THE MAGAZINE OF THE NEW JERSEY NATIONAL GUARD Vol. 27 No. 2 GUGUARDLIFEARDLIFE Be Prepared For That Next Job! By Maj. Gen. Paul J. Glazar

CHANGE IS THE one thing that will always be constant GUARDLIFE in an organization Vol. 27, No. 1 like the New Jersey GUARDLIFE STAFF National Guard. We live in the midst of Editor Col. John Dwyer one of the most dy- namic economies in Assistant Editor-Production Tech. Sgt. Mark C. Olsen the , with job changes, Photographer Sgt. First Class Kryn Westhoven transfers, and re- The Adjutant General addressing a group of Clinton Elementary tirements happening School students for the Reading Is Fun Day. Writers all the time - with those changes are there - you only need to have the 1st Lt. John Powers Sgt. Barbara Alling having their effect on our Guard initiative to apply and attend. The Sgt. Thomas Porter units. We have seen the transition of same is true of required civilian edu- GUARDLIFE is a product of the NJDMAVA commanders in both of our air wings cation - with all of the educational Public Affairs Office, the 444th Mobile recently, as well as the change of benefits you accrue as a Guard mem- Public Affairs Detachment, the 177th commanders in several of our army ber, there are few reasons not to Fighter , and the 108th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Offices. GUARDLIFE battalions and air squadrons. When finish that degree or other program. is published under provisions of AR 360-81 changes occur, especially with little We are always looking for lead- and AFR 190-7. Opinions expressed in GUARDLIFE are not to be considered the advanced warning, we look for the ers, and in some cases we must pass official view of this headquarters, the De- best replacement to fill that vacancy. over a person who demonstrates partment of the Army or Air Force. This is printed via the photo offset process. If you are looking at your future great leader qualities because they Letters may be sent to: GUARDLIFE, Pub- progression and are counting on a are not qualified for that next job. lic Affairs Office, P.O. Box 340, Depart- ment of Military and Veterans Affairs, couple of years before your boss Don’t let that happen to you - be Trenton, New Jersey, 08625-0340. E-mail retires or moves on - you know, a prepared - that call may come much address is: [email protected] couple of years to “complete that sooner than you think. next course,” or go to “that school About The Cover you need for promotion,” you may A word of congratulations to our Last Minute Changes find yourself out of the running when two new air commanders, Colonels Sgt. 1st Class Bill Castro (left) an opportunity pops up. Mike Cosby in the 177th Fighter goes over last minutes changes Balancing the demands of your Wing and Craig Widen in the 108th with 1st Lt. Greg Conklin (right) as job, family, and military requirements Air Refueling Wing. Both are veter- Charlie Battery of the 3-112th Field is harder than ever, but I cannot ans of Desert Storm and both are Artillery prepares to fire at Fort stress enough the need to be pre- pilots with many thousands of hours Dix. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn pared to step up to your next job or in their aircraft. Both face the chal- P. Westhoven, 444th MPAD. promotion - you never know when lenge of maintaining our readiness you might be asked. In many cases and meeting the worldwide demand Errors military school slots and professional for aircraft, aircrew, and support We didn't find any in the last issue. If education go unfilled for lack of stu- personnel. Best of luck in the new you did, we're sorry. dent inputs. In most cases, the schools positions.

G U A R D L I F E 2 1st Lt. (Doctor) Phillip Campbell, 250th Forward Mission: Honduras Support Battalion, minis- Mission: Honduras ters to Petty Officer 2nd ters to Petty Officer 2nd Class Blaise Horsman of the ByBy Col.Col. JohnJohn Dwyer,Dwyer, PAO,PAO, NJDMAVANJDMAVA Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 7 (SeaBees) at Lempira, Honduras. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA.

TheThe temperaturetemperature isis overover 100100 degrees.degrees. PoisonousPoisonous snakessnakes andand scorpionsscorpions areare notnot exactlyexactly strangers.strangers. TheThe talcum-finetalcum-fine dustdust isis everywhereeverywhere andand inin every-every- thing.thing. ForFor thethe soldierssoldiers ofof thethe 250th250th ForwardForward SupportSupport Battalion,Battalion, everyevery dayday isis anan adventure.adventure.

