Army Aviation 1-161 FA trains Support Facility to react to civil #2 celebrates disturbance PlainsPlains30 years . 3 GuardianGuardiansituations . 7 Volume 60 No. 1 Serving the Kansas Army and Air National Guard, Kansas Emergency Management, Kansas Homeland Security and Civil Air Patrol January 2016 Signal Acquired Answering the call KSARNG activates Kansas National Guard patrols help stranded motorists in NW Kansas new signal company By Sgt. Zach Sheely 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment “We are in the future.” The future is now according to 1st Sgt. James Peeler, first sergeant of the newly- activated 330th Brigade Signal Company of the Kansas Army National Guard. “It’s something out of Star Trek,” said Peeler. “That’s where we’re at right now.” The 330th BSC was officially activated during a ceremony at the Heartland Pre- paredness Center in Wichita, Kansas, Dec. 5. It will operate as part of the 997th Brigade Support Battalion and serve prima- Soldiers with a Stranded Motorists Assistance Response Team, Kansas National Guard, assist a stranded trucker on Road 300 off rily as the signal arm of the 130th Field Ar- Highway 40 between Winona and Monument, Kansas. Two SMART teams, including four vehicles and 10 personnel, were acti- tillery Brigade, KSARNG. vated early Nov. 18 to patrol roads and highways across northwest Kansas, searching for stranded motorists. (Photo provided) The signal corps’ mission is to develop, By Sgt. Zach Sheely Staff Sgt. Cody Breon, detachment readiness noncommissioned test, provide and manage communications Public Affairs Office officer, 997th BSB, said he didn’t have much notice that his serv- and information systems support for the A late-autumn blizzard that dropped nearly two feet of snow left ice was needed, as he received the call at 2:15 a.m to report. command and control of combined arms motorists stranded across areas of northwest Kansas, prompting “We didn't really have a lot of heads up that we were going to be forces. According to 330th commander Kansas Governor Sam Brownback to issue a state declaration of utilized,” he said. “So we got really lucky that some of my local Capt. Louis Latimer, it’s a significant and emergency for the areas affected by the storm. First responders were guys and myself answered our phones that early.” uncommon charge. unable to respond to each of the large number of emergency calls. One of the recovery teams responded by 5 a.m., and headed “It’s a significant impact for the state and Enter the Kansas National Guard. north on Kansas Highway 25, which was the priority area at the the signal community in general as this is Two Stranded Motorists Assistance Response Teams, including four time, according to Breon. the second signal company that Kansas has vehicles and 10 personnel with the recently-activated 997th Brigade Most of the people that the Soldiers encountered had already stood up, the first one was the 369th Support Battalion, were mobilized early Nov. 18 to patrol roads and contacted a tow company and were waiting for recovery, but Breon Brigade Signal Company,” said Latimer. highways across northwest Kansas, searching for stranded motorists. said the Soldiers did give four stranded people a ride into town and “(The 330th) is one of ten units like this The teams assisted local law enforcement and emergency per- were able to rescue a wounded dog and take it to a local shelter. (Department of Defense) wide. sonnel in providing assistance to motorists whose vehicles had got- “This is one of the cool things about the National Guard,” said (Continued on Page 2) ten stuck or slid off roadways. The Kansas National Guard teams Breon. “You get to help your community, and that’s what this west- primarily patrolled roads in four counties: Cheyenne, Rawlins, ern Kansas (Colby) station is for, for missions exactly like this.” Sherman and Thomas. Emergency response efforts were coordinated by state and Detachment 1 of the 997th BSB is based out of the Colby, local agencies, including Kansas Division of Emergency Man- Kansas, armory, which is the westernmost armory in Kansas and agement, Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Highway one of two located within the northwest region of the state. Patrol, county emergency managers and local law enforcement. PAID PRSRT STD PRSRT SALEM, OR U.S. POSTAGE PERMIT NO. 178 PERMIT 190th ARW ensures U.S. missions from Guam take flight By Melissa Brunner, WIBW "It just takes a lot ANDERSEN AFB, Guam - Purposely of focus," Boeckman bringing two aircraft within feet of each said. "You have to be other is not normal procedure – unless paying attention to you're the Kansas National Guard's 190th what's going on back Air Refueling Wing. there (behind the They're essentially a gas station in the sky, tanker). You have