A mosaic of service Arkansas National Guard Look closely at the cover of Fiscal Year 2011 this Annual Report and you Annual Report will begin to see a pattern of courage, support, skill and Maj. Gen. William D. Wofford leadership that has been an The Adjutant General of Arkansas important part of the very fabric of the great state of Maj. Chris Heathscott Arkansas since 1804. The State Public Affairs Officer Arkansas National Guard con- tinues to weave a proud legacy Lt. Col. Keith Moore of service to the community, Air Guard Public Affairs Officer state and nation today. Sgt. 1st Class Chris A. Durney Public Affairs Specialist 4 Ten Years Later Ms. Adrienne Brietzke Public Affairs Specialist 8 Commanding the Force Ms. Donna Shelton 10 Your Arkansas National Guard Public Information Specialist 12 Arkansas Army Strong Maj. Richard Garringer Commander, 119th MPAD 14 Arkansas Air Power Capt. Heath Allen 16 Training the Nation’s Force Public Affairs Officer, 188th Fighter Wing 18 Supporting the Force 1st Lt. Chris Nelson Public Affairs Officer, 189th Airlift Wing 22 Supporting the State The Arkansas National Guard Annual Report is an 25 Supporting the Nation official publication of the Arkansas Military Department, Arkansas National Guard, and is published under the 28 Top stories of FY 2011 provisions of AR 360-1, AFI 35-101 and the Arkansas Military Department. It is available free of charge and 31 Adding Value is distributed as per the Adjutant General’s instructions. This publication is designed, laid out and edited by the Military Construction Arkansas National Guard Public Affairs Office: (501) Financial Picture 212-5020. Views expressed herein are not necessarily County-by-County those of any state or federal government agency. www. Pay it Forward arguard.org. Page 2 Arkansas National Guard It is a privilege to present the Arkansas National Guard’s annual report for fiscal 2011. The year presented some extremely significant challenges for our force, but as always our Soldiers,Airmen and civilian employees were up to the task. Our commitment to serve the communities of Arkansas was demonstrated early in the year as we took on numerous winter weather missions. Nearly 200 of our troops were again called out in late April when tornadoes devastated communities in Faulkner, Garland and Carroll Counties. Before the dust had settled, the rising wa- ters of the Mississippi River engulfed a large number of communities throughout east Arkansas. For roughly two weeks, we supported the fight against those floodwaters with over 600 Guardsmen lending a hand. But what’s even more significant is that the vast majority of our Soldiers supporting the effort were actu- ally from the other side of the state. Our troops from the 142nd Fires Brigade proudly answered the call as our troops from the affected communities were out of state preparing for deployment overseas. The flooding hit as roughly 2,000 Soldiers from the 39th were heading to Fort Irwin, Calif., to participate in a National Training Center rotation, in preparation for a 2012 deployment to Afghanistan. As if that wasn’t enough, during that same timeframe our troops also participated in a National Level Exercise to help prepare for a potential catastrophic earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. With all those irons in the fire, and with roughly 350 Soldiers and Airmen serving our nation overseas, we never failed to meet a single mission. And I’ve only touched on the big rocks. There were countless other ac- complishments throughout the year that are better told throughout the pages of this report. Over this fiscal year we took time to remember the 20th anniversary of theArkansas Guards’ return from Operation Desert Storm, as well as the 10th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 which brought us back to the desert by way of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom. Those events in our history are the pri- mary reason we have grown to be so strong over the years with such a professional force of experienced personnel. But I would be remiss if didn’t mention the others who are just as responsible for the Arkansas Nation- al Guard’s growth into such a fine organization. Our men and women are only able to perform so suc- cessfully at this level due to the tremendous support we enjoy from our Families, friends, employers, legislators and entire communities throughout the state. That support is greatly appreciated and we are more than happy to return the favor. With this we proudly close another successful chapter of our history and we pledge our continued support for years to come. 2011 Annual Report