G U A R D L I F E 3 Mission: Honduras

Twenty medics from Company C, 250th Forward Support Battalion, were part of "Operation New Hori- zons 2001" building roads, schools, clinics and latrines in rural villages in the mountains of Honduras. The New Jersey medics provide medical care for U.S. forces in their area and as- sisted with "sick call" for the local citizens in the remote, impoverished villages in the Department (province) of Lempira. While deployed to Honduras, the men and women of the 250th were responsible for the health care of the more than 500 personnel assigned to the joint task force in Lempira. This included operating a clinic tent in the Capt. (Doctor) Rocco Pascucci (left), Spc. Eric Guzman (center), and Spc. Melanie Metzger base camp and having medics and (right) from the 250th Forward Support Battalion work on a soldier suffering from heat injury ambulances on all of the active con- at the Base Camp Clinic in Gracias, Honduras. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA. struction sites out in the villages. As with any construction project, there is a risk of serious New Jersey medics also got to practice some "shade- injury where backhoes, bulldozers, and heavy equipment tree medicine" as they accompanied medical teams to are being used. The medics treated mostly heat injuries, outlying villages where clinics were held to treat the local sprains, cuts, and some allergic reactions. In case of a citizens. Often more than 700 people would show up to serious medical emergency, there were medivac helicop- be treated at these "sick call" sites. Teamed with medical ters on 24-hour call to evacuate patients to the U.S. Air professionals from the South Dakota Army National Force clinic at Soto Cano Airbase, Honduras. Guard,the 250th medics helped translate, administer medi- cine, and teach basic sanitation techniques. The medics lived in a tent camp with other guards- men from Puerto Rico, Tennessee, South Carolina, and South Dakota, as well as Marine Corps reservists from Missouri and Navy Seabees from Mississippi. All drink- ing and wash water was drawn and purified from a local stream by the medics. A few amenities were around to make camp life a bit easier: satellite TV was beamed into the recreation tent to provide access to American pro- gramming and news; AFEES had a trailer on-site which sold cold drinks, snacks, and sundries; there were a few computers with internet access with E-mail; and there HUMVEE transporting a patient from La Campa to the base camp were phones where they could call home. The showers in Gracias, Honduras. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA. and latrines - individual showers and flush toilets (high

G U A R D L I F E 4 250th Deploys To Central America

tech deployable wonders) - just like home…well almost. Lempira Province is in the mountains of Honduras, along their continental divide. It is extremely mountain- Faces of New ous and fairly undeveloped. Many of the villages where our soldiers were working had only just received electric- Horizons 2001 ity in the last few years. Running water was still far from being standard and horses and ox-carts were the norm for transportation. Soldiers got to see first-hand how the morning cup of coffee started out, as sacks of fresh beans were off-loaded from mules and sun-dried on concrete patios along the roads. In the villages, 300-year-old churches were more common than modern buildings, and the daily bread was still baked in wood fired clay ovens. New Jersey personnel rotated every two weeks

Spc. Cheryl Cwiklik, 250th FSB, provided aid and comfort to one of inhabitants of the village of La Lima, Honduras. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA

Hondurans wait in line outside one of the sick call sites run by the 250th FSB. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA. from February through the end of May. The 250th provided medics in February and March, and the 50th Main Support Battalion in April and May. This is the The La Campa Elementary School principal accepts a soccer second time that New Jersey has participated in Opera- ball donated by Maj. Ronald Walls (far right). Every day 250th medics would play soccer with area children. Also pictured Col. tion New Horizons in Honduras - the first was in 1999 in William Bertsch (center) and 1st Lt. Luis Aguinaga (left). Photo the Cortez and Yoro Provinces. Plans are underway to by Lt. Col. Eric Anderson, 250th Forward Support Battalion. deploy to Nicaragua for a similar mission in 2002.

G U A R D L I F E 5 Exporting Democracy By Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA

f you ask the truckers from the 253rd Trans- I portation Company what they were doing in Hon- duras you'd hear: "Hauling block and gravel and building schools." But I would say that they were exporting democracy - one truck- load at a time. The soldiers of the 253rd are part of the U.S. task force support- ing "Operation New Horizons 2001" in Honduras. They are responsible for transporting supplies, materiel, and equipment to a base camp in Lempira Department (Province), and, from there, serviced five con- Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Dicola prepares for another trip from the base camp to one of the struction sites in remote mountain construction sites. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA.

moved supplies from Army new trucks borrowed from other depots across America, and National Guard units, shipped by sea are on their way to the Joint to Honduras and driven eight hours Readiness Training Center into the mountains. Spare parts were at Fort Polk later this year. scarce to nonexistent; the dust and This operation is a little roads were a mechanic’s nightmare. different. The province's The temperature was frequently roads are narrow - so nar- more than hundred degrees through- row that even a Humvee out the day. occupies the whole width of And then there are the loads - the road. Steep mountain mostly construction materials - steel roads rose more Spc. Mark Leonard loading cement bags for a construc- tion site. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, DMAVA. than 6,000 feet. The roads are villages. Through their efforts, Hon- steep, wrought with hair- durans will have five new schools, pin turns, and have no four new clinics, and four running- guardrails to save them water latrines in this impoverished from a plunge of several area and the United States will have hundred feet. Local a stronger ally in Central America. drivers pass at every op- The 253rd is no stranger to de- portunity - regardless of ployments - they were called up for line-of-sight. Desert Storm, have participated in Then there is the Rush-hour traffic - Honduran style. Photo by Lt. Col. Eric joint operations at Fort Bliss, have equipment - not exactly Anderson, 250th Forward Support Battalion.