to which is vital for aircraft that couldn't other- tell your pilot where wise carry out missions requiring travel over (the other aircraft) is long distances without landing. For Ander- at in case he's mak- sen Air Force Base in Guam, the refuelers ing adjustments." are essential. "(Our pilots) fly About 100 members of the 190th ARW the plane based on are in the midst of a deployment to Guam, where (the other air- providing refueling support for the variety craft) is at," Ramirez of aircraft passing through the vast ocean said. "If he moves waters in the Asia-Pacific region. right, we turn our air- B52s are among them. The aircraft cannot plane to the right be- Melissa Brunner, news anchor with WIBW Channel 13 Topeka, get across the Pacific without stopping for cause it's an unsafe gives a live shot from Guam as part of her trip there with the fuel, and with nowhere to land in the endless environment. You 190th ARW. (Photo by Ben Bauman, Public Affairs Office) waters below, the 190th can take care of the could crash, so it's my job to control all that from 30 feet away in the air," Ramirez said. job in mid-air. and make sure he's not too close." While what they're doing in the air is the 2800 Topeka Blvd. 2800 Topeka OFFICIAL BUSINESS OFFICIAL It's a task that requires surgical precision But close is exactly what the B52 must focal point of the 190th's mission, there's a Adjutant General of Kansas Topeka, Kansas 66611-1287 Topeka, Penalty For Private Use, $300 from the boom operators. WIBW Channel get in order to latch on and fill up the tank. lot going on the ground to ensure its success. DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY THE OF DEPARTMENT NATIONAL GUARD OF KANSAS GUARD OF NATIONAL 13 News in Topeka was along on a flight The boom can transfer about a thousand gal- Typically, a crew of four is on the actual where Staff Sgt. Gabe Ramirez and Tech. lons a minute. flight, but the current deployment to Guam DEPARTMENT AND AIR OF THE ARMY FORCE DEPARTMENT Sgt. Adam Boeckman filled that role. "It's not every day you get to see airplanes (Continued on Page 2) Page 2 Plains Guardian • January 2016 Army, Air Guard participate in third annual Topeka Veterans Day Parade By Sgt. Zach Sheely ness groups, marching bands, floats and military equipment. 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment “I was honored to represent the 190th Air Refueling Soldiers and Airmen with the Kansas National Guard Wing and the entire Kansas National Guard as the emcee marched, rattled and rolled around the Kansas Statehouse for the Veterans Day Parade,” said 2nd Lt. Celestial square as a large crowd, waving American flags, cheered Arnold, public affairs officer, 190th Air Refueling Wing. and saluted the procession of the third-annual Veterans Day “It was humbling to be surrounded by so many veterans, Parade in Topeka, Kansas, Nov. 7. past and present, who have given so much in service to our Maj. Gen. Lee Tafanelli, the adjutant general of Kansas, state and nation.” and Command Chief Master Sgt. James Brown, senior en- Past, present and future military members included uni- listed advisor, KSNG, served as grand marshals of the pa- formed service members from the U.S. Marine Corps and rade and stood on the grandstand and saluted as the Coast Guard; Soldiers with 1st Infantry Division, U.S. procession passed. Army; 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Reg- “What a great opportunity for the adjutant general and I to iment; 35th Infantry Division Band; the Color Guard of the partake in the Veterans Day parade here in the capital city,” Kansas Army National Guard; Airmen from the 190th Air Brown said, “to celebrate those that have served before us, Refueling Wing; Civil Air Patrol cadets; Topeka West High Airmen with the 190th Air Refueling Wing assemble those that are currently serving and those who will serve in School Junior ROTC members and Veterans of Foreign their float for the Topeka Veteran's Day Parade Nov. 7 the future.” Wars from local posts. in Topeka (Photo by Airman 1st Class Emily E. Amy- The parade kicked off as parachutists descended from the “It’s a great way to honor the families and those who otte, 190th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs) sky, adorned in red, white and blue, as the sounds of patri- have sacrificed to serve their country,” said Brown. otic music blared from the grandstand, located on Southwest 10th Street, directly south of the Capitol. The procession included thousands of participants and featured vintage vehicles, civic groups, veteran-issue aware- Two children watching the parade show their appreci- ation to veterans at the 2015 Veterans Day Parade in The 35th Infanty Division Band, “The Official Band of the Kansas National Guard,” marches down Southwest Harrison Topeka Nov.