AlumniAlumni specialspecial editionedition Alumni special edition Official Publication of the Iowa National Guard 1 Warrior Ready 2015 Contents Wellness Camp produces stronger, healthier Soldiers.................................4 Air National Guard holds State Command Chief CoR...............................6 Ensuring battlefi ed Soldiers remain Warrior Ready.................................. UAV training provides invaluable air assets.............................................10 The care and feeding of 2,000 Iowans at AT..............................................11 The year in pictures.....................................................................................12 132nd welcomes Governor Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds.........................14 185th hosts media day................................................................................15 Eldon youth recognized for life-long military support.............................16 Summary of state legislation......................................................................23 Iowa Army National Guard retirees............................................................25 Iowa Air National Guard retirees................................................................26 2 Th e Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Tim Orr Public Aff airs Offi cer Col. Greg Hapgood Editor/Designer Master Sgt. Duff E. McFadden State Photographer Staff Sgt. Chad Nelson Command Historian Tech. Sgt. Michael McGhee Warrior Ready 2015 Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), all Americans including all military members (active duty, retired, Selected Reserve, or Retired Reserve) and their family members must have health care coverage that meets a minimum standard called minimum essential coverage, or pay a fee. Your TRICARE coverage meets the minimum essential coverage requirement under the ACA. "The term 'active duty' means full-time duty in the active service of a uniformed service for more than 30 consecutive days." Beginning in January 2016, the Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) will proide IRS Form 1095-C to all U.S. military members and IRS Form 1095-B to all Retirees, Annuitants, former spouses and all other indiviuals having TRICARE coverage during all or any portion of tax year 2015. An IRS Form 1095 documents you (and your family members, if ap- plicable) have the minimum essential coverage. More information will be forthcoming about the delivery method of these forms. These forms will document the information that DFAS will provide to the IRS on yourself and your authorized family members. The forms will be required to be reported with your 2015 federal tax return. DFAS will pro- vide you with IRS Form 1095 series forms no later than Jan. 31, 2016. You can fi nd more informaton about the impact of the Affordable Care Act on your federal income tax at: http://www.irs.gov/Affordable-Care-Act . 3 Warrior Ready 2015 Wellness Camp produces stron by Master Sgt. or not meeting height/weight healthy choices and lifestyles and Duff E. McFadden standards. By failing to act, the working out. Overall, it’s all about Iowa National Guard could lose these Soldiers becoming more or Spc. Jerrod Luetje, of Og- nearly nine percent of its force to health-conscious persons, as op- den, Iowa, his life-changing circumstances its leadership could posed to just being able to pass a F epiphany came within fi ve actually impact. PT test, or maintain their height to six weeks after taking part in Th is disturbing forecast sounded and weight standards,” Waters said. a relatively new Iowa National a loud and clear call for Iowa Th is four-day program specifi cally Guard program. National Guard offi cials, and it targets Iowa National Guard wasn’t long before Camp Dodge’s “I was able to pass my Physical Soldiers with less than six years of innovative Wellness Camp was Fitness test in April for the fi rst service, who’ve failed their previous born. time since I had knee surgery in late 2012. Since I passed APFT, I “All across our nation, as well as 4 was able to reenlist and stay on as the National Guard, we have a lot “I never knew a full-time technician,” said Luetje. of health issues,” said Master Sgt. “I could actually see the changes in Gary Waters, the Iowa National to substitute foods th my body,” he added. “My gut was Guard’s State Retention Non- shrinking and my upper body was Commissioned Offi cer. and taste developing muscles I never knew “Within the Iowa National Guard It’s also very easy I had. Overall, my body just felt alone, we have Soldiers who can’t better.” pass their PT test, so they’re not you cook things Warrior According to Iowa National eligible to extend, which drops the numbers of our overall strength, all the di Ready Guard projections, more than 600 Soldiers could conceiv- so our readiness is just a little bit in nutrition 2015 ably be separating over the next lower. several years, either from failing “So, we’re now off ering special- - the Army’s Physical Fitness Test, ized classes addressing nutrition, nger, smarter, healthier