e h T The Militiaman Aerial duel in Big Sky country Ground Zero fl ag arrives in Iowa CSM Norris gives fi nal salute Contents The Iowa Militiaman Ground Zero fl ag travels 4 to Little Sioux Campground Summer 2009 by 2nd Lt. Brandon Cochran The Adjutant General 132nd FW face off against Brig. Gen. Tim Orr 6 Montana F-15 aircraft by Sgt. 1st Class Duff E. McFadden Public Affairs Offi cer Fort Dodge Airmen build Maj. Michael Wunn 8 teamwork in Badger Country by Master Sgt. Mike Battien 135th MPAD Commander Capt. Tim Mills Iowa Gold Star M1 Military Museum Insert Editor Providing aid for original 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden 11 western Iowa Honor Flight by Sgt. Chad Nelson Writers/Photographers 2nd Lt. Brandon Cochran 2nd Lt. Laura K. Walker OCS/WOC graduation Master Sgt. Mike Battien 16 by 2nd Lt. Laura K. Walker Sgt. Chad Nelson Pvt. 2 Jennifer Montagna Wounded warriors return Justin Cato 18 by Pvt. 2 Jennifer Montagna The Iowa Militiaman is an unoffi cial publication authorized under the provisions of AR 360-81. It is published by the Iowa National Guard Regular Columns Public Affairs Offi ce and is printed four times annually. 3 TAG Sends News and opinions expressed in this publication are not neccessarily those 12 Through the Ranks of the Adjutant General of Iowa, or the Department of the Army. 13 From the Education Offi ce 15 Address all submissions to: Chaplain’s Corner The Iowa Militiaman On the cover -- F-16’s from the Iowa National Air Guard’s Public Affairs Offi ce 132nd Fighter Wing streak through Montana airspace 7105 NW 70th Ave. seeking out F-15’s from the Montana Air National Guard. Johnston, Iowa 50131-1824 Iowa’s smaller, more maneuverable F16’s, provided “dis- or e-mail: [email protected] similar air-combat training” for the Montana Air National Guard’s 120th Fighter Wing. (Iowa National Guard photo) The Iowa Militiaman 2 Summer 2009 Our new mission, vision and customer focus As part of my the boxes below. transition into of- I created an Iowa fi ce, I met with all National Guard the senior leaders “Campaign Plan,” from the Army and which focuses our Air National Guard, efforts and energy both offi cer and Non- through a series of Commissioned Of- priorities, focus ar- fi cers. It was during eas, and key process- this meeting that I es. It is important to presented my leader- all members of the ship and command Iowa National Guard philosophy for the that they understand future. our organization’s I want every lead- six priorities (See er to know our new below). mission statement, Since taking of- our new vision state- fi ce, we have made ment, and our new several changes to customer focus. our organization. These are listed in We have hired a new Government Rela- tions Offi cer who is responsible for synchro- TAG Our new Mission nizing all the state and federal legislative is- sues and initiatives. “The Iowa National Guard trains, As I assume command of the Iowa National mobilizes, deploys, sustains Sends Guard, you need to know this organization and reconstitutes units; Brig. Gen continues to be strong, “Iowa Strong.” We Providing ready forces in defense Tim Orr continue to remain at the top of many mea- The Adjutant General of our nation, state, and community” sured categories and near the top in all the rest of them. Our new Vision Granted, we have room for improvement, “An organization of excellence, but you will fi nd organizational excellence dedicated to providing a ready, scattered throughout this state. We have been full spectrum, joint capable force, blessed over the years with great leaders who serving our Nation, State, and provided the leadership and created the con- Community” ditions and standards to allow us to grow and achieve our benchmarks. Our Customer Focus “Do what is right to take care TAG Sends of Soldiers, Airmen and their Families’ needs” continued on page 15 The six priorities of our organization * Maintain our organizational readiness (Center of Gravity) * Provide trained war fi ghters and Airmen * Develop Soldiers, Airmen and leaders * Care for Soldiers, Airmen, families, and employers * Provide a joint domestic response * Adapt and transform to the operational force The Iowa Militiaman 3 Summer 2009 by 2nd Lt. Brandon Cochran On Wednesday, September 2, approximately 60 Iowans viewed a 17-foot by 32-foot reminder from Sept. 11, 2001, a day of infamy Ground zero not yet eight years in America’s past. Made possible by the United States Emergency Chaplains Corps (USECC), the Ground Zero fl ag paid a visit to the Iowa state capitol fl ag trek enroute to the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp in Little Sioux, Iowa. The product of USECC’s 2008 9-11 outreach project, the fl ag, initially saved by offers a construction engineer at Ground Zero, was conserved through the