stories on that front is the Na- Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, the Adjutant General, addresses digni- etween federal entitlements to New Jersey Veterans, direct federal support taries and Guard members during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the B tional Guard Training Center at Sea Girt. Ground was broken New Jersey Army National Guard’s 103,602 square-foot Army Avia- to the National Guard, military construction projects at National Guard for the $34 million facility in the summer of 2014 and it will tion Support Facility, located at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, be ready for occupancy at the end of this fall. The federal- N.J., August 11, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) facilities, federal money for VA construction funds at state facilities and other ly-funded facility covers 86,000 square feet and will allow direct federal support of state programs through the Department, the total New Jersey’s 254th Training Regiment, which is one of the Force Headquarters on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. economic impact tops $1 billion. premiere training units in the Northeastern United States, to Eighty percent of the project will be federally funded. A train Soldiers from around the region to become better lead- project expected for the federal Fiscal 2017 budget year

6 NJDMAVA FY 17 The best remedy for this issue would be for a separate Congressional appropriation for Army National Guard military construction funding. I have been involved in the push for this issue with the Adjutants General Association of the United States and with the National Guard Association of the United States.

will replace the roof and the heating, ventilation and cool- ing system at the Cherry Hill armory. Fifty percent of that project will be federally funded. Although New Jersey has been successful in securing federal military construction funds in the past, there is ev- ery indication that the fight for those dollars will be more of a challenge in the future as the Military Construction fund- ing for the Army Guard has dropped substantially. New Jer- sey had a $15 million project added to the 2021 Future Year Defense Plan budget. However, this was the first military construction project to build an armory that the New Jersey National Guard has received in 40 years. The federal fund- ing to replace the inventory of armories is still a matter of grave concern. The best remedy for this issue would be for a separate A New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland staff member Congressional appropriation for Army National Guard mili- and a Cumberland Composite Squadron cadet pass out pastries to Home residents Dec. 15, 2015. (NJDMAVA photo by tary construction funding. I have been involved in the push Mark C. Olsen/Released) for this issue with the Adjutants General Association of the United States and with the National Guard Association of the World War II Veterans and the reality is the oldest Veteran United States. population is rapidly declining with approximately 25,000 The effort to secure federal funding doesn’t stop with the residing in New Jersey. There are currently approximately National Guard. 49,000 Veterans and 142,000 Vietnam Veterans Other DMAVA operations have enjoyed great success in in New Jersey. The challenge in coming years will be to keep leveraging federal funds to enhance services. our facilities full with smaller Veterans populations. A perfect example can be found in the Department’s Federal Veterans Administration funding has also helped three long-term care nursing homes for Veterans and their the Department keep the nation’s largest and busiest state spouses in Paramus, Menlo Park and Vineland. The Homes Veterans cemetery among the most beautiful as well. collect annual Medicare receipts of nearly $11 million, which A $3 million VA operations and maintenance grant has are used to offset operating costs. been awarded to allow the realignment of grave markers and Additionally, collections of federal Veterans Adminis- rehabilitation of 20,000 graves at the Brigadier General Wil- tration per diem and resident contributions are deposited di- rectly into the State’s General Fund. Although not credited directly to the Homes, the amounts should be considered as offsets to Direct State Aid. The estimated Federal and Resi- dent collections for Fiscal Year 2016 and Fiscal Year 2017 respectively are $52 million. The net state outlay to operate the three NJ Veteran Homes amounts to $27 million for Fis- cal Year 2016 and $26 million for Fiscal Year 2017. The quality of care in the Veterans homes receives high marks from both residents and external audits. The Homes are also cost effective. According to a report prepared by Genworth Financial, the average daily care rate for a semi- private room in a New Jersey long-term care facility is $320. A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Public Information Center was held at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veterans Memorial The daily rate for our Homes is $270. Cemetery at Wrightstown, N.J., Nov. 11, 2015. (NJDMAVA photo by Currently approximately 40 percent of our residents are Kryn P. Westhoven/Released)

7 NJDMAVA FY 17 liam C. Doyle Cemetery in North Hanover Township, Bur- and Veterans Haven-South in Winslow Township, Camden lington County. The project, which also includes refurbish- County, provides effective long-term rehabilitation services ment and sod replacement on 29 acres of burial fields, will be and employment training for its residents. completed this spring. The number of beds at the Department’s long-running There have been nearly 65,000 interments of Veter- facility, Vets Haven-South, doubled to 99 five years ago ans and their spouses at the cemetery. The rated capacity is through a $5.9 million expansion partially funded by the VA. 171,000. Operations began at Vets Haven-North in August 2012 and the facility is helping put its residents on a path to self-suffi- ciency using the same formula of job training and life-skills building that have helped roughly 1,000 Vets Haven-South residents who completed the program since 1995 return to purposeful and productive lives.

