May 2013 Vol. 8 No. 4 GRIZZLYOfficial Newsmagazine of the California National Guard 129th reaches page lifesavingpage 7 milestone 7 146th AW feels the heat of wildfire season www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs 4 Leadership Corner A force that mirrors our community Major General David S. Baldwin The National Guard’s most unique attribute is that it is a good Soldier is a good Soldier. community-based military force. The noncommissioned officer at your local armory may also be your accountant “Our commitment to the com- Since the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, morale or your kid’s teacher in their civilian life. has improved among gay, lesbian and bisexual Guards- munity is a commitment to all men, and in their units. Longtime friends and exempla- There is a great bond between a state’s Guard members its members, and if you feel the ry service members have finally felt free to speak openly and its citizens, and many in the Guard joined specifi- and, in some cases, finally felt safe introducing their civil- cally to improve the lives of those close to home. Our calling to serve, we are happy to ian family to their military family. A greater kinship has commitment to the community is a commitment to all serve alongside you.” grown, and a new level of trust has emerged among people its members, and if you feel the calling to serve, we are who already trusted each other with their lives. happy to serve alongside you, no matter who you are. - Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin The Army and Air Force values of honor, integrity, re- The freedom our gay, lesbian and bisexual service mem- spect and loyalty form the foundation of our organiza- The Adjutant General bers now experience in the Armed Forces community tion, and all members are judged by the same criterion: is emblematic of the freedom this nation has fought for performance. since our forefathers first wrote that all men are created come part of something greater than yourself. Our team equal and entitled to the same inalienable rights. We will The diversity of backgrounds, experiences and perspec- is driven to achieve common goals and uphold shared fight for this freedom as vigorously as we have any oth- tives in California is one of our state’s greatest strengths, values, and the bond formed through our struggles and er, and we will not tolerate any harassment or poor treat- and we strive to mirror that diversity in the California triumphs is unbreakable. ment of our members by those within our ranks. National Guard. With the repeal of the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy in September 2011, we finally can It has been said that in the Army, we are all “Army Since 1849, the California National Guard has pledged meet that goal without asking members to hide in the green,” and this is true. Regardless of your background, to protect every Californian from every type of danger. shadows. beliefs, lifestyle or personal characteristics, you can be Finally we can say that every Californian is invited to our brother or sister in arms. We only ask that you dedi- serve. We welcome your contributions, and we are stron- When you put on an Army or Air Force uniform, you be- cate yourself to your duty and live the Army values. A ger because of you. “For more than two centuries, we have worked to extend America’s promise to ALL OUR CITIZENS. Our Armed Forces have been both a mirror and a catalyst of that progress, and our troops, including gays and lesbians, have given their lives to defend the freedoms and liberties that we cherish as Americans.” — President Barack Obama 2 Grizzly TAble of CoNTeNTs The official Newsmagazine of Home defense the California National Guard 4 The 146th Airlift Wing was called upon early this wildfire season to protect its own community Up to May Absolute proficiency the The 670th MP Company trained for deployment with Task Force Warrior, which will only accept top performance task Vol. 8 No. 4 Explosive situation 2013 5 The CNG Homeland Response Force tested its readiness for a radioactive terrorist attack in May 5 Publisher Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin Mission complete The 3-140th Aviation Battalion flew 1,940 hours in support of The Adjutant General 6 peacekeeping operations in Kosovo Director of Public Affairs Lt. Col. Thomas Keegan Down but not out Aviators preparing for an upcoming Afghanistan tour Editor learned skills for dealing with a downed aircraft Brandon Honig ‘That Others May Live’ 7 The 129th Rescue Wing has lived up to its motto — 1,000 times Family business Hire education Submissions 8 Three generations of the Sandman family have commanded 15 Panther Racing reaches out to employers before every Indy- a California Army National Guard infantry battalion Car event to teach the benefits of hiring Guard workers Articles: Articles range from 350 to 2,000 words. Parental guidance New man in charge All articles should be accompanied by Lt. Col. Kevin Bender models his service after that of his fa- Col. John N. Haramalis succeeded Col. Barbara A. Nuismer multiple high-resolution images. ther, who died heroically in Vietnam in 1969 as Camp Roberts commander Include first names, last names and mili- Special qualification Digital battlefield tary ranks. Always verify spelling. 