G U A R D L I F E 6 One Truckload At A Time

rebar, bags of concrete, sand, gravel, chow and a hot shower. After chow, concrete blocks, roof trusses, and the next day’s assignments were "A single lumber; almost all of it loaded and handed out and the cycle would start round-trip to a unloaded by hand. all over again. The Marine Corps It was not hard to tell where the engineers were so appreciative of village 14 miles Cape May troops were living - a the 253rd's support, that they pre- large sign decorated the entrance to sented Spc. Stephen Hoppe with a away takes about their GP medium tent and local plants commander’s coin for his work. four hours over had been transplanted in front. They The 253rd rotated personnel to share the camp with about 500 other support Operation New Horizons ev- primitive roads soldiers, Marines, and the SeaBees ery two weeks from January through who were there to and steep build schools, clin- grades." ics, latrines, and to repair bridges and roads. The 253rd's day When Sgt. 1st Class Joseph started at about 5 Dicola, rotation NCOIC, was asked a.m. when they got how he liked the work, he acknowl- up and queued up edged that it was, "long, hot and hard for an open spot at a but I can see that it makes a differ- sink to get shaved. ence to the people in the villages." Chow was served He also noted that, “Building schools until 6 a.m., but the makes it real hard for these people to convoys to the dislike Americans…they can see the worksites departed Two hours and 14 miles later the supplies are dropped off at the benefit from being friends with the at 6 a.m., so the construction site. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA. U.S.A." Exporting democracy one truckers quickly ate the unit rations April. In January, the 253rd hauled truckload at a time works. and headed to the motor pool to draw in all of the material to construct the their trucks for the day. From that camp in Lempira from time until the crews from the villages the Port of LaCeiba eight returned at 6 p.m., the truckers of the hours away. As the 253rd hauled as many loads of block, mission to build schools sand, gravel, or whatever that they was completed and the can. A single round-trip to a village camp was dismantled, 14 miles away took about four hours truckers from the 50th over primitive roads and steep grades. Main Support Battalion Since most materials have to be hand replaced the 253rd loaded and unloaded, it adds more truckers and helped haul time as well. The soldiers had MREs the containers and equip- for lunch. At the end of the day, ment back to the port trucks were serviced, and the driv- for shipment back to the Be it ever so humble...the 253rd's home during their rotation ers return to the base camp for Army United States. in Honduras. Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA.

G U A R D L I F E 7 The Second Hurdle: Retention By Sgt. Barbara Alling, 444th MPAD

et’s face it: most students must often hold a there in the towns helping out when Hurricane Floyd part-time job while attending college. caused flooding across the state and was also instrumen- L Extra money can help with tuition, books, tal in assisting the Kosovo refugees housed at Fort Dix. as well as room and board. Yet how many Slavin is starting an awareness campaign, using his part-time jobs offer free state tuition in exchange for 74 recruiters. He wants to bring a brand new enthusiasm working one weekend per month and two weeks each to recruiters, as well as recruits, to help spread the word year? In the New Jersey National Guard, not only do you about the NJNG's educational and economical benefits. get paid, but you may also be eligible for up to an $8,000 The target is the young high school student intending to go sign-on bonus and the Montgomery G.I. Bill. to college in New Jersey. These include 2- and 4-year Ironically, despite all the various benefits, recruit- colleges, vocational-technical schools, cooperative pro- ment and retention is still a challenge for the NJNG today. grams, correspondence courses, apprenticeships and on- For Lt. Col. Edward Slavin, the new NJARNG Recruit- the-job training, and even flight training. ment and Retention Manager, the first hurdle in recruit- The second hurdle is retention. Unfortunately, there ment right now is the public perception of the Guard. "We is a high turnover for first-year enlistees. Many recruits are a community-based organization, but the majority of do not complete their obligation or do not reenlist. "These people see us as the 'big, bad Army'." The Guard was young people often have false expectations," noted Slavin. Part of this problem can be blamed on misinformation Guard Of The Game from recruiters. The other problem is poor retention efforts from the units. "If we can get them past the first year of basic, AIT (Advanced Individualized Training), and give them a good Annual Training, we would have a better chance of keeping them." Slavin understands many young people are looking for "instant gratification." He realizes a lot of them sign- up for the benefits. "Ninety-nine percent of it is economic and one percent is patriotic," admits Slavin. With good training and a positive experience, Slavin hopes those percentages will become more balanced. Consequently, soldiers will view the National Guard with long-term service in mind while achieving substantial financial and educational rewards.

The National Guard got plenty of court time at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton when the re- Space-Required Travel for UTAs cruiters sponsored the ‘Guard of the Game’ plaque to a deserving player from the dozens of high Members are now authorized to travel on DoD aircraft from their school basketball teams playing in the tourna- homes to their drill location. They will be able to make ment. Primetime tournament coordinator Jeff reservations on aircraft up to 30 days in advance. As with any Hewittson, a former Guard member at the travel on DoD aircraft, missions are subject to cancellation at Lawerenceville Armory with Lt. Col. Edward anytime. This benefit will apply only for travel to and from Slavin. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn P. Westhoven UTAs, NOT annual training. See http://www.af.mil/news/ 444th MPAD. n20010323_0410.shtml for more info.

