WolfpackWolfpack takestakes offoff MEDEVAC unit begins third Afghan deployment Page 5 Spring 2013 Governor Brian Sandoval Brigadier General Bill Burks Commander in Chief The Adjutant General Nevada Nevada National Guard Features: Governor Brian Sandoval Aviation company begins third Afghan deployment . 3 The Adjutant General Brig . Gen . Bill Burks Set to retire, Sitton reflects on 36 years of service . 8 Managing Editor/State Public Affairs Officer Maj . April Conway CCAF Air Force associate degree promotion requirement approaches . 9 Editor Nevada Guard gets new EOD unit . 10 Sgt . 1st Class Erick Studenicka Staff Writer/Photographer Mass casualty unit displays resolve in rubble . 12 Staff Sgt . Mike Getten Spc . Michael Orton 152nd Airlift Wing hosts interfly with Arkansas squadron . 13 Contributors Improvement process courses continue to benefit military, business . 14 Staff Sgt . Stan Hampton 1/221st Cavalry Child care program takes care of Guard families . 16 Sgt . Emerson Marcus Special delivery: Silver State distribution system established . 17 106th Public Affairs Detachment Lt . Col . Steve Ranson New construction facilitates Nevada Guard growth . 18 U .S . Army Retired Tech . Sgt . Eric Ritter Three join officer corps in capital city ceremony . 19 152nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Top troops tested by Soldier of the Year competition . 22 Cadet Travis Salley 106th Public Affairs Detachment Cav team 5th in inaugural Gainey Cup recon competition . 23 Capt . Jason Yuhasz 152nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs Departments: From Senior Leadership . 2 Deployment Roundup . 4 Drop Zone . 6 News Briefs . 20 Awards . 24 Promotions . 26 Accessions . 27 Retirements . 27 Events Schedule . 28 On the Cover: The Patriot Guard stands with flags raised as members of Nevada Army Guard 1/168th MEDEVAC unit fly their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters to their deployment in Afghanistan. This is the unit’s third deployment to Southwest Asia since Sept. 11, 2001. Photo by Spc. Michael Orton In accordance with Department of Defense Instruction of this equal opportunity policy by an advertiser is confirmed, the invited and encouraged . Please send articles and photos with 5120 .4, Battle Born is an authorized, unofficial publication publisher shall refuse to print advertising from that source until name, phone number, e-mail and complete mailing address and of the Nevada National Guard . Content is not necessarily the the violation is corrected . comments to: official view of, nor is it endorsed by, the U .S .government, the Battle Born is published quarterly for all current civilian Department of Defense, the Nevada National Guard or the state of employees, military members, National Guard retirees, govern- Nevada . It is published by MARCOA Publishing, Inc ., a private firm ment leaders in the state of Nevada, and civilian employers of Battle Born Magazine in no way connected with, but under exclusive written contract Nevada Guard members . Battle Born is distributed free of charge State Public Affairs Office with, the Nevada National Guard . via mail and is available at www .nevadaguard .com . Nevada National Guard The advertising in this publication, including inserts or 2460 Fairview Drive supplements, does not constitute endorsement by the state of Nevada or the Nevada National Guard of the products or services Comments and Contributions Carson City, NV 89701 advertised . Everything advertised in the publication shall be Letters to the editor must be signed and include the made available for purchase, use, or patronage without regard writer’s full name and mailing address . Letters should be brief and Or e-mail to NGNV-StatePublicAffairs@ng .army .mil to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, are subject to editing . Other print and visual submissions of physical handicap, political affiliation or any other nonmerit general interest to our diverse civilian employees, Nevada Publication of material is determined by available space and factor of the purchaser, user or patron . If a violation or rejection National Guard military members, retirees and families are reader interest . The staff reserves the right to edit all material . Spring 2013 / BATTLE BORN / 1 FROM SENIOR LEADERSHIP Command Chief Warrant Officer Dave Anderson Demand for warrant officers at all-time high Demand for warrant officers in the Nevada must meet all seven administrative require- These requirements are established by the Guard is at an all-time high . Succinctly, a ments before applying for the warrant officer branch and approved by training and doctrine warrant officer is a subject matter expert and program . command . The requirements for each branch an officer rolled into one Soldier . If you have A warrant officer candidate must be a U .S . can be found at the U .S