Page 3 Ten years ago our country experienced a terrorist But Sept. 11, 2001 changed all of that. While our attack that rocked us as a nation, yet brought us to- nation’s military began fighting a war on two fronts, gether as brothers and sisters. From the very lows of the Guard’s role quickly changed from a strategic re- that terrible day rose the very best of who we are as serve to an operational force. Americans – unified against an uncommon enemy. Because of that day, the role of the Arkansas Na- And yet, this was not just an attack on Americans; it tional Guard has grown and, just like every other happened on American soil, but citizens of 90 differ- state, we have supported overseas operations – hav- ent countries were among the nearly 3,000 victims. ing deployed nearly 13,000 troops since 9/11. In fis- cal year 2011, we had more than 400 overseas, and That one day completely changed our definition and another roughly 3,000 preparing for deployment in understanding of the term hero. We can never forget 2012. the brave firemen and police officers who risked, and in many cases lost, their own lives at ground zero. All the while, our missions here at home grew. In Nor can we forget the passengers on Flight 93 who the past three years alone, we have answered the call fought to retake the plane before it was flown into the to support civil authorities with more than 250 state terrorists’ intended target. active duty missions – primarily due to natural disas- ters such as tornadoes, flooding and winter weather. That terrible day changed us as a nation, and, in many ways, how we view our Citizen Soldiers. Throughout the years since 9/11, we have proven ourselves as an operational force, with highly trained Before there even was a United States of America, and experienced troops. Much of our equipment has the National Guard was born in the form of state mi- been modernized, and many of our facilities are new, litias. Able-bodied men would lay down their plows efficient and environmentally friendly. And what and pick up their fire arms when it was necessary we’ve learned over the last ten years has made the to defend their Guard a true value to both the state and the nation burgeoning free- we serve. doms. Designed primarily as a There is no doubt that today’s National Guard strategic reserve, Soldier and Airman, along with their Families and the Guard has employers, are among the truest of patriots. We served in every stand shoulder to shoulder with our active compo- conflict in which nent counterparts, supporting our communities while the country has working hard to keep America safe from another day been involved. like 9/11. Arkansas stood up its own militia It is crucial that we remember that day, crucial that in 1804 to defend we maintain our strength, and crucial that we re- the communities member those lives lost – not only on 9/11, but in our in the state as nec- efforts to secure freedom and liberty for generations essary. to come. Page 4 Arkansas National Guard 9/3/02 - 1st official Noble Eagle missions begin for Arkansas 2/4/04 - ARNG Bosnia mobilization 9/25/01 - 1st mobilization of Arkansas Troops (ANG) 3/20/03 -OIF officially begins 5/1/03 - End of major combat ops declared 9/15/01 - ONE begins JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 9/11/01 2002 2003 2004 terrorist JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC attack 1/2/03 - 1st ARNG OEF mobilization 9/11/01 - Combat Air Patrols Launch 10/8/01 - ARNG troops head to Sinai 2/10/03 - 1st ARNG OIF mobilization 10/12/03 - 39th mobilizes for OIF 10/7/01 - OEF begins 10/12/03 - 1st ARNG Kosovo mobilization The Arkansas National Guard responded quickly and decisively in the hours and days following the terror- ist attack on Sept. 11, 2001. All Guard facilities in the state immediately moved to Force Protection Condition Delta, and access to Camp Robinson and Fort Chaffee was severely restricted. Multiple missions were tasked down to Arkansas Army and Air National Guard units to secure state and national facilities. Response missions included the first launch of aircraft from the 188th Fighter Wing with live ammunition to secure and defend the nation’s skies. In the days and months fol- Operation Noble Eagle lowing the attack, the Ar- kansas Guard performed a 188th Combat Air Sept. 01 - Nationwide to include myriad of security missions Fighter Wing Patrols Jul. 02 Presidential Security across the state: 189th Airlift Security Oct. 01 for Security Forces at Shep- Wing up to two herd Air Force Base, Airport Security years Texas Little Rock National 223rd Com- Commu- Jan 02 for Tyndall Air Force Base, bat Com.