G U A R D L I F E 8 Warfighter: Next Best Thing To Being There By Sgt. Thomas Porter, 444th MPAD

fter months of prepara- Atkinson, 1-114th Assistant Opera- He was intensely involved in the tion, in 72 hours War- tions Sergeant. "That way, we can battle, and spoke as if it were really A fighter was all over. concentrate on working the bugs out happening. "The exercise is set up in The soldiers were ex- of the operations." The challenge is real time. Last night, we were able hausted, but not from spending three still there, however. "The real logis- to seize an objective and pass the 2- days in the field. This exercise took tics, we don’t have to deal with," 102nd forward, so they could ac- place on the virtual battlefield. observed Master Sgt. Frank Kirby, complish their part of the mission," From February 23 through 25, 1-114th Operations Sergeant. "The explained Maj. Sarama. "Right now approximately 450 soldiers from the game logistics, we do." we’re transitioning to defense. This 1-114th and the 2-113th Infantry, the "In a computer simulation, the evening, the 2-102nd is going to come 2-102nd Armor, the 3-112th Field staff faces some of the same stress back, the enemy forces will come Artillery, the 250th Signal, and the they would face in a real situation; down, and we’re going to do a rear- 250th Forward Support Battalions even though it’s a simulated battle, ward passage align, and the situation participated in the exercise. Each it’s still a battle," said Maj. Joseph is just developing." unit’s Tactical Operations Center Sarama, 2-113th Executive Officer. Behind him in the TOC were (TOC) was lined up in the snow "Planning for this exercise started soldiers from Massachusetts and Il- behind the Training and Training back in September, and some of us linois. "If we get called up for de- Technologies Battle Lab at Fort Dix. spent a week in Kansas (Fort ployment to the field, we’re ready," The Warfighter concept is Levenworth) pre- simple; the 50th Brigade, which nor- paring," noted Maj. mally trains apart, could now train Sarama. "This is the together without the costly logistics culmination of a lot of a brigade-size operation. Com- of work. That moti- manders and staff officers get to- vates these soldiers gether to fight the battle, but the because they put a tanks and the majority of the troops lot of time into this.” could stay at home. Before the ex- In the simulation room, the offic- ercise, thirty senior ers and NCOs make and enter the leaders from the decisions into a computer. The deci- Royal Saudi Land sions are then executed by virtual- Forces observed the units on a simulated battlefield. Be- planning process. cause all the action takes place in- The Saudis were side a computer, the officers and here to learn: they NCOs concentrated more on im- plan to hold their own proving strategy, and worrying less Warfighter back in on the physical logistics of the exer- Saudi Arabia. cise. On the morning "Rather than having to deal with of February 24, Maj. troops out here, getting fuel to tanks, Sarama stood on the and food to the soldiers; we run it frozen ground that Pfc. John Wells (left) of the 50th Brigade and Pfc. Thomas Hunt through the computer and it tells us served as the floor of (right), from the 3-112 Field Artillery talk on radios during the what we lost," stated Cpl. Tom the 2-113th's TOC. Warfighter exercise. Photo by Spc. Kevin Collins, 444th MPAD.

noted Maj. Sarama. G U A R D L I F E 9 The McGuire Project By Capt. Denise Waggoner, PAO, 108th ARW

rick Township in real life." He added, High School stu- "I liked the hands-on B dents teamed up approach." with the 108th According to Jo- Air Refueling Wing pilots, seph Tomaselli, Ex- navigators and technicians ecutive Administrator to learn the physics of flight. of Quality Education On February 20, fif- New Jersey, the teen Brick Township High McGuire Project com- School students, along with bines classroom and their physics teacher, took hands-on learning. their classroom on location "Problem-based to the 108th. learning is the ability First came a tour of Maj. Pat Kennedy, Maintenance Officer and the program facilitator describes to communicate and one of the unit’s KC-135E how engines work to a group of Brick Township High School students. Photo demonstrate knowl- courtesy of the 108th Public Affairs Office. Stratotankers, followed by edge learned, with an classroom instruction. The students When asked about the team’s appreciation of the inter-dependence learned how to calculate total weight, goals, 12th-grader Amanda Kissell and inter-relatedness of science, ground speed, acceleration, thrust, observed, "To apply physics in our mathematics and technology." drag, drift, distance, center of grav- everyday lives. Sitting in the class- "Problem-based learning is stu- ity, fuel consumption and all the other room and not know how it’s applied, dents gathering and applying knowl- variables involved in getting a KC- well, it’s hard to visualize. You can’t edge from multiple disciplines in 135E Stratotanker airborne. grasp the concepts. To actually see their quest for solutions," explained it is another thing." Tomaselli. "The teachers are A more down-to-earth re- trained as cognitive coaches help- sponse came from 12th grader ing students to develop critical think- Jeff Mercer who stated, "It was ing skills, practice collaborative really cool! I got to sit in the skills, conduct data searches, gen- pilot’s seat and see where the erate solutions, use problem solv- boom operator works. I can just ing skills, formulate hypotheses, imagine if I was up in the perform experiments and determine air…what it would be like." best solutions." After Maj. Pat Kennedy, Gary Tutzauer, a physics teacher, Maintenance Officer and the summed up the program, "I feel that program facilitator, wrapped up the best way to learn the principles of the lesson, physics student Brad physics is to experience them. By Miller, noted, "It lets you appre- participating in this project, students ciate the amount of work that are working with members of the Brick Township High School students prepare for goes into flying an airplane. We 108th Air Refueling Wing to solve their presentation at the 108th Air Refueling Wing as part of the McGuire Project. Photo courtesy of the can use what we learn in the problems and learn about the wing's 108th ARW Public Affairs Office. classroom and see how it works mission."

