Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points Military Services Mobilizations 1. According to the department, the New Jersey National Guard has mobilized 16,000 troops since September 11, 2001. Many of these soldiers have been deployed multiple times. Specifically, in September 2008, approximately half of the New Jersey National Guard was deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. This was the largest single deployment of the New Jersey National Guard since World War II, comprising 2,875 soldiers of the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat team, a Military Police Company, and Water Purification and Chemical Units. • Question: Please provide an overview of the role the New Jersey National Army Guard and the New Jersey National Air Guard has played in supporting the war efforts since September 11, 2001 and the accomplishments of the units deployed. Please provide a chart showing the operations, the missions, the number deployed, and the number of New Jersey National Guard Army and Airmen still deployed. What percentage of the force is currently available for mobilization? Since September 11, 2001, the New Jersey Air National Guard has deployed 8,623 Airmen while the New Jersey Army National Guard has activated and deployed 11,508 Soldiers in support of contingency operations around the globe. The Air National Guard has flown more than 9,000 sorties equaling more than 35,000 flight hours. 84.5% of Soldiers and Airmen are available for mobilization. Overview of New Jersey Air National Guard Efforts since September 11, 2001. 108th Wing: 2001 ‐ 2002 Operations: Noble Eagle (ONE)/Enduring Freedom (OEF) KC‐135 Aviation Squadrons to Oman 2001 ‐ 2003 Operations: Noble Eagle (ONE)/Enduring Freedom (OEF) Security Forces Squadron to Afghanistan, Cuba, etc. 2003 ‐ 2004 Operations: Noble Eagle (ONE)/Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Iraqi Freedom (OIF) KC‐135 Aviation Squadrons to Spain & Portugal 2007‐2008 Operation: Iraqi Freedom (OIF) Security Forces Squadron, 80+ Members 2009 ‐ ( May – Jun) Operation: Iraqi Freedom (OIF) ‐Aviation Rotation – 200+ Members2009‐2010 (Dec –Jun) Operation: Iraqi Freedom (OIF) ‐Civil Engineers – 66 Members 2011 ‐ ( Jan‐ Feb) Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) to Guam – 43 members 2011 – (Mar – Sep) Operation Odyssey Dawn and Unified Protector – 2 Crews 1 jet, mobilized within hours. 2014 ‐ Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) to Guam 2015 ‐ Mobilization to Qatar 1 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points (Cont’d) 177th Fighter Wing: 2001 ‐ Operation Noble Eagle (ONE): Mobilized 450 personnel for NORAD mission. 2001 ‐ Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): Expeditionary Combat Support personnel, various locations 2002 ‐ Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): 39 Security Forces personnel, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Greece, and Romania 2003 ‐ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) personnel mobilized. 2004 ‐ Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Iraqi Freedom (OIF)/Joint Forge: AEF rotation: Six aircraft and 400 personnel (including ECS) deploy to Al Udied, Qatar and ECS to various locations. 2006 ‐ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): Four aircraft, 239 personnel, Balad AB, Iraq 2006 ‐ Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) AEF Rotation: 29 personnel, various OCONUS locations 2006 ‐ 2007 Operation Jump Start (OJS): 80 personnel, various locations 2007 ‐Operation Noble Eagle (ONE)/Enduring Freedom (OEF)/Joint Guardian: 50+ personnel, various locations 2008 ‐ Expeditionary Combat Support (ECS) AEF Rotation: 42 personnel, various OCONUS locations 2010 ‐ Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) mobilization 2010 ‐ Security Forces Squadron (SFS) mobilization 2011 ‐ Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) – Bagram, Afghanistan 2014 ‐ Theater Security Package – Korea – 238 personnel Overview of New Jersey Army National Guard Efforts since September 11, 2001. 2000‐2001 ‐ Operation Bridges and Tunnels: Federally directed to support “key infrastructure between NJ/NY directly following the attacks on 9/11/01. New Jersey ARNG Supported NY/NJ Bridges and Tunnels = 2,000 Total Soldiers. 2002‐2003 ‐ TF Airport Security: Federally directed to support “key infrastructure within NJ directly following the attacks on 9/11/01. New Jersey ARNG Supported Newark, Atlantic City, Trenton/Mercer Airport Security forces = 50 Total Soldiers. 2002‐2007 ‐ Operation Power Plant Guardian: State directed to support “key infrastructure within NJ directly following the attacks on 9/11/01. New Jersey ARNG Supported Salem/Oyster Creek Power Plant = 1,400 Total Soldiers. 2003‐2009 ‐ Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF): Deployed units include the 42d Division Support Command, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 57th Troop Command, 254th Regiment, 42d Regional Support Group, Medical Command, and Joint Force Headquarters = 6,504 Total Soldiers. 