FREE RECYCLED an edition of the Recycled material is used in the making of our ALASKA POST newsprint The Interior Military News Connection Vol. 8, No. 37 Fort Wainwright, Alaska September 15, 2017 Alaska, California rescue squadrons unite to save lives in Southeast Texas Staff Sgt. Balinda O’Neal Dresel 249th Airlift Squadron bound for Alaska National Guard Public Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif., Affairs to pick up two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and aircrews from the Air National Guardsmen from 129th Rescue Squadron. They Alaska’s Chugach Mountains and the arrived in Fort Hood in the early- heart of California’s Silicon Valley morning hours of Aug. 29 and spent last week in the flooded cities of began moving equipment to a Southeast Texas, with one mission— staging area on Gray Army Airfield to save lives. where they were later paired Aircrews, combat rescue officers, with search and rescue personnel pararescuemen and support personnel from California’s 131st Rescue from the Alaska Air National Guard’s Squadron. 176th Wing and members of the “One of the greatest aspects California Air National Guard’s of working with other pararescue 129th Rescue Wing joined more than teams is that we can come together 18,000 National Guard personnel under a common thread and who responded to the call to assist train and work as a joint force,” with Hurricane Harvey humanitarian explained Senior Master Sgt. disaster relief operations. The Airmen Brandon Stuemke, a pararescueman left home Aug. 28 to help their with the 212th Rescue Squadron. neighbors in Texas still needing relief “It allowed for us to seamlessly Air National Guard search and rescue personnel from Alaska and California conduct water and evacuation. combine forces under one common rescue operations in Vidor, Texas, Aug. 31, 2017, in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. The The Alaska Guardsmen departed goal; to save and assist those in Guardsmen from the Alaska’s 212th Rescue Squadron and California’s 131st Rescue Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson need.” Squadron push a vehicle trapped in flood waters to safety while patrolling the area, looking via a C-17 Globemaster III transport for people who are trapped in their homes or on rooftops because of the massive flooding. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Balinda O’Neal Dresel, Alaska National Guard Public Affairs) aircraft crewed by members of the See RESCUED on page 7 MEDDAC- 1st Attack Reconnaissance AK holds Battalion, Best Apache NCO Learning from tragedy, part 2: Induction Tracking suicide in the U.S. military Ceremony Larry Pruitt, Ph.D. DoD Suicide Event Report Program Brandy Ostanik, Medical Department Activity This three-part series describes the Department of – Alaska Public Affairs Defense Suicide Event Report (DoDSER) system that collects and analyzes data on U.S. military deaths by Medical Department suicide, as well as data on suicide attempts. The National Activity – Alaska paid tribute Center for Telehealth & Technology (T2) compiles these to what is commonly referred data into an annual report for military leadership that is to as “the backbone of the available to the public. Army” Nov. 21, by hosting a The first in the series described how the DoDSER Non-Commissioned Officer Spc. Sara Laster (right), a crew chief for Alpha Company “Little Bears”, system was established; this article describes the type of induction ceremony at Bassett 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, data collected about military suicides and suicide attempts. Army Community Hospital receives the battalion coin from Lt. Col. Matthew Landrum (left), The Department of Defense Suicide Event Report The group of eight Soldiers commander of the 1-25th ARB, in recognition of Laster’s Apache (DoDSER) system collects data on military deaths by from MEDDAC-AK walked “Medusa” being selected as the winner of the battalion’s Best Apache suicide, as well as any suicide attempt that results in through a saber arch to mark Competition. The competition was held between the 1-25th ARB’s hospitalization or evacuation from a theater of operations, the ceremonial crossing into flight companies to select the aircraft that will serve as the model regardless of service or component. This article explains the NCO Corps where they for a commemorative battalion lithograph this fall. “Medusa” was elected by the battalion commander and command sergeant major the data-collection process, which collects over 500 pieces were congratulated by the official party consisting of due to the impeccable maintenance record, overall appearance of information about a service members including: and initiative shown by the airframe’s crew chief. (Photo by 1st Lt. • Demographic background Command Sgt. Maj. Uriah Popp, MEDDAC-AK command William A. Rowland, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment) See TRACKING on page 3 See SERGEANTS on page 2 Away game: Bobcats rapidly deploy to train at JBER Sgt. Rodney David Bedard Omelau, squad Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs leader of 3rd Squad, 2nd Platoon, Few things are more disruptive to a Soldier’s life Charlie Company, than an emergency deployment readiness exercise. 