G U A R D L I F E 10 The New Jersey Distinguished Service Medal

YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A NEW JERSEY Governor Kean, more than Distinguished Service Medal (NJDSM) if you were a 4,000 medals have been Vietnam or Persian Gulf War combat veteran. awarded to New Jersey com- In order to be eligible for the NJDSM, recipients must bat veterans. currently be a resident of New Jersey and also have been Anyone interested in ap- a resident of the state at the time they entered into military plying for the New Jersey service; have been honorably discharged; and, must have Distinguished Service Medal proof of having served in combat while on active duty should send a written request during wartime. Those recipients whose service was together with copies of all recognized by the award of the Bronze Star, Purple pertinent information, dis- Heart, Air Medal or equivalent medal will receive a charge document (e.g. DD NJDSM with an oak leaf cluster. The medal can also be 214 ), award citation, honor- awarded posthumously to the veteran's next-of-kin. able discharge, etc. to: The NJDSM was originally issued in 1858 for veter- NJDMAVA ans who had distinguished themselves in the New Jersey ATTN: CIO-GS-PA Militia. After the Spanish American War, the Mexican P.O. Box 340 Border Expedition and again after World War I, the State Trenton, NJ 08625-0340 of New Jersey minted special medals for returning New Be sure to include full name, home address and Jersey veterans to honor their service. After WWII, daytime telephone number. Korea, Vietnam and subsequent combat actions no such medal was available. Since its re-authorization in 1988 by

The Weather Rock

After two weeks of accurate and outstanding weather forecasting for Headquarters State Area Command at AT 2001, Fort Drum, N.Y., Sgt. Hernando Coy, United State Property and Fiscal Office, was surprised and somewhat embarrassed to find that Chief Warrant Officer 4 Harry McCurdy, Department of Logistics, had discovered his secret. Chief McCurdy had found Sgt. Coy's improvised weather forecasting system on Division Hill, behind build- ing 2314. The system consists of a large gray rock suspended from a government issue tripod. The following written instructions were attached to the tripod: The Weather Rock Property of SGT H. Coy Operating Instructions: If it is wet, it's raining; If it is dry, it's clear; If it is white, it's snowing; If it is hot, it's Sgt. Hernado Coy and the Weather Rock pose out side of building 2314 sunny; If you can't see it, it's dark out; If it is swinging, it's on Division Hill at Fort Drum, N.Y. Photo courtesy of Chief Warrant windy; And, if it is missing, it's a tornado! Officer 4 Harry McCurdy, DOL.

G U A R D L I F E 11 Ohayo (Good Morning) New Jersey Story and photos by 1st Lt. John Powers, 444th MPAD

n Jan. 16, six members of the 444th Mobile Public O Affairs Detachment (MPAD) departed Phila- delphia Airport for one of the more exotic Annual Training events in this year’s calendar - Japan. The ultimate destination was Camp Kita-Kumamoto in Kyushu Prefecture (prefectures are similar to states or provinces) to attend the bilateral exercise Yama Sakura (Mount Cherry Blossom) which lasted from Jan. 26 through 31. Yama Sakura, or “YS” is the second largest simulation in the Pa- cific Theater, after Cobra Gold in Preparing a news release during the exercise, left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Yasushi Yamakawa, Thailand and the single most impor- Staff Sgt. Bob Stephenson, Spc. Joe Donnelly, and Sgt. 1st Class Yoshii Takeda. tant event in the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force’s training calen- In total, more than 1,300 Ameri- graphic coverage and reporting on dar. The JGDSF hosts the biannual can and 3,000 Japanese troops par- the people and events of YS. Command Post computer exercise ticipated in the event. Of the U.S. Lt. Gen. Mitsuo Sakudo, West- on a rotating basis and has been held troops, reserve, National Guard and ern Army Commander, JGSDF, twice a year since 1980. Twice a active components of all four stated “I would like to see us year one of the four regional armies branches were involved. The pur- strengthen the mutual trust we have (northern, southern, northeastern, or pose of the exercise was to enhance built by face-to-face contact, while western) assumes responsibility to the inter-operability of the American gaining an understanding of the dif- house and feed 4,000 to 5,000 sol- units and the JGDSF. ferences between our national traits, diers and operate the exercise which During the exercise, the 444th culture, traditions, defense policies is similar in size to a corps level was able to perform its wartime and operational doctrine.” warfighter. The strategies vary from mission on a real-time basis. This Yama Sakura was also about year to year since YS rotates among included writing news releases, han- developing relations between the two the major Japanese commands and dling reporters, holding press confer- countries. Creating good will and the scenarios are geographically and ences, and publishing a newspaper. understanding was included in the politically specific. The basic sce- Titled US@YS, this publication con- overall mission’s success. There nario involves the combined forces tained six to ten pages of original were bilateral social events planned of United States Army Japan, 9th stories on the Yama Sakura exercise throughout the week both on and off Theater Support command and the and the many cultural events that post, and each day the word bilateral JGSDF defending the island of Ja- took place during the exercise. As a was stressed a thousand times. This pan from an amphibious attack by unit the 444th was allowed to partici- fact became obvious to the public the 25th Infantry Division. pate in press conferences, photo- affairs team the first full day at Camp