Army. Recruiting ever considered taking your career to the next citizen (no waivers); have a general technical website . (When viewing warrant officer MOS level as an officer in a specialized field, now score of 110 or higher (no waivers); be a high requirements, be sure to look at the National is the time to take advantage of the numerous school graduate or have a general educational Guard requirements and not the active duty warrant officer opportunities available . development diploma (no waivers); be able to requirements, as they may differ .) The Army Guard has carried a heavy load obtain a secret security clearance (interim If you don’t currently meet all of the the past 12 years during the Global War on secret is acceptable to apply); pass the pre requisites, don’t despair . Take note of Terrorism and is now experiencing a signifi- standard three-event Army Physical Fitness what you are lacking and strive to eliminate cant number of warrant officer retirements . Test, and meet height and weight standards; any shortfalls . Submit a packet when you Additionally, the ever-expanding Nevada pass the appointment physical for technicians finally meet all of the requirements . It’s worth Army National Guard has established several or the class one (warrant officer candidate) it! It is life changing, and you’ve got nothing new organizations in the past few years that flight physical for aviators; and have 12 months to lose . include multiple warrant officer positions that remaining on their enlistment contract . The attached chart displays 24 vacant need to be filled . The applying service member must also Nevada Guard warrant officer positions that Primarily for those reasons, the NVARNG submit an Active Federal Service request will be filled as soon as possible . has immediate opportunities for stellar Soldiers with their application if they have 12 years or If you meet all of the prerequisites and to become warrant officers . more of active federal service . believe you are ready to become a warrant There are several requisite requirements In addition to the aforementioned require- officer, contact Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward to keep in mind as you consider becoming a ments, each warrant officer military occupa- Holler at (775) 887-7344 or your unit readiness warrant officer . Potential warrant officers tional skill has a set of specific requirements . sergeant to start an application packet . n Warrant Officer Position Vacancies • Warrant Officer Position Vacancies MOS Position Title Units with openings 913A Armament Systems Maintenance 17th Sustainment Brigade, 150Th Maintenance Company 915A Automotive Maintenance 150th Maintenance Company 255A Information Systems Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade, 422nd SC HHC ESB 255N Network Management Technician JFHQ, 422nd SC HHC ESB 120A Utilities Operations & Maintenance Technician 240th Engineer Company (3 positions) 920B Supply Systems Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade 914A Allied Trade 150th Maintenance Company 922A Food Services Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade, JFHQ 915E Senior Automotive Maintenance 150th Maintenance Company 882A Mobility Officer 17th Sustainment Brigade, JFHQ 921A Airdrop Systems Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade 923A Petroleum Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade 890A Ammunition Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade 920A Property Accounting Technician JFHQ, 422nd SC HHC ESB 420A Human Resource Technician 17th Sustainment Brigade, JFHQ For information, contact Chief Warrant Officer 2 Edward Holler, the Nevada Guard’s warrant officer strength manager, at (775) 887-7344 or email at edward .w .holler .mil@mail .mil . 2 / BATTLE BORN / Spring 2013 Spc. Michael Orton Family and friends wave goodbye to the Soldiers of the Nevada Guard’s 1/168th MEDEVAC unit as they leave for deployment to Afghanistan. Aviation company begins third Afghan deployment By Retired Lt. Col. Steve Ranson April 2 for two months of advance training “This one will be a lot easier,” he said . “We Special to Battle Born at Fort Hood, Texas . They are set to travel to have a better understanding of the mission STEAD – One of the first Nevada Army Afghanistan by early June and work there and it’s easier to integrate quickly .” National Guard units to deploy to Afghanistan until early 2014 . After the company arrives Before joining the Nevada Guard 11 years in the wake of 9/11, C Company, 1/168th in Afghanistan, its crews will perform medical ago, he spent eight years in the U .S .and Aviation (MEDEVAC), began what may become evacuation missions and fly Black Hawk deployed to Macedonia and Bosnia . one of the Nevada Guard’s final deployments helicopters . California and Washington Soldiers Warrant Officer Josh Groth of Carson City in support