Wisconsin National Guard Association, Inc. Engaged Today, Securing Tomorrow Officers President –COL Eric Leckel PRESIDENT’S NOTES Army VP – CPT Alicia American Treasure”. Everyone 2020 MEMBERSHIP who attended can attest to the need Dorsett for increased membership to en- DRIVE sure our voice is heard and the and Air VP – LtCol Dan Statz Guard remains a national treasure. NGAUS/WINGA As MG Matt Quinn articulated LIFE MEMBER Secretary – LTC Myron there are multiple areas where INCENTIVE Davis DOD and NGB are trying to take PROGRAM Treasurer – LTC D J Klauser authorities from the state and con- solidate power. This will have devastating effects on the quality The 2020 Membership Year Executive Director – of life and operational efficiency Drive will begin in Novem- COL (R) Michael Williams of you and your Soldiers/Airmen. ber. WINGA will once again These actions by NGB do not fa- offer an incentive program Board of Directors cilitate the message from the Army toward NGAUS & WINGA HQ JF ARMY – MAJ Bob Chief of Staff General James Life Membership ($500 for Brania & MAJ Brian Russell As we finish-up our vaca- McConville, who said his priorities company grade officers and tions with family, send kids are people and winning or Air 64th TC – LTC Jeremy back to school, and we prepare $250 for field grade officers). Force Vice Chief of Staff General See page 4 for details. Holmes & MAJ Jeremy Duffy for the inevitable winter Stephen Wilson’s charge of “go months ahead, I want to let long, I trust you”. 32nd IBCT – LTC Mike everyone know your associa- The “WINGA is Working for As we begin another member- Hanson, MAJ Bill Barthen & tion continues to fight hard for ship year, I ask every member to You” flyer is an insert to this our membership. As always, share the benefits and criticality of newsletter. CPT Lonnie Roy WINGA is fully engaged to being a member of your profes- ensure your National Guard is sional association. In addition, Inside this 157th MEB – LTC Brendon prepared to respond to the please continue to forward ideas, Manglos & CPT Nicholas needs of the Nation and the capability gaps, and resolutions to issue: Rinaldi State of Wisconsin. WINGA is move WINGA into the future. continuously developing ways, th 128th ARW – The 128 ARW and WINGA are TAPs 2 to provide resources to accom- currently in the process of plan- Capt David Lake plish the number one priority th ning for the 70 annual WINGA Scholarships 2 of the association, which is conference, which will be held at 115th FW – Capt David Biel ensuring our elected officials the Sheraton, located in Retiree Info 2 are informed, and champion- Brookfield, WI. We will continue Volk Field ANGB – ing our legislative goals. Each to build on the professional devel- Legislative Corner 3 Capt Matt King of the resolutions and legisla- opment momentum from the previ- tive priorities will build readi- ous three conferences. I am look- Company Grade Officers – WINGA Sporting Chal- 3 ness and capacity to prepare ing forward to seeing everyone in (Air) – Capt Joshua Johnson, WI NG Soldiers and Airmen lenge April at the conference. (Army) CPT Emily Yttri to respond to the needs of our As we get ready for the 2020 WINGA Golf Outing 3 citizens. These initiatives will membership drive, I ask everyone Warrant Officer – also help ensure our members to view MG Quinn’s video from Committee Members 3 CW2 Joseph Rasmussen and families are respected and this year’s NGAUS conference treated as part of the total and the importance of membership Membership Info 4 Retired Officers – force. in professional associations. I want I would like to thank the to thank each one of you for the Col (R) Mike Hinman, National Capital High- 5 COL (R) Kristine Schultz & large contingent who repre- engagement of moving WINGA lights sented Wisconsin during the forward. CW4 (R) Tricia Gundlach st 141 NGAUS General Confer- NGAUS Conf Highlights 6-7 ence in Denver. The theme President Eric Leckel was “the National Guard, an NGAUS/WINGA Benefits 8 Page 2 WINGA 2019 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS AWARD RECIPIENT SPONSOR Education Grant Jordan Adamson LTC Kathleen Adamson Education Grant Elizabeth Hanson LTC (Ret) Dan Hanson Education Grant Meghan Kehoe LTC (Bill) Kehoe TAPS Education Grant Andrew Padgett CPT Mary Padgett If you are aware of the passing Education Grant Ellen Padgett CPT Mary Padgett of a member, please notify us. Education Grant Konur Peterson Col Erik Peterson Education Grant Aaron Pulvermacher COL Dan Pulvermacher COL Doug Fleischfresser Education Grant Kyle Pulvermacher COL Dan Pulvermacher CW4 (Ret) James Hart LtCol (Ret) Roger Hendrick- President’s Scholarship Capt David Cefalu Capt David Cefalu son President’s Scholarship 1LT Ryan Schnake 1LT Ryan Schnake BG (Ret) John Larson MG (Ret) Jay Lison These students were awarded a $500 education scholarship for the 2019-2020 academic year from Brig Gen (Ret) Ken the Wisconsin National Guard Association, Inc (WINGA). Stasiewicz On behalf of the WINGA Board of Directors and the WINGA Awards, Gifts