G U A R D L I F E 12 444th Deploys To Kunamoto Japan

Kita-Kumamoto when the 444th met tary ranks is commonly practiced in expected to give one back. The the Japanese public affairs contin- addition to the hand salute to extend downside is that this is not a one-off gent. Fortunately the Japanese team courtesy and respect from subordi- exchange. Omiyagi is a continual spoke English much better than we nate to superior. You are not ex- cycle in which both parties give and spoke Japanese. The New Jersey pected to know how to bow properly, receive over and over and over... team fumbled its way through the as it is practiced throughout Japan, So, to avoid any uncomfortable epi- “How do you do, pleased to meet but you should know to “bow when sodes, wait until just before leaving you” greetings in Japanese that had bowed to.” Lastly, in Japan, while and spring a present on them. They been learned on the flight over. There shaking hands is common between will surely have one ready and the was laughter and clapping and the Japanese and Americans, it is not pressure of a second go-round is 444th was told that we spoke excel- unusual to be performing all three relieved (it worked for the 444th). lent Japanese, which proved how greetings simultaneously trying to After 15 days, the MPAD polite they really were. That is one honor the Japanese with a bow and climbed back on board the commer- important point about traveling to they reply with a handshake and then cial flight for the 15-hour trip back to Japan. If a traveler make an effort both groups finish with a salute. Philadelphia. There was no question to learn the basic greetings, learn a The Japanese public affairs team that not only had the 444th improved little bit of Japanese geography and were polite and generous - espe- upon its public affairs training, the history the trip becomes more mean- cially when it came to giving gifts - detachment had also done its best to ingful and the Japanese will go that omiyagi. This means is that if a improve relations between the Japa- extra mile to help. This also applies person receives a gift, then they are nese military and the NJARNG. to the use of hashi (chopsticks). Just remember that you will be complimented on how skillful you are regardless of your true abilities. Japanese military customs are similar to the United States. Japa- nese enlisted personnel salute their officers, but unlike the U.S. military, Japanese enlisted members also ren- der salutes to each other. Since the JGSDF wear insignia very different from the American Army, U.S. sol- diers don’t have to worry about learn- ing to recognize the different insig- nia. Especially since U.S. military members are expected to salute their Japanese military counterparts of all ranks. As it is here, saluting is usually restricted to out-of-doors. Seeing the sights in Kunamoto(l-r): Staff Sgt. Bob Stephenson, Sgt. Patrick O’Flaherty, Spc. However, unlike any of the Ameri- Kevin Collins, 1st Lt. Yoshiio Katsutaka (JGSDF), 2nd Lt. Masako Iwamoto (JGSDF), Spc. can customs, bowing within the mili- Joe Donnelly, and Master Sgt. Joe McGrath.

G U A R D L I F E 13 NorthNorth ToTo AlaskaAlaska

StoryStory andand photosphotos byby Tech.Tech. Sgt.Sgt. MarkMark OlsenOlsen

G U A R D L I F E 14 Everyone pitched in when the asphalt was delivered to cover the drain in front of the flightline facility. The new drain will prevent the annual spring flooding that was part of life at Kulis.

It's May and springtime in which includes snow, 30 degree weather, and hairy mosquitos. Lovely.

It was. Truly. Yes, there was snow - in the CES NCOIC. "During these two weeks they will get the mountains; yes, it was 30 degrees - but only on one day same amount of training they normally would get in two and that was at 6 o'clock in the morning and it got up to years of drill weekends. It also gives them the opportu- 66 degrees later that same day; and yes the mosquitos did nity to see a project from beginning to end, the chance to look like they were wearing fur coats. work together and build team spirit." So how does the Civil Engineer- Everyone got the chance to do their job; the electri- ing Squadron fit in with all this? cians did electrical work, the plumbers plumbed, the From May 12 through 25, forty-eight members of the carpenters and utility people remodeled rooms, the ma- CE Squadron deployed to Kulis Base sons did concrete work, and the heavy equipment opera- outside of Anchorage. Following a two-day trip on a C- tors got to work with equipment that for those of us who 130, CES began remodeling a communications/control played with Tonka trucks as kids only dreamed about. center for the - the largest and "CE is unique, it is a great place to learn," noted Mimler. most complex job of the deployment; installing a set of continued on page 16 steps more than 40 feet long and 10 feet wide which included excavating, creating the forms, and pouring the cement; removing the existing wiring and completely rewiring the Non-Destructive Inspection Shop; installing a drainage system to prevent flooding; and laying a concrete pad for a pavilion funded by the Kulis Chiefs' council. In addition, nine members from the Services Flight worked at (where CES stayed during the deployment). Deployments play a key role in the development of CES members’ skills. “By going to Kulis, everyone gets the chance to adapt to working at a different base while doing their jobs,” noted Chief Master Sgt. Herb Mimler, Civil Engineering Squadron members pour the concrete for the steps behind the operations building at Kulis Air National Guard Base.

