July 2011 Vol. 6 No. 7 GRIZZLYOfficial Newsmagazine of the California National Guard Part-time troops, full-time patriots 10 Search and rescue 235th CERFP trains for disaster 7 95th CST helps ‘diplomat’ escape from Alcatraz www.calguard.ca.gov/publicaffairs 6 Leadership Corner Ready for any domestic contingency July Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin In the past few months I have used this ordination with partners at every level of preparing for a possible flood scenario are designed to improve communication space to outline my leadership goals and government. All commanders — especially (page 13). And the 95th Civil Support Team and validate our reporting procedures and emphasize the importance of staying true those in charge of Tier 1 units — are dedi- (Weapons of Mass Destruction) trained response times. Commanders understand to our core values. Our commitment to cating increased time, training and resourc- with the U.S. State Department in June to that I expect an exceptional level of mis- these values is imperative to the success of es to preparing for domestic events. They test the 95th’s ability to respond to a chemi- sion-readiness at every level, from JFHQ the California National Guard and enables should also be prepared to brief me on their cal attack in California (page 6). down to every company and squadron. us to maintain a high state of mission- progress. If you are in Tier 1, and your last readiness. name is “Commander,” I will be visiting Interagency cooperation at the local, state We are also planning to test our deployment you soon for a personal briefing on how and federal level is vital to our efforts to processes for state emergency response, be- Our No. 1 mission and responsibility is to your unit will meet the required timelines. protect Americans from natural disasters or cause the first few hours of a crisis can de- rapidly respond to state emergencies with other contingencies at home. In addition to termine mission accomplishment. a robust, coordinated force that has drilled Fire season is now upon us, which is al- working with civilian first-responders, the and prepared for the situation it faces. That ways a busy time for the CNG’s 146th CNG is focused on enhancing coordination National Guardsmen are expected to be vital mission is what makes our state mili- Airlift Wing. One of only four military with active duty partners, bringing CNG “always ready, always there.” Responding tia and National Guard unique among all wings in the country equipped with Mo- commanders closer to their U.S. Northern at a moment’s notice is part of the job when branches and components of the armed bile Airborne Fire Fighting Systems, the Command counterparts. people need our help. That could mean, forces. 146th has been all over the Southwest this however, that we need to leave behind the year, putting out wildfires where local as- Previous disasters such as Hurricane Ka- people we care about most. The California National Guard currently sets were over-tasked (page 4). Our Army trina highlighted the need to synchronize has more than 1,600 Soldiers and Airmen and Air Force rotary-wing aviation units civil support and defense support authori- When disaster strikes, our families need to deployed overseas, mainly to Iraq and Af- also remain ready to battle the flames, hav- ties to achieve a unity of effort. Unlike be prepared for our absence, just as they ghanistan. But that is only half the story. ing completed their regular water-bucket those incidents, we now have the ability prepare for our deployments overseas. In We have been protecting Californians training. In addition, all CNG members for a National Guard officer to serve as a addition to having emergency supplies from natural disasters and other incidents stand by in case their services are needed dual-status commander, simultaneously in ready, Guard families should arrange com- at home for more than 160 years. Never on fire lines to protect Californians and charge of state and federal military forces munication and evacuation plans in ad- has there been such a wide range of po- their property. responding to a domestic emergency. This vance, in case they are faced with a natu- tential threats as we face today, and never will streamline our efforts to mitigate the ral disaster while their Soldier or Airman is has the CNG possessed such capabilities But it’s not just fire protection. Company effects of a disaster and prevent damage or performing duties elsewhere. to respond. C, 1-168th General Support Aviation Battal- loss of life. ion (Air Ambulance), for example, success- Your families depend on you, and Califor- Under my direction we are refocusing our fully conducted water rescue training with I am also raising expectations for our emer- nia depends on us. We will always be ready efforts on emergency preparedness and co- the Sacramento Fire Department in May, gency disaster readiness exercises, which to respond. ABOVE: A California Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter prepares to drop more than 600 gal- lons of water from its “Bambi Bucket” during fire training with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Emergency Management Agency near Ione, Calif., in April. RIGHT: Pararescuemen from Joint Task Force 129, which included Airmen from the 129th Rescue Wing (RQW), assist a Galveston, Texas, resident affected by Hurricane Ike on Sept. 13, 2008. The 129th RQW saved 34 people affected by 2008 hurri- canes Ike and Gustav. 