March 2010 Monthly.Indd
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The U.S. Army’s Journal for Homeland Defense, Civil Support and Security Cooperation in North America ARNORTH Monthly MMarcharch 22010010 www.arnorth.army.mil CSTA evaluates Nevada CST, Pg. 4 ARNORTH trains for the unthinkable, Pg. 6 ARNORTH DCG inducts recruits during rodeo, Pg. 6 JTF-CS team members earn top honors, Pg. 7 2263rd63rd ADAADA ttrainsrains toto ddefendefend ccapitol,apitol, PPg.g. 3 Page 2 ARNORTH Monthly March 2010 Page. 6 ARNORTH trains for unthinkable Medical NCO retires after 20 Years of Page.8 faithful service Page. 9 There’s the wrong way or the “Wright Way” Page. 9 Technology Poses more risks than ever before Page. 10 Commanding General’s Mission, Vision and Philosphy for Army North ARMY News Briefs Page. 11-13 Department of Defense Veteran’s Affairs News National Guard News Page. 14 Get aquainted with new DoD Social Media Policy Page. 15 Spring is coming; fi nd the BlueBonnet Trail Commanding General: Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III Command Sergeant Major: Command Sgt. Maj. David Woodd U.S. ARMY NORTH PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE Chief Public Aff airs Offi cer: Lt. Col. Randy Martin Public Aff airs Sergeant Major: Sgt. Maj. Eric Lobsinger Public Aff airs Operations: Sgt. 1st Class Manuel Torres-Cortes Editor: Sgt. Joshua Ford The ARNORTH Monthly is an authorized publication for members of the U.S. Army. Contents of the ARNORTH Monthly are not necessarily views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, Department of the Army or U.S. Army North. The appearance of advertising in this publication, including inserts or supplements, does not constitute endorse- ment by the Department of the Army, U.S. Army North or the ARNORTH Monthly, of the products and services advertised. All editorial content of the ARNORTH Monthly is prepared, edited, provided and approved by the U.S. Army North Public Affairs Offi ce. Do you have a story to share? The ARNORTH Monthly welcomes columns, commentaries, articles, letters and photos from readers. Submissions should be sent to the Editor at [email protected] or the Public Affairs Sergeant Major at [email protected] and include author’s name, rank, unit and contact information. The ARNORTH Monthly reserves the right to edit submissions selected for the paper. For further information on deadlines, questions, comments or a request to be on our distribution list, email the Editor or call commercial number (210) 221-0793 or DSN 471- 0793. March 2010 ARNORTH Monthly Page 3 Air Defense 263rd ADA trains for National Capitol Region mission By U.S. Army North PAO FORT BLISS, Texas — As U.S. Army North’s commanding general watched on, Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, a South Caro- lina National Guard unit based out of An- derson, S.C., showcased their formidabil- ity during a live-fi re exercise Feb. 26 at the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III, ARNORTH’s commanding general, visited the air de- fense Soldiers and observed the Soldiers as they shot down remotely piloted aerial targets with Stinger missiles. The live fi re was the culminating event for the Soldiers, who deployed Feb. 8-27 to Fort Bliss to prepare for their upcoming Photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO mission in providing air defense capabili- Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III (left center), U.S. Army North commanding general, is ties for the National Capitol Region. briefed by Soldiers with the 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, “The Soldiers are prepared to step into South Carolina National Guard, during an exercise at White Sands Missile this arena, and we have all the tools to Range, N.M., Feb. 26. The exercise was designed to prepare 2-263rd ADA accomplish the mission,” said Command Bde. for their upcoming mission to provide air cover for the National Capitol Sgt. Maj. Jamie Wilbanks, the senior en- Region. listed leader for 2nd Bn. “We are motivated,” declared Wil- the region’s airspace. The Soldiers began preparing for the banks. “We understand the mission set During their yearlong deployment, deployment more than 18 months ago, and understand that this is one of the most which begins in March, the unit will be said Wilbanks, adding that they participat- important missions in the world.” based out of Bolling Air Force Base, Wash- ed in numerous national-level exercises The Soldiers are scheduled to replace ington. “I’m excited to go – It’s a cool thing and culminating training events. the Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 265th to do,” said Pfc. Trevor Gaston, an Avenger “The training has been great. The Sol- Air Defense Artillery Regiment, a Florida crewmember with 