G U A R D L I F E 15 North To Alaska

Continued from page 15 Learning was a key part of this deployment. The concrete steps that were formed in back of operations are a good example of that process. Of the eight people working at the site, only two were experienced in working with concrete. Yet with their leadership the steps are indistinguishable from those done by professionals. Civil Engineering has a reputation for working hard, in a space of three days the future 210th Rescue Squad- ron communications/control center - a 60 feet long by 22 feet wide empty room - turn into a six-room work area with floor-to-ceiling sheetrock walls. Yet, all is not hard work, the evenings were spent exploring Anchorage’s Staff Sgt. Mark Sparagna (left) and Tech. Sgt. Edwin Reyes (right) prepare a stud wall for the 210th Rescue Squadron communications nightlife, as well as the staggeringly beautiful country- and control room. side. The weekend was spent sightseeing and fishing. Portage Glacier (see picture on page 14) and Seward Glacier were visited. In fact, an airman who had just joined the squadron landed a whopping 140 pound halibut. Bet he'll be telling his grandkids about this deployment. In the end CE completed all the major tasks it had been assigned. "The 177th CES saved the Alaskan Guard easily $100,000," stated Lt. Col. Andrew Mamrol, commander, Civil Engineering squadron. "definetely a win-win situation." Now about that snow, sub-freezing temperatures, and those hairy mosquitos...bring 'em on.

Tech. Sgt. Bob Leek (left), Master Sgt.Paul Nieczpiel (center), and Senior Airman Ryan Butcher (right) are observed closely by two chief master sergeants and a first sergeant as they pour a slab for the Kulis Staff Sgt. Steven Romine flattens the ground around the new storm Air National Guard's Chiefs' Council gazebo. drain catch basin outside the flight line facility.

G U A R D L I F E 16 Wondrack Promoted to BG Photo by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA.

Maj. Gen. Paul J. Glazar (left ), the Adjutant General; and Maj. Gen. Tom Garrett (right), Commander, 42nd Division; pin on Brig. Gen. Kenneth F. Wondrack's (center) stars. Brig. Gen. Wondrack was promoted to Brigadier General on March 24. Wondrack serves as the Commander of 42nd Division Troops in New Jersey. Brig. Gen. Wondrack began his career in 1963 as a private in the United States Marine Corps where he served in combat operations in Vietnam with the Ninth Marine Regiment. Prior to his current assign- ment, Wondrack served as the Chief of Military Support where he served as liaison between military and civilian authorities and was respon- sible for overseeing emergency operations for civil disorders or natural disasters.

Earth Week Celebrated

Senior Airman Julius Simmons assists 6th graders from Stafford Inter- mediate School in planting pitch pine sapplings during the Earth Week Celebration at Warren Grove Bombing Range April 23 through 27. Know someone who wants to join the NJNG? During the celebration more than 4,500 saplings were planted. Photo by Clip this card, have them fill it out and pass it on Tech. Sgt. Mark Olsen, 177th Fighter Wing Public Affairs. to your unit commander.

G U A R D L I F E 17 Continuing Partnership For Peace By Sgt. Thomas Porter, 444th MPAD

he training and influence of the New Jersey Back in 1994, the United States helped Albania Army National Guard is stretching around establish its NCO Academy. In addition, Albanians have T the globe. been visiting New Jersey for a few years now as part of The latest evidence is the high-level visit the Partnership for Peace program. of Albanian Army officers who toured the 254th Regi- Of course, New Jersey’s partnership with Albania is ment North East Training Center at Sea Girt and the a two-way street, and representatives from the New Training and Training Technologies Battle Lab at Fort Jersey National Guard have been visiting Albania peri- Dix in the beginning of March. odically. When asked what we can learn from the Among the six visiting officers was the Albanian Albanian Army, Col. Bllaka smiled and said, "When you Ministry of Defense liaison officer, as well as the chief of come to Albania next time, you can see." staff, chief of logistics, and operating officer of the Albanian Army NCO Academy. They were on a fact-finding mission, and said they will apply New Jersey’s experience to their own Army. Albanians Visit EOC Speaking through an interpreter, the Albanian NCO Academy Chief of Staff Col. Lulzim Bllaka said, “It is known, even in Europe, both Western and Eastern, that the United States experience is best regarding NCOs. It is understandable that we are using your experience; we can copy that.” "With everything I saw here, we are going to let our other colleagues at our NCO Academy know what we saw here," said Col. Bllaka. "The importance of the information we got here is to not keep it to ourselves, but to let others know and do our best to apply to the Albanian NCO Academy." Some of their observations can be put to use immediately. For example, Capt. Isuf Kasmi and The New Jersey National Guard hosted a second Partnership For Capt. Perparim Taka teach tactics and fire. They Peace delegation this spring. Tech. Sgt. John Duffy of the New may apply their lessons-learned directly to their Jersey Guard Emergency Operations Center at Fort Dix stands courses, noted Col. Bllaka. with (left to right) Maj. Nazmi Cahani, field artillery officer, Col. Perhaps more important, the NCO model is Bashkin Shehi, Director of Civil Protection and Capt. Clirim Mema, civil protection logistics stand with Sgt. Maj. Duke influencing the Albanian Army in a fundamental Khadan-Sawh, operation sergeant major. In front are Col. Shetih way. "The Albanian Army is being restructured, Spahiu of the Albanian Army headquarters staff and interpreter and a representative involved in that restructuring Dr. Denisa Tutla. The Albanian officers visited the Burlington is here," stated Col. Bllaka. "He will tell others to County and New Jersey State Police Emergency Operations Centers, a demonstration of air-sea rescue at Lakehurst Naval Air put into the organizational structure the NCO role." Engineering Center and a tour of the New York City emergency In essence, New Jersey Guard members, center as well as a visit to the Statue of Liberty. They even got through their interaction with Albanian Army sol- a taste of American home cooking as Tech. Sgt. Duffy took the diers, are influencing the restructuring of the Army group to his house for a meal during the week. Photo by SFC Kryn P. Westhoven, 444th MPAD. one of the world’s newest democracies.