2003‐Present ‐ Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF): Deployed units include the 42nd Division Support Command, 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 57th Troop Command, 254th Regiment, 42d Regional Support Group, Medical Command, Joint Training and Training Development Center, and Joint Force Headquarters = 1,709 Total Soldiers. 2004‐2005, 2015‐2016 ‐ TF Guantanamo Bay, Cuba: Deployed units include the 113th Infantry Battalion, HHC/50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 102nd Armor, and 444th Public Affairs Detachment, 328th Military Policy Company = 822 Total Soldiers. 2 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points (Cont’d) 2004‐2005 ‐ TF Sentinel Multi‐Forces Observer (MFO): Deployed units include 114th Infantry and 250th Brigade Support Battalion= 424 Total Soldiers 2014‐2015 – Kosovo Force (KFOR): Deployed units include the 50th Support Battalion, 250th Brigade Support Battalion, 150th Aviation, 350th Finance Detachment = 202 Total Soldiers. Recruitment and Retention 3 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points (Cont’d) 2. The New Jersey National Guard has five recruiting regions in New Jersey covering five geographical areas in the State. • Question: Please describe the recruitment and retention processes and the process for a recruit to become a soldier. For each of the past five years, what portion of annual recruits has come from each of the five recruiting regions? Are these results suggestive of a need to revise recruitment methods? New Jersey Army National Guard Recruiting. The New Jersey Army National Guard’s strength is currently at 102%. Army recruiting has five recruiting regions (breakdown provided below) in New Jersey. The process for becoming a recruit is as follows: 1. Applicant Pre‐qualification: Age, Prior Service, Physical, Law Violations, Education, Medical, Dependents, Tattoos (APPLE‐MDT). 2. Interview/Livescan (fingerprints). 3. Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB). 4. Physical. 5. Enlist. Recruiters work closely with unit commands to determine organizational needs and assist with retention efforts. Below is summary of each Army recruiting regions and related enlistments: Region 1 (Essex, Hudson, Region 2 (Morris, Sussex, Region 3 (Middlesex, Somerset, Bergen). Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic) Union) FY 2011: 355 FY 2011: 113 FY 2011: 170 FY 2012: 349 FY 2012: 108 FY 2012: 124 FY 2013: 346 FY 2013: 76 FY 2013: 150 FY 2014: 310 FY 2014: 60 FY 2014: 165 FY 2015: 266 FY 2015: 102 FY 2015: 147 Region 4 (Mercer, Monmouth, Region 5 (Ocean Atlantic, Cape Burlington, Camden, Gloucester) May, Cumberland, Salem) FY 2011: 177 FY 2011: 134 FY 2012: 132 FY 2012: 134 FY 2013: 106 FY 2013: 133 FY 2014: 142 FY 2014: 120 FY 2015: 163 FY 2015: 108 New Jersey Air National Guard Recruiting. 4 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points (Cont’d) The New Jersey Air National Guard’s strength is currently at 108%. Air recruiting does not regionalize its efforts. Each Wing recruits from the entire state to meet organizational needs. Both Wing recruiting teams, under the guidance and direction from the state Recruiting superintendent, recruit not only to fill their own wing vacancies but will routinely look to the other wing to place individuals as needed. As our current data suggests, there are no impeding changes to this arrangement. 108th Wing 177th Fighter Wing FY 2011: 84 FY 2011: 112 FY 2012: 121 FY 2012: 112 FY 2013: 126 FY 2013: 153 FY 2014: 134 FY 2014: 151 FY 2015: 135 FY 2015: 122 Regional Training Institute 5 Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs FY 2016-2017 Discussion Points (Cont’d) 3. According to the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs responses to the FY 2016 Discussion Points, the department broke ground in FY 2015 on the $34 million Regional Training Institute at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt. The training center is an 86,000 square foot facility that includes student housing, a classroom, and an administration building, and will allow the 254th Training Regiment, a premiere Army National Guard training unit in the Northeast, to expand training for soldiers around the region. Funding for the project was awarded in September of 2013 and is estimated to be completed in January 2016. • Question: Has the regional training institute project been completed and is it operating? If so, who will be using the facility? Is the facility solely for National Guard use or will the facility also provide other armed forces training and training for police, corrections, and juvenile justice officers? What proportion of the operating and maintenance costs of the regional training institute will be federally funded? The Regional Training Institute is scheduled for completion