Volume 10 Number 2 Spring 2017 Serving the New York Army and Air National Guard, Naval Militia, New York Guard and Families www.dmna.ny.gov FROM THE LEADERSHIP Communicating our National Guard commitments he nation and our state and site to fly their wartime missions. For those who feel like you need Tnational leaders are asking We have the 109th Airlift Wing to run hard just to stand still, be- a lot of our National Guardsmen training and flying missions in cause you’re so busy, hang in there. these days. The catch phrase for Greenland until August and then You’re doing important work. the Guard for years has been one heading back to Antarctica from If you’re a leader I am counting weekend a month and two weeks October to next March. on you to spend time communi- a year. I would ask each one of We have the 174th Attack Wing cating with your troops. I want you you, is that true? training students and flying com- to really listen to what they say. The National Guard today re- bat missions every day, 24 hours a Let them know about upcoming quires much more of each of us. day, seven days a week, 365 days a missions and why we are asking If you’re a member of the 69th year to keep us all safe. more from them. Listen to their Infantry, you know it took extra For a couple of months this concerns. Make sure your troops training to get ready for three weeks summer we had almost 1,000 know what is expected. Listen to in Australia for Talisman Sabre. Maj. Gen. Guardsmen on duty for flood con- their questions and concerns. If you’re in the 27th Infantry Anthony German trol along Lake Ontario, or work- What do they need to do their Brigade headquarters or 2nd men. We count on you to be our ing New York City security with job? How can you help them suc- Squadron, 101st Cavalry, then you eyes and ears on the ground, but if Joint Task Force Empire Shield. ceed? Does they need to change know that a few months ago you you’re too scary, that young private Our Soldiers and Airmen will MOS or AFSC? were not thinking about a nine- or airman first class isn’t going to continue to miss holidays, birth- I know it’s harder for Army month deployment to Ukraine to honestly open up. days, graduations, weddings, fam- leadership to circulate to armories train that country’s army. But now Communication is what makes ily reunions, you name it, we miss that are scattered across upstate that is the priority mission. our teams work, and when a team it. I wish I could tell you that the New York than it is for Air Guard If you’re in the 42nd Infantry comes together, they can accom- pace will slow down, but as long as leaders to talk to people all clus- Division, then you know that soon plish extraordinary missions. there is conflict in this world and tered on one base. But I encourage you’ll be gearing up for extra train- Each of you are completing an domestic needs in the state, we will all of you to get out and see the ing time to get ready for Warfight- extraordinary mission each day. It be working. folks that make things happen. er and a deployment in 2019. may not seem like it, but we need Being a Guard Soldier is defi- We ask a lot of our Army Guard And if you’re in the 53rd Troop to be ready to respond at a mo- nitely a lot more than a weekend platoon sergeants and squad Command, you were definitely ment’s notice when called. We are each month and two weeks a year. leaders. We should make sure that not planning on spending a snowy all going to be busy. We are going I appreciate the sacrifices you all those E-7s, E-6s, and E-5s have our March day in a Humvee beside In- to be asked to do more. make to serve: missed time with priorities and treat our Soldiers terstate 84 so you could shut down You’ve all got an important mis- family, and friends and kids. in a way that makes them want to the highway. But you did. sion to do. And it all matters to the Recently Brig. Gen. Ray Shields, stay in the Guard. Make sure those If you are a member of the people of this nation that we serve. the Army Guard commander, direct leaders have the information Air Guard, you know worldwide Thank you for what each one of teamed up with Brig. Gen. Steve they need to help Soldiers make deployability within 72 hours takes you do every day. Ferrari, the commander of the decisions. more than one weekend a month 42nd ID, and Brig. Gen. Mike I’ve also got a special and two weeks every summer. Natali, commander of the 53rd message for all you Army We have the 105th Airlift Wing Troop