G U A R D L I F E 18 Calendar Girls By Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA

f course we know it’s WOMEN! Two New Jersey Army National Guard O women have been honored with their pictures being featured in 2001 calen- dars. Lt. Col. Deborah Allen (top calendar), Headquarters, 42nd DISCOM is in the New Jersey Education Association calendar whose theme is “Celebrating Women of Accomplish- ment.” Sergeant Veronica Miller (bottom calendar, photo on right) , Company B, 50th Main Support Battalion is on the cover of the Women’s Memorial calendar which celebrates the 100th anniversary of Army Nursing, the 50th anniversary of the Korean War and the 10th anniversary of Desert Storm. Miller deployed with the 253rd Transportation Company, NJARNG, for Desert Storm.

USP&FO Moves To Fort Dix

Spc. Jason Gilsenan (left) talks with Staff Sgt. Jaime Cosme (right) in the converted classrooms and cafeteria at the National Guard Training and Training Technology Battle Lab at Fort Dix that are now the United States Property and Fiscal Office offices. After more than 25 years in Lawrenceville, the USP&FO moved to the T3BL on March 26. Of the 74 USP&FO staffers, 54 made the move to the T3BL, the rest will remain in Lawrenceville to main- tain the warehouse and the data processing center. The move is part of Maj. Gen. Paul J. Glazar’s plan to centralize major components of the NJNG. The USP&FO is responsible for obtaining and accounting for the property and finances of the Unites States Government that is given to the Guard. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Kryn P. Westhoven, 444th MPAD.

G U A R D L I F E 19 Last Round: Candy Man Photo and story by Col. John Dwyer, PAO, NJDMAVA

pc. Mark Leonard whatever they get," he has a soft touch said. "They can hear the S when it comes to big diesel engine from a children. long way off, and they While on deployment to are always waiting as I Lempira, Honduras he devel- come up the road. If I oped a huge fan club as he didn’t have anything left, made his rounds to the con- I would wave and they struction sites in the remote just wave back." villages. Like the aviator who Leonard did more became known as the "candy than pass out candy. Ev- bomber" for his drops of candy ery night he set up a 50- to the children of Germany 50 raffle next to the chow during the Berlin Airlift, Spc. line which was to benefit Leonard became the "candy the orphanage in neigh- man" around Gracias. At night boring Gracias. He took Leonard would collect the in U.S. dollars, Lempira unopened and uneaten por- (the local currency) and tions of the MREs that his Candy de jour is Swedish Fish. Spc. Mark Leonard and friend in the coins of all types and di- friends didn’t want, then head village of La Campa, Honduras. vided into two piles – one off to the AAFEES trailer to buy a big bag of candy in for the winner, one for the children. The regional Army preparation for his trucking missions the following day. Civil Affairs team planned to convert the proceeds from After getting his truck and loading it, Leonard would the two-week effort into goods needed by the children head out to the first site he was assigned. As he drove his and present them to the orphanage. route, children would hail him from along the roadside and Back home in N.J., Leonard plans to collect children’s he would stop and distribute some of his cache. Happily clothing and school supplies and ship them back to the smiling, eyes sparkling, they ran back into their mud-and- children he saw along the roadside. "We have so much, wattle houses to show off their treasures. The scene was and they have nothing at all," noted Leonard. "We throw repeated many times per day, the supply never quite away things that these people could desperately use. meeting the demand, but Leonard says he never saw a Every kid in New Jersey should see this place - it would single scuffle over the gifts. "They all seem to share make them thankful for everything they have."

State of New Jersey BULK RATE Department of Military and Veterans Affairs U.S. POSTAGE PO Box 340 PAID Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0340 Permit No. 515 Burlington, NJ