and Grants Com- LTC (Ret) Todd Tomlin mittee, congratulations in your pursuit of a higher education degree. Your Communicator Electronic vs WINGA 2019 GRANTS AND SCHOLARSHIPS THANK YOU’S Printed Copy? From 1LT Ryan Schnake: Thank you for the generous scholarship. I am Would you like to reduce pa- in my third year of seminary studies and have transitioned from the 32 MP per clutter and save WINGA Co to being a Chaplain Candidate with JFHQ. Again, I thank WINGA for money? If you prefer to re- all they do. ceive Your Communicator via email — or if you do not to want to receive a printed copy — please notify us at State Sponsored Life Insurance (SSLI) Facts • Two in five consumers have NO life insurance at all Calendar • Three out of ten households are uninsured • More than 1/3 of households would feel the financial impact of the loss of the primary wage earner within just ONE month STATE • Nearly HALF of all consumers said they would need to make drastic or significant financial WINGA & WNGEA State Conf changes if a death occurred Sheraton Hotel, Brookfield • SSLI can be purchased for as little as $3.66/month compared to other common expenses 24-26 April 2020 such as gourmet coffee: $4.30, movie ticket: $8.00 and lunch out: $10.00 For more information about SSLI Life Insurance go to www.winga.org or call the WINGA Insurance Office at 608.242.3100. NATIONAL NGAUS Annual Conf RETIREE INFORMATION Websites & Links: 142rd: 28-31 Aug 2020 WI Retiree website: http://dma.wi.gov/retirees Boston, MA To sign up for email notifications: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WIDMA/subscriber/new?category_id=WIDMA_C1 143rd: 9-12 Sep 2021 Army Echoes website: https://soldierforlife.army.mil/Retirement/army-echoes Charlotte, NC Key Dates of Upcoming Events: 144th: 26-29 Aug 2022 27-29 Oct—National Capital Summit, Washington, DC (CPT Cody Anderson selected to at- Columbus, OH tend) 11 Nov—Veterans Day 145th: 18-21 Aug 2023 6 Dec—Senior Leadership Conf, Volk Field Reno, NV 9-10 Dec—NGAUS Industry Day, Washington, DC Page 3 YOUR COMMUNICATOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS Awards, Gifts & Grants: LEGISLATIVE CORNER COL (R) Darrel Feucht – Chair by LTC (Ret) Jackie Halverson LTC Doug Kolb Maj Jeremy Phillips st COL (R) Marty Seifer Legislative priorities that emerged from the 141 NGAUS Conference focused on several key issues for the Air and Army National Guard. Chief issues include urging Congress to pass S. By-Laws: 164/H.R. 613 to provide TRICARE Reserve Select eligibility for federal employees, including LTC Michael Hanson – Co-Chair LTC (R) Tammy Gross—Co-Chair dual status technicians, and for Congress to authorize and fund full-time Army National LtCol Christina Schmoker Guard support personnel at 20% of authorized end strength with 35% set for the Air Nation- al Guard. Other issues on the NGAUS radar are retirement age reduction and reintegration Credentials: COL (R) Don Pagenkopf – Chair benefits parity for 12304b deployments, fund $100 million for the National Guard HMMWV COL (R) Michael Williams modernization program, and support a budget request for 64 new UH-60M Black Hawk heli- Lt Col (R) Don Schuh copters in the FY 2020 defense appropriation. Finance: LtCol Dan Statz – Chair At the state level, the Wisconsin Assembly and Senate held public hearings in September on COL Eric Leckel AB-361/SB-334 regarding requirements for colleges when service members are called into CPT Alicia Dorsett active duty for less than 30 days. Current law provides enrollment and tuition reimbursement LTC Myron Davis LTC D J Klauser protections at the 30-day mark when students are called to active military service. The bill COL (R) Michael Williams would provide similar protections for shorter periods of federal or state active duty. The nd Insurance: need for this bill crystalized in 2017 when the 32 IBCT was activated for Hurricane Irma as COL (R) David Gault – Chair students were enrolling into the fall semester. Please contact your state legislators to express COL (R) Michael Williams – SIA your support for this legislation that will protect our student Guardsmembers when they an- COL (R) Robert Klinger swer the call to serve. BG Joni Mathews LTC Douglas Moore COL (R) Terry McArdle As of writing of the column, Congress has not passed the FY20 National Defense Authoriza- SGM (R) Lowell Koehler tion Act and the federal government is currently funded under a continuing resolution set to SGM Janice Finck expire Nov. 21. SGM John Juen CMSgt (R) Gregory Cullen LTC (R) Bob Strange Legislative: Col Erik Peterson – Co-Chair WINGA SPORTING CHALLENGE LTC (R) Jackie Halverson—Co-Chair Col Jon Kalberer by MAJ Matt McDonald, Event Coordinator LtCol Ryan Gaffaney MAJ Brian Faltinson Nominations: On Friday, 13 September, 28 attendees including Guard members, their family and friends, met MAJ (R) Kevin Quist – Chair up at the North Bristol Sportsman's Club to celebrate the end of the training year and enjoy COL (R) Ricky Kappus camaraderie at the 12th Annual WINGA Sporting Challenge.