Soldiers PT Test and/or are fl agged for the grocery store, to making the I wasn’t sure what to expect. I height/weight failure. It’s custom- right decisions when cooking or thought it was going to be very tailored for those Soldiers who dining out. In addition, Soldiers PT-focused, but there was a lot of wish to continue their military receive invaluable instruction on nutrition focus as well,” Merrifi eld career and are dedicated to a wide variety of exercise options, said. improving their overall health and to include resilience training, “I never knew it was so easy to wellness. swimming, and proper physical substitute foods that are good for fi tness techniques. Th e curriculum provides Soldiers you and taste good too. It’s also everything they need to know While each Soldier departs the very easy to change the way you about nutrition basics, ranging camp with all the necessary tools cook things that can make all the from portion sizes, to shopping at to meet APFT and height/weight diff erence in nutritional value. requirements, more importantly, Now, Merrifi eld said, her family’s it’s up to each Soldier to translate eating habits have changed for the those lessons into signifi cant 5 it was so easy better. lifestyle changes, enabling them to hat are good for you make better wellness choices the “We’re cooking at home more rest of their life. and when we do go out, we order good too. things that are better for us,” she Pfc. Scarlett Merrifi eld, of Des said. “We also get out and do Moines, volunteered to attend the to change the way something every day, even if it’s Wellness Camp after her husband just a walk around the neighbor- participated in the August 2013 s that can make hood.” camp. She thought if she went ifference through the course, it would be Warrior easier for both of them to make Ready nal value." any necessary health alterations. Wellness Camp 2015 Pfc. Scarlett Merrifi eld “I went into it very open-minded. continued on page 18 Th e program was really new and ommand Chief Master Sgt. Tim Cochran assumed duties as the sixth State Command 132nd Air Wing CChief of the Iowa Air National Guard during a Change of Responsibility ceremony held July 12 at the Joint Forces Headquarters in Johnston, Iowa. Command Chief Brig. Gen. Jennifer Walter, Chief of Staff , Iowa Air National Guard, presided over the ceremony, which 6 saw the outgoing State Command Chief Master Sgt. Lowell (Ed) Schellhase Jr., transfer his responsibilities Tim Cocharan to Cochran. Schellhase retires following 43 years of military service. assumes duties “I’m very excited for the opportunity to represent all Airmen within the entire state,” said Cochran. “We have a state full of awesome Airmen and I look forward to celebrating their successes. I also look as Iowa forward to the collaboration and synergy gained for our servicemen and women with Command Sgt. Maj. Warrior Rachel Fails and the Solders of Iowa.” Ready Air National Guard A 33-year Air National; Guard veteran, Cochran has 2015 already hit the ground running. Command Chief “My fi rst goal is to meet all the Airmen in the state and start building relationships. We need to ensure our Airmen are receiving eff ective performance feedback and focus them on personal initiative and discipline for success,” Cochran said. “We also need to guide them to proactively acquire development training and professional education, plus ensure they've identifi ed mentors to help them plan for success and achievement of their career goals,” he added. Cochran, a Martensdale, Iowa native, began his military career with the Iowa Air National Guard in November 1981 when he enlisted into Des Moines’ 132nd Fighter Wing. He completed basic training and technical training in 1982 at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, and Chanute Air Force Base, Ill., where he was Honor Graduate at both schools. Brig. Gen. Jennifer Walter reads Chief Master Sgt. Timothy Cochran the Command oath, with his wife He returned to the 132nd Fighter Wing, where Teresa at his side, as he assumes responsibility he served in various full-time positions within the as the Command Chief Master Sgt. of the Iowa Air Maintenance Group to include jet engine mechanic, National Guard. (Iowa National Guard photo by intermediate maintenance supervisor, fuel systems Tech. Sgt. Linda K. Burger) supervisor, fabrication element supervisor, accessories element supervisor, maintenance operations superin- tendent, quality assurance superintendent. In August 2012, he became the 132nd Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant. Schellhase enlisted in the Air Force as a high school senior on Dec. 18, 1972, and after graduating from Cedar Falls’ Northern University High School in 1973, he attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. In July 1973, Airman Schellhase attended basic electronics and advanced radio maintenance training at Keesler Air Force Base, Biloxi, Miss., where he graduated with honors. In March 1977, Schellhase separated from the active duty and began work at the Iowa Department of Public Safety Communications Division as a radio Maj.