2nd Bn. “Taking all our diers have done an excellent job and are National Guard unit, in conducting the vi- equipment up there for a year and having prepared for this mission,” concluded Lt. tal mission of monitoring and defending this real-world mission is an honor.” Col. Bill Brown, 2nd Bn.’s commander. Photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO Lt. Gen. Guy Swan III, U.S. Army North’s commanding general, meets with the Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery Brigade, a South Carolina National Guard unit, during a live-fi re training exer- cise Feb. 26 at White Sands Missile Range, N.M. The live fi re was the culminating event for the Soldiers, who deployed Feb. 8-27 to Fort Bliss to prepare for their upcoming mis- sion in providing air defense capabil- ities for the National Capitol Region. Page 4 ARNORTH Monthly March 2010 Civil Support ARNORTH puts homeland defense unit to CST test in Nevada By Sgt. Joshua Ford U.S. Army North PAO LAS VEGAS — U.S. Army North’s Team B, West Divi- sion, Civil Support Training Activity, evaluated the Sol- diers and Airmen of the Ne- vada National Guard’s 92nd Civil Support Team during a certifi cation exercise Feb. 10 at the National Guard Readi- ness Center in Las Vegas. CSTs, such as the 92nd CST, are designed to assess hazards, advise civil authori- ties, and facilitate military support during emergencies and incidents involving weap- ons of mass destruction. During the exercise, the 92nd CST was tasked with re- sponding to a training scenario in which two men created a harmful biological agent and attempted to use it to contami- nate food and water sources. “We try to make the exer- cise as real as possible,” said Photo bySgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO Phillip Barnes, an operations Sgt. Anthony Rigano (left) and Sgt. Ryan Campbell (right), both survey team members, analyst with Team B. 92nd Civil Support Team, Nevada National Guard, prepare to enter the simulated con- During this exercise, the taminated zone while Phillip Barnes (orange vest), operations analyst Team B, West Divi- team used aerosol cans to sion, Civil Support Training Activity, U.S. Army North, evaluates the team during the 92nd simulate devices used to spray CST’s evaluation exercise Feb. 10 at the National Guard Readiness Center in Las Vegas. biological agents. The evaluation exercise tested the Soldiers and Air- defense.” said Murphy. only certify the CSTs, they men on 12 collective tasks that Rich Murphy, a contracted Additionally, a representa- also provide the CSTs, local, include more than 450 sub- role player and assistant fi re tive from the Federal Bureau state and federal responders a tasks. Tasks included setting chief in Florida, played the sit- of Investigation’s Las Vegas good understanding of what up a worksite to evaluate any uation commander, represent- offi ce played his role as the each agency does in the event harmful biological or chemical ing a unifi ed command under FBI’s representative. of a disaster or attack. threats found in a mobile labo- local, state and federal authori- “Every time we go out to “Once you get in and do ratory. ties, to provide more realism to one of these exercises, we the networking, you prove “Making sure that we don’t the training. learn something,” said Brett that you are competent in your grow complacent is the driv- “This allows law enforce- Handy, FBI weapons of mass ability and, more importantly, ing force behind this,” said ment agencies and civil sup- destruction coordinator. “It’s you show you aren’t a threat Maj. David Sellen, 92nd CST port teams to manage their a great opportunity to increase to another agency’s environ- commander. “We can’t afford own assets while key decisions our understanding of the dif- ment,” said Sellen. “You show to be complacent – especially are made collectively by local, ferent agencies.” when it comes to homeland state and federal offi cials,” Evaluation exercises not see CST, Pg. 5 March 2010 ARNORTH Monthly Page 5 Photo by Sgt. Joshua Ford, U.S. Army North PAO Left: Sgt. Ryan Campbell, a survey team member with the 92nd Civil Support Team, Nevada National Guard, tests a pud- dle of water for biological or chemical contamination during the 92nd CST’s evaluation exercise Feb. 10 at the National Guard Readiness Center in Las Vegas. Right: Staff Sgt. Roberto Caceres, decontamination noncommissioned offi cer, 92nd Civil Support Team, Nevada National Guard, prepares a decontamination site during the 92nd CST’s evaluation exercise Feb. 10 at the National Guard Readiness Center in Las Vegas. from CST, Pg. 4 recovery efforts. “This is an experienced group,” said David Brown, Team B that you’re actually there to support and, with that, you take away operations analyst and observer/controller.