Airman 1st Class Daniel Hansen, 108th Medical Group, New Jersey Air National Guard, checks the blood pressure of a homeless vet- eran at the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Stand Down at the John F. Kennedy Recreation Center in Newark, N.J., on Oct. 10, 2015. The stand down day allows the veterans to get much-needed care and services from a wide array of state agen- cies and non-profit organizations. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Operations began at Veterans Haven-North in Glen Gardner, Master Sgt. Carl Clegg, Released) Hunterdon County in August 2012. (NJDMAVA photo by Staff Sgt. Wayne Woolley) Although it has been said that the words homeless and Veteran should never appear in the same sentence, the unfor- Vets Haven-North currently has 73 residents and Vet Ha- tunate reality that as many as 2,000 of New Jersey’s homeless ven-South currently has 77. men and women have also served in the armed services. To Operations costs for Vets Haven-South are $963,000 and address this need, DMAVA has taken aggressive steps over are partially defrayed with continuous grant and per diem the past three years to nearly triple the services provided to funding through the U.S. Veterans Administration. Opera- homeless Veterans through its time tested transitional hous- tional costs for Vets Haven-North are $1 million and are sub- ing programs. sidized by the VA to supply 30 of its 100 beds for emergency contract housing to acutely homeless Veterans. DMAVA awaits a Notice of Funds Available (NOFA) from the Veter- ans Administration to be announced for VA Grant Per Diem (GPD) to help fund operations at Vets Haven-North. The New Jersey National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Acad- emy, located on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, remains an innovative and cost-effective partnership between the state and federal governments. The voluntary educational program provides 16 to 18 year-old high school dropouts the opportunity to undergo an intense 22-week structured residential program in a quasi-mil- itary environment. The educational goal is to prepare cadets for the GED exam and raise math and reading scores a mini- mum of two grade levels. The program has a return on invest- Veterans Haven-South in Winslow Township, Gloucester County. ment unmatched among organizations that assist at-risk-youth. (NJDMAVA photo by Mark C. Olsen) Two out of three high school dropouts who enroll in Youth The Department’s two transitional housing facilities, ChalleNGe earn a high school diploma and are prepared for Veterans Haven-North in Glen Gardner, Hunterdon County, the job market, military service or to continue their education.

8 NJDMAVA FY 17 Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, right, The Adjutant General of New Jer- sey, along with members of the New Jersey National Guard leadership, New Jersey National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Academy graduation welcome home Soldiers with the 1-114th Infantry, New Jersey Army Na- ceremony at Patriots Theater, Trenton, N.J., Sept. 15, 2015. (U.S. tional Guard, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 17, 2015. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Nick Young/Released) The nearly 450 Citizen-Soldiers returned home from a nearly year-long deployment in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Na- Since 2008, there have been 1,554 Youth ChalleNGe tional Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) graduates and 66 percent earned their high school diploma. ment, Soldiers and Airmen are the focus of a reconstitu- Upon graduation, cadets went on to continue their education, tion process designed to reconnect them with their families, entered the workforce and joined the military. Those classes smooth the return to their civilian jobs, address any financial of Youth ChalleNGe cadets provided 95,530 hours of com- concerns that have arisen during their absence, educate them munity service for government agencies and nonprofit -or about the benefits to which they are now entitled, and ensure ganizations ranging from New Jersey Forestry Services to that their physical, mental and spiritual needs are being met. Monmouth Battlefield State Park to the New Jersey Commu- The National Guard Bureau has recognized DMAVA’s nity Food Bank of South Jersey. The monetary value of the effort to assist Soldiers and Airmen as they transition from services they provided exceeds $2 million. active duty mobilizations to part-time service as one of the Since Sept. 11, 2001, New Jersey National Guard has nation’s “best practices.” mobilized more than 18,000 troops. Many of these Citizen- Soldiers and Airmen have answered the call multiple times. It is incumbent upon the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs to ensure that as our National Guard members mobi- lize, deploy, demobilize and transition back to civilian life, their needs and the needs of their families continue to be met. Through National Guard funding, DMAVA operates a statewide network of Family Assistance Centers. These centers support the families of deployed Soldiers and Air- men during unforeseen emergencies and financial hard- ships. Staff at the centers work in tandem with the dedi- cated volunteers at the 34 unit-affiliated Family Readiness Groups across the state. Our dedicated team of chaplains lends additional support. The crown jewel of this effort is the Joint Military and Family Assistance Center at the Bordentown Armory, which was completely renovated earlier this year with $3.5 million in federal funds. This project, which was completed in July, serves not only the National Guard, but military members from all the Reserve Components as well as their families from across the state. The Soldiers and Airmen returning now are the focus of one of the most comprehensive efforts ever undertaken to DMAVA continues to assist a number of Veterans seek- support troops as they make the transition from warrior back ing treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). to parent, spouse, student, employee and community member. Over the past four years, the demand for PTSD counseling From the moment they step off the plane from a deploy- has remained steady, with 22,023 sessions in FY15.

