0 o Guardmembers deploy to defend nation at home, overseas Jack Hanrahan I Ene Times-News Out to pasture Ohio Guard pilots CW4 Don Baker (left) and CW2 Benjamin Emch climb aboard an AH-1 'Cobra' attack helicopter. The airframe was retired from Army service in September. For more, see pages 10-11. Contents Winter 2001/2002 FEATURES 12 Ready for Urban Warfare Before deploying to defend the homeland, military police soldiers receive some timely training. 14 Blasting the big guns Tankers from 1-147th Armor conduct live fire on wide open ranges of Camp Ripley, Minn. 18 Battle in the Desert Ohio Guard infantrymen help active duty train at Army's premier training grounds. SSgt Jay Brown (left) and MSgt Jack Blevins of the 179th Airlift Wing Civil Engineering Squadron install a door during the unit's deployment to Canada. See pages 22-23. DEPARTMENTS 2 Command focus Maj Gen Smith says Ohio Guard has answered the nation's call well. 3 Feedback from the field 4 National news 6 Citizen spotlight Army Guardmember's need for speed leads to auto racing pastime. SPC Shawn Bender I 512th Engineer Battalion 28 Buckeye briefs Ohio Army Guard engineers supporting Task Force Grizzly in 30 All about people California work to repair a fence line along the U.S.-Mexico 32 Guardmember benefits border. See pages 20-21. Deadlines are: AB OUT THE COVERS Spring, January 15 FRONT: PFC Mark Kish of Charlie BACK: The 178th Fighter Wing's Aprll 15 Summer, Company, 1-148th Infantry, hugs Maj Nate Thomas (left) gets help Fall, July 15 his wife, Regina, at the unit's send­ with the MiG-29 jet ejection seat Winter, October 15 off ceremony before deploying in trainer from a Hungarian air force October to Fort Knox, Ky. Photo by counterpart. Photo by TSgt M. Tom Dodge, Columbus Dispatch Randy Dunham, 179th Airlift Wing Command focus We have answered the call to serve week operations. The l 80th Fighter Wing was one of the first units to respond with F-16 aircraft in defense of America's skies, ssues that seemed so import­ launching within minutes of receiving the call from command Iant to us mere months ago authority as the horrible events of Sept. 11 began to unfold. have been pushed to the bottom Enduring Free.dom, the worldwide response to the terrorist of the list and the back of the attacks, has also touched other units. Members of the 251 st room as National Guard Combat Communications Group are serving a one-year tour in an soldiers and airmen answer the important planning element of European Command's Air call in the aftermath of events Operations Center, while a contingent from the 220th Engineer­ of Sept. 11. ing Installation Squadron has deployed to a classified location. Although some reputable Aviation, maintenance and support elements of the 121 st Air scholars and security experts Refueling Wing recently deployed for a one-year commitment in had sounded warnings about support of Central Command mission requirements in Turkey. possible catastrophes of major The !21st Civil Engineering Squadron has deployed to a classi­ proportion, few, if any of us, fied overseas location as well. could conceive that terrorists The national leadership is working diligently to sort out the BY MAJ GEN JOHN H. SMITH would attack the Pentagon and issues we confront in this war on terrorism. We know it will be a THE ADJUTANT GENERAL take down the World Trade protracted struggle. The Homeland Security concept will involve Center. In the early aftermath of all of the nation's agencies and resources. Homeland Defense, the these evil acts, there was much fear and anger. There is still fear Defense Department's key piece of the pie, will address the and anger, but as a people and nation of great faith, we are response to actual attacks on our country, our institutions and our determined not to live in fear and anger. Instead, we are citizens. resolved that our freedoms, our values, our people and our The National Guard, by virtue of its unique dual role, will communities will be protected and that our form of democracy continue to be called upon to play a prominent role in the will prevail. assignment of Homeland Defense missions. Some of those roles For many decades America's national interests existed in will be new to those of us in the Guard and, in some cases, even other lands, other seas and other skies. Today, however, our new to us as a nation. national interests exist here at home as well. President Bush has Just a special word to our deployed forces and their families: called on the American people; he has called on a host of other The senior leadership is concerned for your personal well-being nations and peoples; and he has during your term of service. We will do our called on the National Guard to President Bush... has called