9 The Cal Guard’s Special Forces unit invited members of all 16 The 40th Infantry Division Plans Cell “pucksters” fought a Spell out acronyms, abbreviations and military branches to prove they have what it takes virtual war at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton full unit designations on first reference. To be the best A new generation of leaders Only submit articles that have been Army National Guard Cpl. Jake Bridger is 100 percent driv- Junior noncommissioned officers learned to be effective lead- approved by your unit’s public affairs en to earn a Special Forces tab ers and maintain Army standards officer. Pointing youths toward success Driver’s ed 12 The public Oakland Military Institute gives students the 17 California State Military Reserve (CSMR) and Army Nation- Photographs: skills they need for college al Guard personnel shared skills during a May training event Highest resolution possible: MB files, not KB. A good run On the lookout Oakland Military Institute cadets took part in the Oakland CSMR Soldiers’ vigilance in all situations benefitted a wom- No retouched photos, no special effects. Running Festival and volunteered to set up for the event an experiencing hypothermia at a mud run Include the photographer’s name and rank, and a caption: what is happening in Technological magic Secure location the photo, who is pictured and the date 13 The CNG’s second STARBASE facility aims to create magical 18 The 95th CST ensured Big Sur marathoners could race safely and location. learning moments for 5th graders following the Boston Marathon terrorist attack Treatment decision 11 years and running E-mail submissions and feedback to: Grizzly Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadets participated in a The 163rd Reconnaissance Wing Marathon Team is a fixture [email protected] county Public Health Department exercise at Los Angeles’ biggest footrace Realistic challenge Volunteer movement The 163rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron simulated a total Sixty Grizzly Youth ChalleNGe Academy cadets supported Cover Shot deployment experience during its February training the San Luis Obispo Marathon and Half Marathon In every Leadership At a News & Do You Issue 2 Corner 10 Glance 19 Benefits 19 Know? California National Guard mobilizations as of May 2013 Continental U.S. Air Asia Cover design by 279 Europe Master Sgt. Paul Wade Army 547 Afghanistan The California National Guard’s 129th Bahrain Rescue Wing, based at Moffett Federal Kosovo Kuwait Afghanistan Germany Horn of Africa Airfield in the Silicon Valley, has rescued 36 102 283 Kuwait 1,000 service members and civilians Kyrgyzstan — President Barack Obama from battlefields, mountaintops, vessels Africa Egypt Other Oman at sea and other dangerous situations 3 24 Qatar since the Wing took on its rescue United Arab Emirates mission in 1975. Air Army 242 3 Grizzly | 2013 | May 146th AW fights fires close to home Airlift Wing drops retardant on its own neighborhood in first assignment of wildfire season By MAJ. KIM HOLMAN The Port Hueneme, Calif.-based 146th dition to requesting that two C-130J aircraft have been about a 30-minute flight away.” 146th Airlift Wing Public Affairs Airlift Wing, which flies C-130J aircraft take to the skies, Maj. Gen. David S. Bald- Kelly is a Camarillo native and C-130J pilot equipped with the Modular Airborne Fire- win, the adjutant general of the California whose home was within a few miles of the When hot, dry, gusty winds from the fighting Systems II (MAFFS), is called upon National Guard, authorized air tanker base Camarillo Springs Fire. east, known as Santa Ana winds, carried each year to fight fires across the United operations to be staged out of the 146th’s the sparks and embers of the Camarillo States. Last year the 146th and the Air home, Channel Islands Air National Guard “This was definitely a different kind of fire Springs wildfire dangerously close to Force’s three other MAFFS units dropped Station in Port Hueneme. This enabled for me,” said Master Sgt. Amy Zuniga of homes and neighborhoods in early May, more than 2 million gallons of fire retar- shorter response times for the civilian and the 146th. While Zuniga was working with the California National Guard members dant on wildfires in eight different states. military aircraft working the fires, which CalFire to set up tanker base operations at who responded alongside California De- were less than 5 miles from the base.