meticulous work of Greensburg, Kan. residents. USECC works with Police, Fire and EMS agencies around the country in time of disaster. hope, Every year on the anniversary of 9/11 they do an outreach and rebuild somewhere in the country that was hit by disaster. This year, they are escorting the Ground Zero reconciliation Flag through Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska, with their fi nal stop at the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp. In 2008 this camp was hit by a tornado and four Boy Scouts lost their lives. The Iowa Militiaman 4 Summer 2009 in the rescue efforts. Members of the Iowa The product of USECC’s National Guard team worked throughout the 2008 9-11 outreach project, night, providing exhaustive search and rescue the fl ag, initially saved support before being released at 4:15 a.m. to by a construction engineer return home. at Ground Zero, Following a moment of silence, taps was was conserved through played. Brig. Gen. Timothy Orr, the Adjutant the meticulous work General of Iowa, began the ceremony with of Greensburg, Kan. residents. opening remarks to the assembled Boy Scouts, service members, military and civilians. Orr Escorted to the second fl oor mezzanine touched upon the events that dominated the by a host of Emergency Medical Service summer of 2008 –severe tornados and historic workers, fi refi ghters, police offi cers, Boy fl oods. Scouts, veterans, and Iowa National Guard As he refl ected upon the teamwork exhibited servicemembers, the 9-11 fl ag was lowered by state workers, Iowa National Guard over the railing in solemn remembrance of members, and civilians during those times those who suffered at the hands of terrorism, of hardship, he reminded the scouts how, as well as unpredictable natural disasters. they too, make a difference. By comparing Among those participating in the event were the Scout oath and law to the Iowa National 11 Iowa National Guard members, both Army Guard’s warrior ethos, Orr noted how one and Air, who were involved after a tornado percent of those wearing a uniform, whether ripped through the Little Sioux Boy Scout military or civilian emergency responder, Camp. On June 11, 2008, Troop C, 1st Troop, started in the Boy Scouts. Subsequent remarks 113th Cavalry Dismounted Reconnaissance were rendered by Iowa Governor Chet Culver unit out of Le Mars, Iowa and Company D, and USECC Director Steve Holden. Forward Support Reconnaissance Company, The Iowa State Capitol was one of several 334th Brigade Support Battalion out of Sioux stops across three states for the USECC City, Iowa, were mobilized to the Little Sioux convoy. The fl ag arrived at Little Sioux Boy Boy Scout Camp. Scout Ranch on September 3 to conduct Both units provided search and rescue USECC’s annual 9-11 outreach project. support, while members of the Iowa Air This year’s project, an open air chapel on the National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing site where the four scouts lost their lives, was provided generators and lighting units to aid dedicated on Sunday, September, 6. The Iowa Militiaman 5 Summer 2009 F16’s/F15’s face off in aerial duel over Montana By 1st Sgt. Duff E. McFadden operational and mission ready by 2010. Montana is a long way from California’s Lt. Col. Troy Havener, who goes by the Miramar Navy Air Station, made famous in call-sign “Da’Nob,” was one of three Iowa the 1986 movie “Top Gun,” but the action in pilots to have had fl ight time on the F15. For the “The Big Sky” state was just as intense for Havener, a member of the Iowa Air National two Air National Guard fi ghter wings the past Guard since 2002, that opportunity came about summer. while serving as an active duty Air Force pilot Pilots from the Iowa Air National Guard’s at Kadena Airbase in Okinawa. 132nd Fighter Wing, with their smaller, more Having an insider’s knowledge of the maneuverable F16’s, were more than happy opponent’s aircraft, Havener said he generally to provide “dissimilar air-combat training” for knew the things that go on in their cockpit pilots of the Montana Air National Guard’s and the order in which they happen, allowing 120th Fighter Wing throughout Eastern him the chance to present them problems and Montana airspace. realistic oppositional tactics they may not While the 120th fl ew the F16 for many years, otherwise face. the “Vigilantees” began conversion to the “We had the opportunity to orchestrate older, larger, two-engine F15C fi ghter jet in tactics that we knew would give them good January. training,” Havener said. “We gave them as The bottom line, however, is the training many different situations as we could, fl ying provided by the Iowa fi ghter wing will assist at supersonic speeds at 50,000 feet and then the Montanans in becoming F15 combat down as low as 500 feet in meeting them.