9 NJDMAVA FY 17 As you can see, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs makes New Jersey a stronger place. The Department cares for Vet- erans, our Troops and our state in its times of need. This happens because of the dedication of our uniformed military force and our civilian employees. They come to work every day with their mission as their priority, whether their mission is helping an aging Veteran at one of our Homes, or making a last minute check of young Sol- diers and Airmen as they respond to a domestic crisis. They are DMAVA.

I am proud to report that New Jersey is committed to As you can see, the Department of Military and Veter- providing them a helping hand and remains one of only seven ans Affairs makes New Jersey a stronger place. The Depart- states that provides additional mental health services for its ment cares for Veterans, our Troops and our state in its times Veterans and is the only state to assist their families as well. of need. This happens because of the dedication of our uni- A cornerstone of this effort is our toll free, 24-hour Veterans formed military force and our civilian employees. They come Helpline. Calls to the helpline have more than doubled since to work every day with their mission as their priority, whether its inception in 2006, from 1,571, to 3,525 last year. their mission is helping an aging Veteran at one of our Homes, Based on the high volume of calls to the 24-hour helpline, or making a last minute check of young Soldiers and Airmen the Vet2Vet Helpline has proven as a positive and effective as they respond to a domestic crisis. They are DMAVA. means to mitigate potentially life-threatening issues to ser- Thank you for the opportunity to make this presentation vice members returning from Iraq and Afghanistan as well before your distinguished committee. My staff and I will be as those suffering ill effects from service in earlier conflicts. happy to answer any of your questions.

Back cover photos

Top row, left to right: Senior Airman Josh Derins, a tactical air control party Airman with the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, secures an observation post during Exercise Eagle Eye, at Warren Grove Gunnery Range, N.J., Feb. 18, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released) A ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Public Information Center was held at the Brigadier General William C. Doyle Veter- ans Memorial Cemetery at Wrightstown, N.J., Nov. 11, 2015. (NJDMAVA photo by Kryn P. Westhoven/Released) Soldiers with the 404th Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne), United States Army Reserve, sling load cargo onto a Black Hawk with the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, during joint training at Coyle Drop Zone, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 29, 2016. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Second row, left to right: Spc. Danielina Pimentel, 1-114th Infantry, New Jersey Army National Guard, hugs her daughter at the Joint Training and Training Development Center, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 18, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Two U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcons from the New Jersey Air National Guard’s perform a “wagon wheel” maneuver during strafing gun runs at Warren Grove Gunnery Range, N.J., May 28, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released) A Korean War veteran plays Taps after the wreath presentation during a cer- emony commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the armistice signing at the New Jersey Korean War Veterans Memorial in Atlantic City, N.J., July 27, 2015. (DMAVA photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Third row, left to right: Airmen with the 227th Air Support Operations Squadron, New Jersey Air National Guard, perform the night exercise portion of Fast-Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES) training from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with the 1-150th Assault Helicopter Battalion, New Jersey Army National Guard, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., April 21, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) The New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs held a state medals ceremony at the Quakerbridge Mall in Lawrenceville, N.J., Jan. 26, 2016. (NJDMAVA photo by Mark C. Olsen/Released) Sgts. Wil- liam J. Camp Jr., left, and Nick Lam, both with the 21st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (WMD CST), New Jersey National Guard, look for evidence at a weapons of mass destruction factory during a full-scale Homeland Response Force exercise involving units from the New Jersey and New York Army and Air National Guard at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., April 16, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Fourth row, left to right: Soldiers with the 1st Squadron, 102nd Cavalry, New Jersey Army National Guard, perform a security mission on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, located between Camden, N.J., and Philadelphia, Sept. 27, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released) Michael K. Fostik, Sr., right, celebrates his 100th birthday as his daughter Connieann Kocher helps him blow out the candles at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Menlo Park Jan. 23, 2016. (NJDMAVA photo by Kryn Westhoven/ Released) Senior Airman Raymond J. Buckno, left, Combat Arms Training and Maintenance, helps Airman 1st Class Bryant A. Toro, both with the 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, adjust the M68 red dot sight on the M4 Carbine at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 8, 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mark C. Olsen/Released)

10 NJDMAVA FY 17