2 Search and extract GrizzlyThe Official Newsmagazine of 7 the California National Guard July Vol. 6 No. 7 2011 Pickup Publisher 4 4 Maj. Gen. David S. Baldwin artists The Adjutant General Super Director of Communications Maj. Thomas Keegan soakers Editor 13 Brandon Honig Editorial Staff TABLE OF CONTENTS 1st Lt. Will Martin Senior Airman Jessica Green Photographers 146th AW flies to fires Great flood training Master Sgt. David J. Loeffler 4 Wildfires ripped across Texas, Arizona and New Mexico this 13 CNG troops and local firefighters prepared for a natural disaster Tech. Sgt. Joseph Prouse year, and the 146th Airlift Wing showed its firefighting skills Earth Day the CNG way Honoring a fallen friend 14 The CNG Environmental Programs Directorate beautified A CNG unit in Iraq and one based out of Texas honored a fallen Camp Roberts on Earth Day CNG Soldier who died heroically in Iraq seven years ago Submissions Military communication 2.0 ‘Getting paid to blow stuff up’ The California National Guard has entered the social media Articles: 5 The 1-144th Field Artillery Battalion fired its Paladin Howitzers world with sites on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and YouTube during recent training for the first time in three years 250-300 words for a half-page story; 600-800 words for a full-page article 15 NCO Education System overhauled ‘Diplomat’ not immune to attack Recent changes open up new opportunities for degrees, skills Include first and last names, and verify A multi-agency exercise on Alcatraz Island tested the 95th CST’s spelling 6 response to a chemical attack on a foreign dignitary Small arms, big accomplishment Spell out acronyms, abbreviations and Staff Sgt. Brian Alan Bullock earned fourth place in the novice full unit designations on first reference Bravo for Bravery category at the All-Army Small Arms Championship Firefighter Sgt. (CA) Tad Shimada received a Red Cross award If there is a public affairs officer assigned for saving a motorcyclist’s life 16 CSMR activates new command to your unit, ensure he or she reviews it The 100th Troop Command Support Brigade is now Regional Sup- port Command-North, supporting a brigade and two battalions Photographs: U.S., Afghan force stops insurgent attack The CNG’s 870th MP Company helped stop an attack on an Af- Highest resolution possible: MB files, not KB 7 ghan police center and prevent the detonation of a bomb Acting troops No retouched photos The star-studded new Steven Soderbergh film “Contagion” CERFP trains for rubble trouble will feature CNG troops and equipment Caption (what is happening, who is The 235th Engineer Company search-and-extraction team tested pictured and the date of the photo) its skills during exercise Makani Pahili in Hawaii A voice in the capitol Credit (who took the photo) Military associations work on your behalf Camp Roberts looks to the future 8 The five-year plan for Camp Roberts includes utility upgrades 17 WOCS: Are you up to the challenge? E-mail submissions by the 15th and new facilities that will complement work already completed The CNG’s Warrant Officer Corps is seeking top candidates of the month to: [email protected] Born in Ukraine, dedicated to U.S. CA military photos available online A native of the former Soviet republic Ukraine, 1st Lt. Stanisalv The State Military Museum has uploaded thousands of photos Feedback: Boyko is proud to wear the U.S. Army uniform [email protected] 18 Masters of social work Scaling new heights Two of the CNG’s newest behavioral health officers graduated 9 Staff Sgt. Maria Nevarez has conquered two continents’ tallest with master’s degrees from a landmark USC program Cover Shot peaks, and she’s aiming for all seven Cover Shot ‘Go on a date. That’s an order!’ A blessing in camouflage The CNG’s Strong Bonds seminar aids married couples 12 Lt. Col. Robert Blessing and Maj. Robert Gump brightened the lives of 220 Iraqi children with donated soccer balls FEATURES ‘Our mantra: It is broken’ 2 Leadership Corner 19 News & Benefits Test pilots of the 640th Aviation Support Battalion want helicop- ters to break on their flights instead of during missions 10 At a Glance 19 Did You Know? California National Guard mobilizations as of June 2011 Afghanistan/Cuba/Germany/ Iraq/Kuwait/Kyrgyzstan/Qatar/ Asia United Arab Emirates/Horn of Europe Air Photo by Senior Airman Africa (58) Afghanistan (339) Kosovo (420) Jessica Green Army (8) (280) A boy peers through the door of an HH-60G Iraq Pave Hawk helicopter at Senior Airman Edward (1149) Drew of the CNG’s 129th Rescue Wing on July 3 Air Continental U.S.