1st Battalion, 5th Inevitably, the call comes at oh-dark-thirty: “Grab Infantry Regiment, reports to platoon your rucksack. It’s time to go. Destination unknown.” headquarters For Soldiers of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, during the blank-fire 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats,” 1st Stryker Brigade phase of a live-fire Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, their destination exercise at the Joint by way of two C-17 Globemaster III cargo aircraft was Base Elmendorf- Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Richardson digital The Fort Wainwright unit’s Sept. 8, 2017, objective multi-purpose was to deploy to JBER’s digital multi-purpose training training range Sept. range and carry out squad-level live-fire exercises with 8. Reporting is a Stryker vehicle in support. critical to effective Capt. Brian Slamkowski, C/1-5 Infantry commander, command and said he feels there is great benefit in training his unit control of maneuver at a well-supported facility in a place unfamiliar to his operations. infantrymen. (Photo by David “The biggest accomplishment of an EDRE where we Bedard, Joint come down to JBER is our Soldiers get to see a whole Base Elmendorf- new look and face a whole new enemy on a piece of Richardson Public Affairs) See BOBCATS on page 7 WEEKEND WEATHER REAL ID ACCESS REQUIREMENTS BEGIN OCT. 10 Friday thru Sunday Acceptable forms of identification for visitor access to Fort Wainwright to include Real ID Act Compliant driver’s licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Mostly cloudy with scattered rain Vehicles: U.S. passport, U.S. passport card, U.S. military ID (active duty or retired military showers. and their dependents, and DoD civilians), U.S. Permanent resident card, U.S. Border crossing Highs in the mid 50s to lower 60s. card, DHS-designated enhanced driver’s license, Federally issued PIV or Common Access Lows in the lower 40s Card (issued by other Federal Agency), Foreign government-issued passport, Transportation worker identification credential, or U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential. 2 NEWS September 15, 2017 SERGEANTS Continued from page 1 sergeant major; Master Sgt. Gabriel Wright, senior health care non-commissioned officer, U.S. Army Alaska Surgeon Office, and 1st Sgt. Veronica Phillips with MEDDAC-AK. Inductees included, Sgt. Avery Fleming, Sgt. Seth Harder, Sgt. Anthony Lovan, Sgt. Ornella Lynch, Sgt. Ashley Mason, Sgt. Jose Ramirezray, Sgt. William Strickland and Sgt. Daniel Wachira. During remarks to the inductees, guest speaker Master Sgt. Gabriel Wright urged inductees to pay particular attention to the three ‘ships’ that create a strong leader. “There are three ships that form the triangle of leadership; sponsorship, mentorship and ownership,” said Wright. “As a sergeant, you are responsible for sponsoring new Soldiers into your unit,” said Wright. “As a sponsor you have the ability to shape the face of the unit and leave a good impression for new Soldiers. You may be the one person that determines if a Soldier decides to stay in the Army or leave after their time served.” Inductees recite the Creed of the Noncommissioned Officer during the Medical Department Activity- Alaska NCO Wright continued by explaining to inductees that Induction Ceremony Sep. 8, at Bassett Army Community Hospital.(Photo by Brandy Ostanik, Medical Department mentorship does not consist of a monthly counseling Activity – Alaska Public Affairs) session, but instead is an everyday endeavor. “By being a part of your Soldier’s everyday lives, Soldiers ownership of the work they do, and for the Wright concluded with one last piece of advice for you are building trust, channels of communication, NCO to own it when they fail. the inductees. forming bonds and making them feel like a member “What I am telling you is, empower your Soldiers. “Emulate the leader you want to be and your of the team,” explained Wright. “Through your Assign them tasks and let them run with it,” said Soldiers will emulate that behavior,” said Wright. mentorship and knowing the strengths and weaknesses Wright. “We have smart Soldiers, we have innovative “Give them something to strive for, be the leader they of every Soldier you lead, you will be able to ensure Soldiers, let them impress you; but when they fail, own want to become and train yourself out of a job.” the unit has the right people for the right job.” it.” Wright went on to encourage inductees to give their Nutrition Corner: Myth Busters The more milk, the better for my need the extra fat in their diet. of calcium include sardines, canned 2) (1) 8 ounce can of crushed child’s health - MYTH. Children ages two to three years of salmon, calcium-fortified tofu, turnip pineapple packed in 100 percent fruit age need about two to two-and-a-half greens, collards, kale, dried beans, juice More is not necessarily better when it cups of dairy or dairy equivalent per day.