Command, to write a letter sergeants major and Air flying global missions working for to employers explaining why we Guard chiefs out there. Air Mobility Command. are asking you to spend more time I’ve had the opportu- We have the 106th Rescue training for and being on missions. nity to meet a lot of you Wing who showed up for a nor- It’s a good letter and I urge you since becoming Adjutant mal workday and within hours to share it with your boss. If you General, and you folks are launched an aircraft and parares- have not yet read it, check in with an awesome group. You’re cue team to save the lives of two your first-line leader. professional, dedicated, and civilians who were involved in a Make sure your employer un- experienced. And you can ship accident halfway across the New Troops Join Ranks derstands why you may need more also be very intimidating. Atlantic. You can read the details time off and make sure you give You intimidate me QUEENSBURY, N.Y. -- Pfc. Kyle Lamica of this demanding mission on page shakes hands with his Drill Sergeant them a heads up way before sched- sometimes, so imagine how 24 of this issue of Guard Times. during a recruit Battle Handoff uled training and deployments. you come across to a young We have the 107th Attack Wing, Ceremony here May 21. Lamica and I know there are some units out troop. 110 other recruits recently completed who just started flying combat there where things seem a little bit Keep that in mind as training and now join their units missions from Niagara Falls after statewide. Lamica begins his military slow right now, but trust me that is you’re out there mixing it up spending two years travelling off- career with Company B, 2nd Battalion, likely to change. with the Soldiers and Air- 108th Infantry in Morrisonville, N.Y. Photo by Pfc. Andrew Valenza, Joint Force Headquarters. Spring 2017 Volume 10, Number 2 This Issue’s Highlights: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Commander in Chief Faces of the Force Maj. Gen. Anthony German, The Adjutant General Eric Durr, Director of Public Affairs 4 Lost Boy gives back to adopted country, joins Air Guard Col. Richard Goldenberg, Public Affairs Officer 5 Engineer mentors team to success in TAG Match l Capt. Jean Kratzer, Command Information Officer 6 New York Soldier competes in Best Ranger Competition Pfc. Andrew Valenza, Guard Times Photographer Around the State About Guard Times 8 Rainbow Division Veterans honor WWII Soldier The Guard Times is published quarterly using federal funds authorized under provisions of AR 360-1 and The Joint Force AFI 35-101 by the New York State Division of Mili- 12 Joint Task Force tackles Lake Ontario flooding tary and Naval Affairs and the New York Army and Air National Guard Public Affairs Office. 13 Ardent Sentry Exercises Dual Status Command in New York 14 Civil Support Team takes training to the ballpark Views which appear in this publication are not neces- Army National Guard sarily those of the Department of Defense, the Army, the Air Force or the National Guard Bureau. 16 Rainbow Division welcomes new commanding general 17 27th Infantry Brigade leadership changes add star for commander The Guard Times has a circulation of 17,000 and is 18 Sniper Competition challenges Orion Soldiers distributed free to members of the New York State Military Forces and employees of the Division of 20 Harlem Hellfighters transition out of Kuwait; homeward bound Military and Naval Affairs. 21 Aircrew Soldiers recognized for winter rescue 22 Artillery, Aviation team up for Fort Drum air assault training Submissions Air National Guard Articles, photos and letters are welcome. Please pro- vide article submissions via email saved in Microsoft 24 106th Atlantic Rescue Saves lives of two sailors Word or rich text format (rtf) along with high resolu- 26 Air Force Amanda introduces children to Antarctica tion digital (jpg) photos. Submission deadlines are January 15 (winter issue), April 15 (spring issue), July 27 109th Turns Attention to Greenland for Summer missions 15 (summer issue), and October 15 (fall issue). Send New York Guard your submissions to: 28 New York Guard Commemorates 100 years of Service Guard Times New York Naval Militia DMNA-MNPA 330 Old Niskayuna Road 30 Sailors and Marines lend support on Lake Ontario waters and shoreline Latham, New York 12110-3514 OFFICE (518) 786-4581 FAX (518) 786-4649 or [email protected] Complimentary or Back Issues of the Guard Times are Soldiers from the available.