best to visit with you at your location, to ensure that our freedoms and ask you to share with us the issues that way of life remain secure for on the National Guard to concern you and to help get answers to generations to come. those concerns. Your commanders are Throughout Ohio, soldiers and ensure that our freedoms and pledged to do the same. If you need help, airmen of the Ohio National please ask! For family members: I believe Guard have answered the call. way of life remain secure for we have an excellent Family Readiness For the first time in nearly 50 team in place to assist as families sacrifice years, soldiers of the 1-148th generations to come. right along side your soldier or airman. Infantry Battalion have been Families may contact the Family Readiness mobilized, for up to one year in Office by phone at (800) 589-9914 or via response to Operation Noble Eagle. They are providing security the Internet at www.ohionationalguard.com, by clicking the at critical military/industrial/government installations across the Family Readiness tab at the bottom of the home page. Midwest. Army military police and Air security police from all Needless to say, the Ohio National Guard's response has been our respective companies and squadrons also have been immediate and most significant. For all of you that have an­ mobilized for Noble Eagle. Ohio Air Guard security forces swered the call, know that your nation and community are squadrons have been called upon to provide protection of air grateful. I fully understand the sacrifice that many of you are assets both at home station and at deployed locations within the making to perform this service. My heart goes out to the families United States and overseas. Many of Ohio's mobilized MPs are who are required to make sacrifices as well. working with their active-duty counterparts at Fort Bragg, N.C. I would like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our More of our MPs are providing security in Ohio's six major commanders and staff personnel who worked long and hard to airports as part of the president's request; all are serving long ensure those soldiers, airmen and families were provided immedi­ hours. The call for security forces has been enormous, and we ate and important support during the mobilization period. have turned to other units to help augment the requirement. Our Requirements that no one expected were thrust upon us as we Army scouts responded immediately. closed out the fiscal year. I would say that what has pleased me Air crews and aircraft maintenance folks from the 121 st Air most is the tremendous cooperation and teamwork that, to me, is Refueling Wing have been conducting 24-hour, seven-day-a- the trademark of this great Ohio National Guard.• 21BUCKEYE GUARD WINTER 2 00 1/ 2002 Feedback from the field Citizens can send mail to still enjoy getting mailfrom patriotic, con­ lated by strict enfo rcement of policies cerned citizens. Mail will be accepted and procedures. deployed guardmembers throughout the duration of the For 15 years, Faye Logan has dedi­ As a service project, the families in our guardmembers' deployment, although no cated her life to serving the people that religious education program at St. return date has been announced as ofthis volunteer to protect this great country Barnabas Church in Northfield, Ohio, printing. Original orders said Ohio Guard­ before attending this institution. She is have written postcards to the men and members could be deployed for up to one respected by the school administration women in the Ohio National year, through this fall. and community leaders. Veterans who Guard, offering our thoughts attend this institution and counselors of and prayers for those who Homecoming surrounding high schools know that are involved in Operation Faye Logan will provide them with ex­ Noble Eagle. Our local pa­ photo perfect gift pert guidance and solid information in per, The News Leader, ran I am the girl on the front the arena of military education benefits. an article that stated the inside cover of the Winter As a recruiter in the Ohio Army Na­ postcards would be accepted 2000/200 l Buckeye tional Guard, I am required to develop at the following address: Guard ("The GulfWar , 10 Centers of Influence (COis) to assist years later, " p. 20-22). in recruiting efforts. Faye Logan is my Operation Noble Eagle That picture is of my most important community represen­ 37th Armor Brigade mother, Master Sgt. Ava tative. She provides recently dis­ 4094 Sullivant Ave. Green of the 12 1st Air charged veterans with educational in­ Columbus, Ohio 43228 Refueling Wing, and I formation about the Army National when she came back from Guard that can double their current en­ Before we address the Desert Storm.